Crock Pot Zesty Orange Beef

This Crock Pot Zesty Orange Beef is a bold and flavorful recipe, which uses beef top sirloin and fresh shiitake mushrooms. It’s a straightforward recipe, ready in about 6 hours and 15 minutes.

Crock Pot Zesty Orange Beef Ingredients

• 1 beef top sirloin steak (1-1/2 pounds), cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 2-1/2 cups sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms
• 1 medium onion, cut into wedges
• 3 dried hot chiles
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh gingerroot
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-3/4 cups fresh snow peas
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• Hot cooked rice

How To Make Crock Pot Zesty Orange Beef

1. Layer the ingredients: Place the beef in a 4-quart slow cooker. Add the mushrooms, onion, and dried chiles on top.
2. Mix the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, orange juice, soy sauce, cider vinegar, cornstarch, ginger, sesame oil, and garlic.
3. Pour over beef: Pour the prepared sauce over the meat and vegetables in the slow cooker.
4. Cook the beef: Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours, until the beef is tender.
5. Add snow peas: During the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in the snow peas.
6. Finish with zest: Right before serving, stir in the grated orange zest.
7. Serve: Spoon over hot cooked rice and serve warm.

Recipe Tips

• Can I use a different cut of beef? Yes, flank steak or chuck roast also work well in slow cooker recipes.
• How spicy is this dish? The dried hot chiles add heat. Use fewer or remove seeds for a milder flavor.
• What can I use instead of shiitake mushrooms? Button or cremini mushrooms make good substitutes.
• How to thicken the sauce: The cornstarch in the sauce helps thicken it, especially as it cooks down.
• Can I prep this the night before? Yes, assemble everything except the snow peas and refrigerate. Start cooking in the morning.

What To Serve With Crock Pot Zesty Orange Beef

This beef is great served over rice, but here are a few more ideas:

• Steamed jasmine or basmati rice
• Stir-fried vegetables
• Garlic green beans
• Asian cucumber salad
• Egg rolls or spring rolls

How To Store Zesty Orange Beef

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Zesty Orange Beef Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 310
• Fat: 8g
• Saturated fat: 3g
• Cholesterol: 55mg
• Sodium: 554mg
• Carbohydrates: 24g
• Sugars: 16g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 33g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Can I make this in a larger slow cooker?
Yes, a 6-quart slow cooker works fine—just ensure ingredients are layered evenly.

Why is my beef tough?
It may need more time. Cook until the beef is fork-tender, checking around the 5-hour mark.

Can I add more vegetables?
Yes, bell peppers, broccoli, or baby corn can be added with the snow peas.

What if I don’t have fresh ginger?
You can use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger as a substitute.

Is this recipe gluten-free?
It can be if you use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.

Try More Recipes:

• Crock Pot Corned Beef And Cabbage
• Crock Pot Thai Coconut Beef
• Crock Pot Hungarian Beef Goulash