This Slow Cooker Orange Beef and Broccoli recipe is an easy-to-follow dish. It combines stew beef and fresh broccoli florets in a flavorful orange-infused sauce. The best thing is that your slow cooker magically melds all the ingredients into an irresistible meal.
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📝Shopping list
To make this amazing orange beef recipe, you will need these simple, budget friendly ingredients available in all grocery stores:
- stew meat - cut into bite-sized chunks
- orange juice
- orange marmalade
- soy sauce - low sodium preferred
- rice vinegar
- ground ginger
- broccoli florets
- sesame seeds (optional) - for garnish
- green onion (optional) garnish
Slow cooking is a great way to turn a less expensive cut of beef into an incredible meal. If time allows, cooking this dish on lower heat for a longer time will always produce the best flavor. The tangy orange sauce and delicious tender beef in this dish make it one of my all-time favorite recipes.
We love this recipe as is, but if you aren't a fan of orange this traditional beef and broccoli is a better option.
🔪Instructions
This great recipe just involves a few simple steps:
Preparing your slow cooker
Prepare your slow cooker for this crockpot beef recipe by coating it with a non-stick agent. Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings, although I also like to use sesame oil for this recipe.
NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick coating. Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns.
Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.
Cooking
🍊Place beef cubes into the bottom of your slow cooker
🍊Add the rest of the ingredients OTHER THAN broccoli and garnish. Stir to combine fully.
🍊About 1 hour before serving, check on your beef. If you would like to thicken the sauce, create a slurry by mixing 2 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoon of cold water. Stir to fully dissolve. Mix slurry into the contents in your slow cooker.
🍊About 15 minutes before serving, add broccoli into your slow cooker. Stir to fully incorporate. To keep your veggies from turning mushy, serve promptly.
🍽Serving suggestions
- Over Rice: Serve the tender orange-infused beef and broccoli over a bed of fluffy steamed rice. White rice or jasmine rice will soak up the flavorful sauce.
- With Quinoa or Cauliflower Rice: For a lighter option, serve the beef and broccoli over cooked quinoa or cauliflower rice.
- Alongside Stir-Fried Noodles: Pair the beef and broccoli with stir-fried noodles for a complete Asian-inspired meal. Choose your favorite noodles, such as udon, rice, or soba.
- In Lettuce Wraps: Spoon the mixture into crisp lettuce leaves. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for a great warm weather dish. Try topping with some extra orange zest for a fun flavor twist.
- With a Side of Steamed Vegetables: Enhance this crock pot meal with a side of steamed vegetables, such as carrots, snow peas, or bell peppers.
- Accompanied by Fried Rice: Serve beef and broccoli alongside homemade or store-bought fried rice for a classic dinner table combination.
- As a Protein Bowl: Create a balanced protein bowl by serving beef and broccoli alongside cooked grains, such as brown rice or quinoa, and a variety of fresh vegetables.
- With a Side Salad: One of the best ways to serve this beef and broccoli is alongside a crisp green salad.
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🔁Substitution ideas
- Swap stew meat with flank steak or skirt steak, cut into chunks
- Switch dried, ground ginger with some crushed fresh ginger for extra zing
- Add in a diced red bell pepper along with the broccoli for extra crunch and flavor
- Frozen broccoli can be used in place of fresh. Defrost and fully drain frozen broccoli of excess liquid before adding it to your slow cooker.
Storing
Store leftover slow cooker orange beef in an airtight container or zip top bag. It will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator or about 3 months in the freezer.
For best results, defrost frozen beef and broccoli in the refrigerator overnight before reheating the next day. The broccoli may break apart a bit during reheating, but will still be delicious.
The perfect way to store leftovers of this slow cooker recipe is in individual serving-sized containers. This makes for easy grab-and-go meals on busy nights.
If you love this recipe, please let me know in the comment section below!
😉Hints & hacks
- Looking to add some spice to the sweet orange flavor dish? Top with red pepper flakes or drizzle with sriracha.
- Using a slow cooker liner is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
- This is an easy weeknight meal for days when your people will be eating at different times. When your cooking is done, turn your slow cooker to the warm setting. Everyone can have a warm and filling meal with minimal effort no matter when their dinner time is.
- We love our broccoli (and most green veggies) just lightly cooked. If you prefer yours more well done, add them to your slow cooker earlier.
- This is a great dish to double for a crowd. The ingredients should all be doubled in the same proportions, but the cooking time will not change.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Always double check to make sure your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! Coming home to a cold slow cooker is the worst!😔
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Orange Beef and Broccoli
Equipment
- Knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 lbs stew meat cut in bite sized chunks
- ½ cup orange juice
- ⅓ cup orange marmalade
- ¼ cup soy sauce low sodium preferred
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 12 oz broccoli florets about 2 cups
- sesame seeds optional garnish
- sliced green onion optional garnish
- non-stick agent of choice
Instructions
- add 2 lbs stew meat to greased slow cooker
- top with ½ cup orange juice, ⅓ cup orange marmalade, ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoon rice vinegar, and 2 teaspoon ground ginger and stir to combine and fully coat beef
- cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours (low is recommended)
- about 30 minutes prior to serving, stir 12 oz broccoli florets into the contents in your slow cooker*
- garnish with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and sliced green onion
Notes
Nutrition
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Debe says
Did not taste that great. Wondering if the orange juice should've been added at the end with thr broccoli, or if crockpot is not right method. Will not make again. Sorry.
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the dish. The orange sauce here is meant to be a lighter sauce, not a sticky, Asian type sauce.