This slow cooker recipe is a treat for the weekend. The best thing about it is that it takes just minutes to prepare, freeing up time to do other things.

But despite the minimal effort, the taste will be fantastic. And you can enjoy it knowing all the health benefits too. While it's a good idea to limit the amount of red meat like beef that you eat, it's fine to eat occasionally. Mushrooms are a great source of vitamin D and broccoli is hugely beneficial to our health.

The recipe comes from TikTok and Instagram cooking star Poppy O'Toole (Poppy Cooks). She has been teaching children how to cook with a slow cooker as part of the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools campaign - a £4 million project to give children a healthy, nutritious boost thanks to daily fruit and veg and slow cookers.

"It’s about getting everyone a bit more inspired to see how easy and accessible cooking in the slow cooker can be," she said. "It’s also a great way of utilising those yellow label foods that are close to their best before date. Just pop them all in the slow cooker and you have a delicious meal."

Beef, Broccoli & Mushroom Slow Cooker Stew

• Serves 4
• Takes 2 hrs 30 mins-5 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

800g lean diced beef

1 red onion, sliced

300g closed-cup mushrooms, roughly chopped

200ml water

60ml reduced-salt soy sauce

1 tbsp sesame oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2cm of grated ginger

1 tbsp corn flour mixed with 1 tbsp of water

white pepper, to taste

1 large head of broccoli (about 375g), cut into florets, or 400g frozen broccoli florets

cooked brown rice or noodles, to serve

Method

1. Put all the ingredients except the broccoli in the slow-cooker and mix really well. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours until the beef is tender.

2. Add the fresh or frozen broccoli to the slow-cooker, stir, then cook on high for 30 mins.