Slow Cooker Korean Beef (Printable Version)
Savory-sweet Korean-style slow-cooked beef with garlic, ginger, and sesame, ideal for rice or wraps.
# What You Need:
→ Beef
01 - 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
→ Sauce
02 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
04 - 1/4 cup water
05 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
07 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
08 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
10 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
→ Vegetables & Garnishes
11 - 4 green onions, thinly sliced, divided
12 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish
13 - Sliced red chili, optional for garnish
# How-To:
01 - Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, gochujang, and toasted sesame seeds in a medium bowl until completely smooth and sugar is dissolved.
02 - Arrange beef chunks in the slow cooker insert. Pour the prepared sauce over the beef, turning pieces to ensure even coating on all sides.
03 - Scatter half of the sliced green onions evenly over the beef and sauce mixture.
04 - Cover with lid and cook on low setting for 7 hours until beef is fork-tender and easily pulls apart.
05 - Using two forks, shred the beef directly in the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to distribute sauce evenly throughout the meat.
06 - Serve hot over steamed white rice, in butter lettuce wraps, or alongside steamed vegetables. Top with remaining green onions, sesame seeds, and sliced red chili if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce develops this incredible depth while slow cooking, balancing sweet, salty, and just enough heat to keep things interesting without overwhelming anyone
- It is one of those recipes that makes you look like you spent hours in the kitchen when really you just whisked and pressed a button
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid during cooking, since every time you do, you add about 15 minutes to the cooking time
- The sauce will thicken considerably as it cooks, so do not worry if it looks thin when you first combine everything
03 -
- Cut the beef into consistently sized chunks so everything cooks at the same rate and you do not end up with some pieces dry while others are perfect
- Line your slow cooker with a disposable liner for easy cleanup since this sticky sauce can be stubborn to wash off