Crock Pot Korean Beef (Printable Version)

Tender Korean-style beef slow-cooked with savory, sweet, spicy notes. Great for easy dinners and meal prep.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 2 lbs beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes

→ Sauce

02 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
04 - 1/4 cup beef broth
05 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
06 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
07 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
09 - 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste) or 1 tablespoon Sriracha
10 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch

→ Vegetables & Garnish

11 - 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
12 - 4 green onions, sliced
13 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, beef broth, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and gochujang in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Place beef cubes and sliced onion in the crock pot. Pour sauce mixture over the beef and onions, tossing gently to coat evenly.
03 - Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until beef is fork-tender and easily shredded.
04 - Remove 1/4 cup cooking liquid and whisk with cornstarch until smooth. Stir slurry back into crock pot, cover, and cook on high for 20-30 minutes until sauce thickens.
05 - Serve Korean beef over steamed rice, noodles, or in lettuce wraps. Garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The beef becomes impossibly tender after hours of slow cooking, practically shredding with just a fork
  • The sauce strikes that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and just enough heat to keep things interesting
  • Your kitchen will smell amazing all day long, and dinner is ready the moment you walk through the door
02 -
  • Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels before adding them to the crock pot, this helps them brown slightly and develop better flavor even in the slow cooker
  • The sauce will look quite thin when you first pour it over the beef, but don't worry, it reduces and concentrates beautifully as it cooks
  • Resist the urge to lift the lid too often during cooking, every time you do you release valuable heat and extend the cooking time
03 -
  • Trim excess fat from the beef before cutting it into cubes, too much fat can make the final dish greasy
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and golden brown before garnishing, this tiny step makes a huge difference in flavor

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