Print

Easy Slow Cooker Korean Beef | Sweet & Savory Over Rice Dinner

Slow Cooker Korean Beef served over fluffy rice with a glossy sauce, making it the perfect Over Rice Meals idea for an easy dinner.

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This Slow Cooker Korean Beef turns an affordable cut of beef into tender, shredded meat coated in a sweet-savory soy sesame sauce. Serve it over rice for an easy, comforting dinner with big flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs flank steak
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 diced onion
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Make the sauce base.
    Grab a medium mixing bowl and whisk together the cornstarch, sesame oil, garlic powder, soy sauce, brown sugar, diced onion, and red pepper flakes. Keep whisking until the mixture looks fully combined and the sugar starts dissolving into the liquid. The sauce should smell bold, salty-sweet, and a little toasty from the sesame oil.
  2. Set up the beef in the slow cooker.
    Place the flank steak in the bottom of the crock pot in a single layer if possible. If the cut is too large to lay flat, do your best to nestle it in so the sauce can touch as much surface area as possible. This helps the flavor move through the meat as it cooks.
  3. Pour the sauce over the meat.
    Pour the sauce mixture directly over the beef, making sure the onion and seasonings spread across the top. Use a spoon if needed to move some of the onion pieces around so they do not stay in one clump. The goal is to coat the meat evenly so Slow Cooker Korean Beef can absorb the sauce from top to bottom.
  4. Slow cook until tender.
    Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours. The exact timing depends on your appliance and the thickness of the steak, but the beef should become soft enough to shred easily with a fork when it is done.
  5. Remove and shred or slice.
    Lift the cooked beef out of the crock pot and place it on a cutting board or shallow plate. Use two forks to shred it into bite-size strands, or slice it into pieces if you prefer a chunkier texture. Both methods work, but shredding gives Slow Cooker Korean Beef that classic pulled-beef feel.
  6. Return the beef to the sauce.
    Put the shredded or sliced beef back into the slow cooker and stir it well so every piece gets coated with the sauce. Let it sit in the warm sauce for a few minutes before serving so it picks up even more flavor. This step helps Slow Cooker Korean Beef taste rich and fully finished.
  7. Serve warm over rice.
    Spoon the beef over cooked rice and add any extras you like, such as scallions, sesame seeds, or steamed vegetables. The sauce soaks into the rice and makes the whole bowl taste complete.

Notes

Serving idea:
This Slow Cooker Korean Beef tastes fantastic over white rice, brown rice, fried rice, quinoa, noodles, or cauliflower rice.

Storage:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until hot.

Freezing:
Once cooled, place the beef in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

 

Variations:
You can add broccoli or carrots near the end of cooking, or make the dish spicier with gochujang, sriracha, or extra red pepper flakes.

Nutrition