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Homemade Slow Cooker Korean Beef Recipe

Slow cooker Korean beef is a rich and comforting dish made with tender beef slow-cooked in a sweet and savory Korean-inspired sauce, delivering bold bulgogi-style flavors with minimal prep.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Korean
Calories: 315
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 –4 lbs boneless beef chuck roast or short ribs cut into chunks
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped
  • 6 –8 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger grated
  • 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon gochujang optional
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup optional
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 –2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with water
  • Sliced green onions for garnish
  • Toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Method
 

  1. Pat beef dry and cut into evenly sized chunks.
  2. Sear beef in olive oil until browned on all sides.
  3. Transfer beef and chopped onion to the slow cooker.
  4. Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, gochujang, honey, and black pepper.
  5. Pour sauce over beef and stir to coat.
  6. Cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
  7. Shred beef and return to sauce.
  8. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until sauce thickens.
  9. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds before serving.

Notes

For best texture, cook on low heat and avoid skipping the searing step, which adds deep flavor to the final dish.