Description
Hearty slow cooker ground beef chow mein delivers authentic Chinese-American comfort in minimal prep time. Home cooks can enjoy restaurant-quality noodles without complex cooking techniques while satisfying hungry families with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 8 oz (226 g) cooked and drained chow mein noodles or spaghetti
- 1 large chopped onion
- 3 minced cloves of garlic
- 2 cups sliced celery
- 2 cups shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix)
- 1 julienned carrot
- 1 can (5 oz or 142 g) drained and sliced water chestnuts
- ½ cup beef broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Beef Preparation: Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking meat into small pieces. Drain excess fat and transfer to slow cooker.
- Vegetable Integration: Add onions, garlic, and celery to the slow cooker, distributing evenly with the beef to create a foundational flavor base.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ground ginger, black pepper, and beef broth in a separate bowl. Pour the seasoned liquid over beef and vegetables, ensuring complete coverage.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and cook on low temperature for 6 hours, allowing ingredients to develop rich, harmonious flavors and vegetables to tenderize thoroughly.
- Final Vegetable Addition: 30 minutes before serving, incorporate cabbage, carrots, and water chestnuts. Switch slow cooker to high setting to warm fresh vegetables while preserving their crisp texture.
- Noodle and Serving Preparation: Cook egg noodles or spaghetti to al dente consistency. Layer noodles with beef mixture, then garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds for a vibrant, appetizing presentation.
Notes
- Meat Preparation Tip: Brown ground beef thoroughly to develop rich, caramelized flavors and eliminate excess grease, which can make the dish greasy and less appetizing.
- Vegetable Timing Strategy: Add fresh vegetables like cabbage and carrots near the end of cooking to preserve their crisp texture and vibrant color, preventing them from becoming mushy.
- Sauce Depth Technique: Whisk sauce ingredients separately before adding to ensure even distribution and balanced seasoning throughout the dish.
- Noodle Cooking Hack: Cook noodles al dente separately to maintain perfect texture and prevent them from becoming soggy when mixed with the slow-cooked beef mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 396
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 737 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 79 mg