Tender Crockpot Steak Bites

Instructions

1. Prep the Steak
   Pat steak cubes dry using paper towels. This helps with browning if you opt for searing.

2. Make the Marinade
   In a bowl, whisk soy sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper.

3. Optional Sear
   For deeper flavor, quickly sear steak cubes in a hot skillet (1 Tbsp oil) just until edges brown. They need not be cooked through.

4. Slow Cook
   Place steak and marinade into the crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or on HIGH for 2–3 hours, until pieces are fork-tender.

5. Thicken Sauce (Optional)
   If you like a thicker sauce, mix cornstarch and cold water into a slurry and stir into the crockpot. Cook an additional ~15 minutes with the lid off.

6. Serve
   Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve the steak bites over mashed potatoes, rice, or with veggies.

Notes & Tips

• Use low-sodium soy sauce to avoid over-salting as the flavors intensify while cooking.

• Uniformly sized steak cubes ensure even cooking.

• Searing before slow cooking adds flavor but can be skipped for simplicity.

• If sauce separates after refrigeration, just reheat gently and stir to recombine.