This delicious beef stir-fry is so full of flavour and so very easy to make in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. Even on a busy day, I can have a healthy meal on the table in only a few minutes when I make this yummy beef stir-fry in the Instant pot. Or, it can be made in the slow cooker, simmering away during the day, ready to eat for a delicious healthy meal.
Beef Stir-Fry
This healthy beef stir-fry can be made in the slow cooker or the Instant pot. For those days when you forget to take something out of the freezer, the Instant pot is a lifesaver. Or, if you are better organised, you can have this meal slowly cooking, ready when you are able to sit down for your meal.
What type of Beef?
As this is a stir-fry meal, the beef will need to be sliced into strips. The best type of beef to use is sirloin, though flank, skirt, top round, and chuck can also be used. When cooking the meal, it may not look like there is a lot of sauce, as the food may not be all submerged. But, this is okay. There will be enough liquid at the end.
The Sauce
The sauce makes this meal so amazing, though please check it as you go and alter to suit your families needs and tastes.
While I didn’t thicken the sauce, you can do if you wish. This can be done directly in the slow cooker or Instant pot. Just add a slurry of arrowroot flour and water or cornflour and water at a ratio of 1:1. Thicken to your desired taste.
Beef Stir-fry Serving Suggestions
This slow cooker beef stir-fry can be served with:
- Cauliflower rice
- White rice
- Brown rice
- Noodles
- In tortilla shells
- In wraps
- In lettuce leaves
- With mashed potato or sweet potato
- Or, eat it on its own
Ingredients for this Beef Stir-Fry
To make this stir-fry, you will need:
- 500g stir fry sliced beef
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 4 teaspoons sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 cups frozen or fresh stir fry vegetables
- Salt, to taste
- ¼ cup sliced green/spring onions
- 1 TBSP oil (Instant Pot only)
Slow Cooker Instructions
Prepare your slow cooker by giving it a little spray with cooking spray.
Slice the beef into strips and place in a zip-lock bag.
Add the cornstarch to the bag with the beef and toss to coat the beef evenly.
Transfer the beef to the prepared slow cooker.
In a small bowl or jug, mix together the sauce ingredients – brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes and black pepper.
Pour the sauce mixture over the beef.
Chop the vegetables and add to the slow cooker.
Season with salt, as desired.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or until the vegetables are tender.
Toss to mix and serve the beef over rice or noodles.
Garnish with sliced spring onions.
Note: Frozen vegetables can be used instead of fresh vegetables. Just be mindful that frozen vegetables do soften faster than fresh vegetables. So, adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Instant Pot Instructions
Slice the beef into strips if needed.
In a small bowl or jug, mix together the sauce ingredients – brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes and black pepper.
Turn the Instant Pot on and select Sauté.
When hot, add the oil to the pot.
Add the beef strips and sear until browned, about 2 – 3 minutes on each side.
Remove the beef and set aside.
If using fresh vegetables, add them to the Instant pot and cook for around 5-7 minutes, or until soft. Stir often.
Add the beef back into the Instant pot.
Pour the sauce mixture over the beef.
Close the lid and seal the valve.
Set on high pressure and cook for 9 minutes. Quick release pressure when done.
If thickening, turn the Instant Pot on and select sauté. Mix together a slurry of arrowroot flour or cornflour and water.
Stir the mixture into the Instant Pot and cook for around 5 to 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened to your desired thickness.
Serve the beef over rice or noodles.
Garnish with sliced spring onions.
Note: Frozen vegetables can be used instead of fresh vegetables. Just be mindful that frozen vegetables do soften faster than fresh vegetables. So, adjust the cooking time accordingly.
More Recipe Ideas
- Creamy Mashed Sweet Potato
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes
- Yummy Instant Pot Recipes
Slow Cooker / Instant Pot Beef Stir-Fry
Ingredients
- 500 g Beef, stir-fry, sliced
- 1 TBSP Cornflour, cornstarch
- 8 Cups Fresh or Frozen Vegetables, sliced and diced, if needed
- Salt, to taste
- ¼ cup Green / Spring Onions, for garnish
- 1 TBSP Oil, Instant Pot only
Sauce
- 6 Cloves Garlic, minced
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- ½ cup Soy Sauce
- 4 TBSP Sesame Oil
- ½ tsp Ground Ginger
- ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Prepare your slow cooker by giving it a little spray with cooking spray.
- Slice the beef into strips and place in a zip-lock bag.
- Add the cornstarch to the bag with the beef and toss to coat the beef evenly.
- Transfer the beef to the prepared slow cooker.
- In a small bowl or jug, mix together the sauce ingredients - brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes and black pepper.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the beef.
- Chop the vegetables and add to the slow cooker.
- Season with salt, as desired.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or until the vegetables are tender.
- If thickening, mix together a slurry of arrowroot flour or cornflour and water and cook until thickened to your desired thickness.
- Toss to mix and serve the beef over rice or noodles.
- Garnish with sliced spring onions.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Slice the beef into strips if needed.
- In a small bowl or jug, mix together the sauce ingredients - brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes and black pepper.
- Turn the Instant Pot on and select Sauté.
- When hot, add the oil to the pot.
- Add the beef strips and sear until browned, about 2 - 3 minutes on each side.
- Remove the beef and set aside.
- If using fresh vegetables, add them to the Instant pot and cook for around 5-7 minutes, or until soft. Stir often.
- Add the beef back into the Instant pot.
- If using frozen vegetables, add them to the pot.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the beef.
- Close the lid and seal the valve.
- Set on high pressure and cook for 9 minutes. Quick release pressure when done.
- If thickening, turn the Instant Pot on and select sauté. Mix together a slurry of arrowroot flour or cornflour and water.
- Stir the mixture into the Instant Pot and cook for around 5 to 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened to your desired thickness.
- Serve the beef over rice or noodles.
- Garnish with sliced spring onions.
Notes
- Frozen vegetables can be used instead of fresh vegetables. Just be mindful that frozen vegetables do soften faster than fresh vegetables. So, adjust the cooking time accordingly.
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