Tender Slow Cooker Korean Beef (Printable)

A slow-cooked Korean-style beef dish with savory-sweet flavors and tender texture.

# 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
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 - Optional: sliced red chili, for garnish

# Steps:

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 shredding itself while you go about your day
  • The sauce balances sweet and savory so perfectly youll want to drink it
02 -
  • Chuck roast needs that low and slow approach, high heat will make it tough and stringy instead of meltingly tender
  • The sauce will thicken significantly as it cooks, so do not be tempted to add more liquid halfway through
03 -
  • Pat the beef dry with paper towels before adding the sauce, this helps it brown slightly and develop more flavor even in the slow cooker
  • Let the beef rest for 10 minutes after cooking before shredding, the juices redistribute and make everything more tender