Slow Cooker Black Pepper Beef with Broccoli Recipe

This easy slow-cooker black pepper beef and broccoli features tender beef simmered in a savory Chinese-style black pepper sauce and finished with rice noodles for a one-pot family meal that takes about 10 minutes of prep time.

One of our favorite dishes from Tasty Noodle House in San Diego is their Black Pepper Beef & Noodles, and this slow cooker version recreates that same bold, pepper-forward flavor at home. I’ve previously adapted a number of Chinese restaurant classics—Orange Chicken, Honey Chicken, and Chinese Lettuce Wraps—so it felt natural to develop a hearty beef recipe that is easy enough for a weeknight but flavorful enough for guests.

Slow cooking the beef in a concentrated black pepper sauce makes the meat very tender while allowing the flavors to deepen over time. Because the beef braises in the sauce, there’s no need for an overnight marinade—the long, gentle cooking does the flavor work for you. This recipe is designed to be largely hands-off: combine the sauce ingredients, add the beef to the crockpot, and return 20 minutes before serving to add rice noodles and broccoli. The result is a complete meal cooked in a single pot.

When the noodles go in near the end, they soak up the sauce and finish cooking directly in the slow cooker, while the broccoli steams to a bright, tender-crisp finish. That means fewer pots to wash and a satisfying, saucy dish you can serve straight from the cooker. Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions, answers to common questions, and the full recipe ingredients and directions.

Step by step instructions

1. Whisk together oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, mirin and freshly ground black pepper to create a rich black pepper sauce.
2. Place thinly sliced beef into the slow cooker, pour the sauce over the meat, and add beef broth so the meat is partially submerged.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3–4 hours, until the beef is very tender.
4. About 15–20 minutes before serving, add rice noodles and broccoli to the crockpot, pushing the noodles down so they are fully covered by the liquid.
5. Replace the lid and continue cooking for 15–20 minutes, or until the rice noodles are tender and the broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender.
6. Stir gently to combine, taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve topped with sliced scallions.

Frequently asked questions

• What cut of beef should I use? Sirloin is my preferred choice for this slow-cooker recipe because it becomes tender and holds flavor well when sliced thinly across the grain. Flank steak or skirt steak also work if you slice them thinly against the grain.
• Can I make this gluten free? Yes. Use a certified gluten-free tamari or gluten-free soy sauce and a gluten-free oyster sauce to keep this dish free of gluten.
• Is this recipe low carb? The beef and broccoli itself is relatively low in carbs; omit the rice noodles to make a lower-carb meal. Without the rice noodles, the beef and broccoli portion is much lower in carbohydrates.
• How do I store and reheat leftovers? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat to avoid overcooking the beef, adding a splash of beef broth or water if the sauce has thickened too much. Rice noodles may soften further when stored; you can refresh them briefly in hot water if needed.
• Can I make this ahead? Yes. You can slow-cook the beef a day ahead and refrigerate the cooled mixture. Rewarm and add noodles and broccoli about 20 minutes before serving to finish the dish.

More Chinese recipes

For more homemade twists on Chinese restaurant favorites, try these recipes: General Tso’s Vegetarian Noodle Stir Fry, Chinese Orange Glazed Salmon, Easy Chicken Lo Mein, Chicken Potsticker Stir Fry, One Pot Teriyaki Shrimp Lo Mein, Easy Beef Stir Fry, and Stir Fry Vegetables.

Save this Black Pepper Beef and Broccoli recipe for later and, if you try it, feel free to share a photo on social media using your own accounts and tags. This slow-cooker version simplifies the cooking process while delivering bold, restaurant-style flavor you can enjoy any night of the week.