🥩🍯 Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Beef Bites

📝 Description

These Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Beef Bites are tender, juicy chunks of beef slow-cooked in a rich, savory-sweet sauce made with honey, soy sauce, garlic, and herbs. The beef becomes melt-in-your-mouth soft while soaking up bold flavor. Perfect served over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles for a comforting, family-friendly dinner.

🍽 Servings

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6–8 hours (Low) or 3–4 hours (High)

🛒 Ingredients

For the Beef:

• 2–3 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1½-inch cubes

• 1 small onion, diced

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

For the Honey Garlic Sauce:

• ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce

• ⅓ cup honey

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tbsp ketchup

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp dried thyme (optional)

• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

• ½ cup beef broth

For Thickening (Optional):

• 1 tbsp cornstarch

• 2 tbsp cold water

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Crockpot

Place diced onions at the bottom of the slow cooker.
Add cubed beef on top. Season with salt and pepper.

2️⃣ Mix the Sauce

In a bowl, whisk together:
Soy sauce, honey, garlic, ketchup, olive oil, thyme, red pepper flakes, and beef broth.

3️⃣ Slow Cook

Pour sauce evenly over beef.
Cook:

• LOW: 6–8 hours

• HIGH: 3–4 hours

Beef should be fork-tender when done.

4️⃣ Thicken Sauce (Optional)

Remove beef.
Mix cornstarch + cold water.
Stir into sauce and cook on High 10–15 minutes until thickened.
Return beef to coat.

💡 Notes

• Chuck roast works best because it becomes tender during slow cooking.

• Avoid lean cuts — they can become dry.

• Sauce will thin naturally from slow cooking moisture.

🔥 Tips for Best Results

✔ Sear beef cubes before slow cooking for deeper flavor.
✔ Add carrots or baby potatoes for a full meal.
✔ Garnish with green onions & sesame seeds.
✔ Serve over white rice to absorb sauce.
✔ Make it spicy with extra red pepper flakes or sriracha.

🥗 Nutritional Information (Approx. Per Serving)

Calories: 420–480
Protein: 35g
Fat: 22g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 700mg

(Values vary depending on portion size and sauce thickness.)

🌟 Benefits

✅ High in protein
✅ Rich in iron & B vitamins
✅ Comforting and filling
✅ Easy one-pot meal
✅ Great for meal prep

❓ Q & A

Q: Can I use frozen beef?
A: It’s best to thaw first for even cooking and food safety.

Q: Can I cook this in an Instant Pot?
A: Yes — cook on High Pressure for 35 minutes with natural release.

Q: Why is my beef tough?
A: It may need more cooking time. Tough beef usually becomes tender if cooked longer on Low.

Q: Can I freeze leftovers?
A: Yes! Freeze up to 3 months in airtight container.

Q: Can I reduce the sweetness?
A: Yes — reduce honey to ¼ cup and add extra soy sauce.