Description
Slow Cooker Korean Beef is a tender, flavorful dish that combines the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. With minimal prep time and the magic of slow cooking, this dish is ideal for busy weeknights or for impressing guests at your next dinner party. The beef slowly cooks in a delicious sauce made from soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth meat that’s bursting with flavor. Serve it over steamed rice with a side of vegetables for a complete, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Here’s what you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Korean Beef:
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast or flank steak, cut into chunks
- ½ cup soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
- ¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1–2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste), or to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 1 tablespoon water (if using cornstarch)
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (for garnish)
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
Prepare the Beef and Sauce:
- Cut the Beef: Cut the beef chuck roast or flank steak into bite-sized chunks. This helps the beef cook evenly and absorb the flavors of the sauce.
- Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and gochujang. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and everything is well combined.
- Add the Beef to the Slow Cooker: Place the beef chunks into the slow cooker, then pour the sauce mixture over the beef, making sure it is well coated.
Cook the Beef:
- Slow Cook the Beef: Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours. The beef should be fork-tender and easily shred when done.
- Optional Thickening Step: If you want a thicker sauce, mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water to make a slurry. About 30 minutes before the cooking time is done, stir the slurry into the sauce, then continue cooking.
Garnish and Serve:
- Shred the Beef: Once the beef is cooked and tender, shred the beef using two forks, mixing it into the sauce for extra flavor.
- Garnish: Serve the Korean beef over cooked rice, then garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
- Serve: Enjoy your Slow Cooker Korean Beef with your favorite sides, such as stir-fried vegetables or kimchi.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours, 4 hours
- Category: dinner
Nutrition
- Calories: 300-350 kcal
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 25g