Slow Cooker Korean Beef (Printable version)

Slow-cooked beef with a savory Korean sauce, perfect for serving over rice or wraps.

# List of ingredients:

→ 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
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

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, gochujang, and toasted sesame seeds until smooth.
02 - Place beef chunks in the slow cooker. Pour sauce over the beef, turning to coat evenly.
03 - Scatter half of the green onions over the beef.
04 - Cover and cook on low for 7 hours, or until beef is very tender and can be easily shredded with a fork.
05 - Shred the beef directly in the slow cooker using two forks. Stir to coat with the sauce.
06 - Serve hot over steamed rice, in lettuce wraps, or with steamed vegetables. Garnish with remaining green onions, sesame seeds, and optional sliced red chili.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The beef becomes impossibly tender, practically falling apart under a fork
  • The sauce balances sweet, salty, and spicy in the most addictive way
  • It tastes like you spent hours laboring over a stove, but your slow cooker does all the work
02 -
  • Don't rush the cooking time, even if the beef looks done earlier, the flavor needs those full hours to develop
  • The sauce will thicken considerably as it cooks, so don't worry if it seems thin at the start
  • Letting the beef rest in the sauce for 15 minutes after shredding helps it absorb even more flavor
03 -
  • Cut your beef into uniformly sized chunks so everything cooks at the same rate
  • If you have time, sear the beef in a hot pan before adding it to the slow cooker for extra depth
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until golden and fragrant

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