Tender Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Recipe (Print Version)

Hearty Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef, melt-in-your-mouth tender. A simple, comforting dinner with rich flavors. Perfect for busy weeknights!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 7 Hours minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Gluten-Free (use GF Worcestershire)

# Ingredients:

→ Hearty Beef & Base

01 - 3-4 pound beef chuck roast
02 - 4 cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)

→ Flavor Powerhouses

03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
04 - 6-8 cloves fresh garlic, minced
05 - 1 large yellow onion, chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

→ Aromatics & Seasoning

07 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

→ Fresh Finishers

10 - Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)

# Instructions:

01 - First up, pat that chuck roast dry with paper towels. This is a crucial step, honestly, for getting a good sear. Season it generously all over with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Now, in a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt a tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Once it’s shimmering, sear the beef on all sides until it’s beautifully browned. This step builds so much flavor, creating those delicious crusty bits that will make your slow cooker garlic butter beef sing. Don't rush it; those browned bits are gold!
02 - Carefully transfer the seared beef to your slow cooker. In the same skillet (don't clean it yet, all those browned bits are flavor!), add the remaining butter. Once melted, toss in your minced garlic and chopped onion. Sauté them for about 2-3 minutes, until the onion softens and the garlic becomes fragrant. Oh, the smell at this point is just incredible! Be careful not to burn the garlic; a gentle golden color is what you're aiming for. I've definitely burnt garlic before and had to start over, oops!
03 - Pour a splash of beef broth into the skillet and scrape up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. This is called deglazing, and it adds immense depth to your sauce. Once everything is scraped up, pour this flavorful mixture over the beef in the slow cooker. Add the rest of the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and dried thyme. Give it a gentle stir around the beef, making sure everything is nestled in.
04 - Cover your slow cooker and set it to low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours. The cook time will vary a bit depending on your slow cooker and the size of your roast, but you're looking for fork-tender beef. When it's ready, you should be able to easily shred the beef with two forks. The house will smell absolutely divine by now, trust me! I always peek after about 6 hours on low, just to make sure things are going smoothly.
05 - Once the beef is perfectly tender, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the beef into bite-sized pieces. It should fall apart effortlessly! Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker, stirring it into that rich, garlicky butter sauce. This lets the beef really soak up all those incredible flavors. Sometimes I even mash a few of the onions into the sauce for extra thickness.
06 - Taste the slow cooker garlic butter beef and adjust seasonings if needed. You might want a little more salt or pepper, or even a dash more Worcestershire sauce for an extra kick. Ladle this gloriousness over your favorite sides – mashed potatoes are a personal favorite for soaking up all that sauce! Garnish with some fresh parsley if you're feeling fancy, or just dig in. It's going to be so tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, you'll wonder why you didn't make it sooner!

# Notes:

01 - A little trick I learned: searing the beef first, even just a quick flash, really locks in those juices and makes a huge difference in flavor. Don't skip it if you have a few extra minutes!
02 - Leftovers of this slow cooker garlic butter beef are honestly even better the next day. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. It reheats beautifully on the stovetop or even gently in the microwave.
03 - Ran out of beef broth? Vegetable broth works in a pinch, or even just water with an extra bouillon cube. I've tried it, and while the depth is slightly different, it still makes a delicious slow cooker garlic butter beef.
04 - Serve this garlic butter beef over creamy mashed potatoes, some fluffy rice, or even with crusty bread to soak up all that incredible sauce. A sprinkle of fresh parsley at the end brightens everything up, too.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Slow cooker (6-quart or larger)
02 - large skillet or Dutch oven
03 - cutting board
04 - two forks

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450-550
Total Fat: 30-40g
Total Carbohydrate: 5-10g
Protein: 40-50g

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