When the garden and produce stands are still full but weeknights are getting busy again, this 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker End of Summer Sizzle is the kind of supper that saves the day. A simple raw beef flank steak cooks low and slow with a handful of colorful vegetables and sauce until it turns tender and flavorful, giving you a hearty family meal with hardly any fuss. It is a nice way to stretch those late-summer vegetables into something cozy and satisfying.
Serve this over hot rice, buttered egg noodles, or creamy mashed potatoes to catch all the savory juices. A piece of warm crusty bread and a simple green salad make it feel like a full Sunday-style supper, and if you want to keep things extra easy, a side of steamed green beans or sweet corn fits right in with the end-of-summer feel.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker End of Summer Sizzle
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 raw beef flank steak, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds
2 cups diced zucchini
2 cups diced tomatoes
1 large onion, diced
1 cup barbecue sauce
Directions
1. Place the raw beef flank steak in the bottom of the slow cooker. Scatter the diced zucchini, diced tomatoes, and diced onion all around and over the steak, then pour the barbecue sauce on top.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is very tender and the vegetables have softened into the sauce.
3. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and slice it thinly against the grain, or shred it into large tender pieces if your family prefers. Stir the meat back into the sauce and vegetables.
4. Taste and serve warm over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, spooning plenty of the vegetable-rich sauce over each serving.
Variations & Tips
Kid-Friendly Plate: For picky eaters, serve the sliced beef over buttered noodles and spoon just a little sauce on top instead of mixing everything together heavily. You can also dice the vegetables a little smaller so they melt more into the sauce.
Make It Smokier: Use a smoky-style barbecue sauce if your family likes a deeper cookout flavor. That small swap gives the dish a richer taste without adding any extra work or ingredients.
Add A Little Heat: If the grown-ups enjoy some spice, stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce at the end. It is an easy way to keep the base recipe family-friendly while still making part of it a little bolder.
Slicing Tip: Flank steak is always best when sliced against the grain. That one little step helps each bite stay tender and makes a budget-friendly cut feel much more special on the dinner table.
Meal Prep Shortcut: You can dice the zucchini and onion the night before and store them in the refrigerator so breakfast-to-dinnertime is even easier. In the morning, all you have to do is load the slow cooker and turn it on.