This Slow Cooker Korean Beef is the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug on a busy day. Packed with rich, bold flavors from garlic, soy, and sesame, and sweetened just enough with brown sugar, the tender beef melts in your mouth after hours of gentle simmering. The slow cooker does all the work, leaving you with a comforting, no-fuss dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
What makes this dish even more versatile is how you can serve it. It’s excellent over a bowl of fluffy white rice, but also works well in wraps, tacos, or atop a warm grain bowl. A garnish of green onions and sesame seeds adds the perfect final touch. Whether you’re cooking for family, friends, or just for yourself, this dish delivers rich flavor with minimal effort.
Full Recipe:
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3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
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1 cup beef broth
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½ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
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½ cup brown sugar, packed
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tablespoon sesame oil
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1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
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1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
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1 teaspoon Sriracha, or more to taste
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½ teaspoon onion powder
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½ teaspoon white pepper
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2 tablespoons cornstarch
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¼ cup water (for cornstarch slurry)
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2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
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1 teaspoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
Directions:
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In a large bowl, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, ginger, Sriracha, onion powder, and white pepper.
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Place the cubed chuck roast into a 6-quart slow cooker.
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Pour the broth mixture over the beef and stir to combine.
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Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours, or on high for 3–4 hours, until the beef is tender and falls apart easily.
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In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with ¼ cup water. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker.
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Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
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Serve immediately, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 8 hours 30 minutes | Total Time: 8 hours 40 minutes
Kcal: ~420 kcal | Servings: 6 servings
Introduction to Slow Cooker Korean Beef
Slow Cooker Korean Beef is a comforting, flavor-packed dish that brings the essence of Korean cuisine into a format that suits even the busiest of home cooks. Using the convenience of a slow cooker, this recipe takes traditional Korean-inspired flavors and melds them with the long, slow braising process to create a deeply savory, tender beef dish that’s both satisfying and versatile. With only about ten minutes of prep work, this recipe is a dream come true for anyone craving a homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
Rooted in classic Korean flavor combinations, this dish features a sweet and salty sauce made from soy, garlic, sesame, and brown sugar, balanced with acidity from vinegar and heat from Sriracha. As the chuck roast slowly simmers for hours, it absorbs all of these rich flavors, breaking down into juicy, melt-in-your-mouth beef that’s as delicious as it is easy to make.
Why This Recipe Works
One of the primary reasons this recipe stands out is the use of chuck roast. This particular cut of beef is known for its marbling and connective tissue, which breaks down beautifully during long, slow cooking. While it might be too tough for a quick skillet dish, chuck roast becomes incredibly tender when cooked for several hours, soaking up all the bold Korean flavors in the process.
Another key element is the balance of the sauce. Soy sauce brings that umami base, brown sugar adds depth and sweetness, garlic and ginger contribute warmth and pungency, sesame oil lends nuttiness, and vinegar provides a subtle brightness that keeps the dish from becoming overly heavy. A touch of Sriracha offers gentle heat, but the spice level can be easily adjusted based on personal taste.
Using the slow cooker is another major advantage. Once the ingredients are combined and the cooker is turned on, it’s truly a hands-off experience. You can go about your day while the flavors develop and the meat transforms. For anyone juggling work, school, family, or other responsibilities, a slow cooker meal like this one is invaluable.
The Appeal of Korean-Inspired Flavors
Korean cuisine is beloved around the world for its bold, vibrant flavors and comforting dishes. Ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger are staples in Korean kitchens and play a central role in many traditional recipes. These ingredients are not only flavorful but also carry health benefits, especially garlic and ginger, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.
What’s unique about this Slow Cooker Korean Beef is that it borrows those time-honored flavor profiles and adapts them for a modern audience. The result is a dish that maintains authenticity in taste but streamlines the cooking process for home cooks. This fusion of tradition and convenience is one reason why this recipe has become a favorite in many households.
Perfect for Meal Prep and Leftovers
One of the most practical aspects of this dish is how well it lends itself to meal prep. Because it yields a generous amount of beef and sauce, it’s easy to divide the meal into individual portions for the week ahead. The beef also freezes well—simply cool it completely, pack it into freezer-safe containers or bags, and store it for up to two months.
Leftovers can be just as exciting as the initial meal. While the beef is often served over rice, it’s equally delicious in tacos, sliders, wraps, or noodle bowls. You can even use it as a protein topping for salads or transform it into a fusion burrito. The flavor deepens over time, making leftovers a highly desirable part of the experience.
Customizing the Dish
One of the great strengths of this recipe is its flexibility. While it’s delicious exactly as written, there are many ways to adapt it based on your preferences or what you have on hand.
For Vegetarians: While this recipe is built around beef, the sauce could easily be used with tofu, jackfruit, or mushrooms as a plant-based alternative.
For Extra Vegetables: During the last 30–60 minutes of cooking, you can toss in vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas. These veggies will cook just enough to absorb flavor without turning mushy.
For Heat Lovers: Increase the amount of Sriracha or add some Gochujang, a traditional Korean chili paste, for a bolder kick.
For Sweetness Control: If you’re sensitive to sweet sauces, the amount of brown sugar can be reduced slightly without affecting the balance too much.
Garnish Options: While green onions and sesame seeds are commonly used, adding pickled cucumbers, crushed peanuts, or fresh herbs like cilantro can offer added freshness and texture.
Pairing Suggestions
Slow Cooker Korean Beef is extremely versatile when it comes to sides. The classic pairing is steamed white rice, which acts as a neutral base and soaks up the flavorful sauce beautifully. However, other grains work well too, including:
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Brown rice: Adds a nuttier flavor and extra fiber
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Cauliflower rice: For a low-carb option
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Quinoa: Offers a high-protein alternative
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Noodles: Especially soba or ramen, for an Asian noodle bowl spin
For vegetables, steamed broccoli, sautéed bok choy, or roasted carrots can help round out the plate. You might also consider serving it with a small side of kimchi, which complements the richness of the beef with tangy, spicy brightness.
Cultural Inspiration and Global Appeal
Although this recipe is not a traditional Korean dish per se, it’s inspired by flavors deeply rooted in Korean culinary culture. It’s an example of Korean-American fusion—taking inspiration from bulgogi or kalbi marinades and translating that into a slow-cooked format accessible to a global audience.
This kind of adaptation has helped popularize Korean food worldwide, allowing people who may not have access to specialty ingredients or cooking tools to still enjoy the foundational flavors of Korean cuisine. As more people seek international tastes and home-cooked comfort in the same dish, recipes like this one meet that need perfectly.
Health Considerations
Despite being rich and satisfying, this dish can be made relatively health-conscious with just a few tweaks. Using reduced-sodium soy sauce significantly cuts down on sodium content, and serving the beef with plenty of vegetables can help increase the nutrient density of the meal. Leaner cuts of beef may also be used, though chuck roast remains the most flavorful and tender option when cooked low and slow.
The sauce contains sugar, which is common in Korean marinades. If you’re watching your sugar intake, you can experiment with less sugar or swap it for alternatives like coconut sugar or a sugar substitute, though this may slightly affect the caramelized flavor.
Serving Ideas for Special Occasions
While this is a great weeknight dinner, it also makes a wonderful dish for casual entertaining. It’s stress-free to prepare, serves a crowd, and pairs well with a wide variety of side dishes. You can even set it up as part of a DIY rice bowl bar, with toppings like shredded carrots, pickled radish, cucumber slices, sesame seeds, and chili flakes.
This format works well for birthdays, game days, potlucks, or family gatherings, offering a comforting, shareable dish that appeals to many palates.
Conclusion
Slow Cooker Korean Beef is more than just a recipe—it’s a showcase of how traditional flavors can be made accessible and modern. It combines the convenience of slow cooking with the complexity of Korean ingredients, resulting in a dish that’s simple enough for a weekday dinner but impressive enough for guests.
The adaptability of this recipe is another reason it has become a staple in so many households. Whether you’re customizing it to your dietary needs, freezing leftovers for another day, or serving it at a gathering, this dish delivers big on flavor with very little fuss.
If you’re looking to explore global cuisine in a practical, home-friendly way, Slow Cooker Korean Beef is a must-try. It’s the perfect entry point into Korean flavors and an ideal example of how international comfort food can be both easy and unforgettable.