Our Best-Ever Slow Cooker BBQ Beef (Melt-in-Your-Mouth Goodness!)

Are you in pursuit of that perfect, fall-apart beef, swimming in a tangy, smoky, and satisfyingly rich BBQ sauce? Picture arriving home to the wonderful scent of a slowly simmered meal, ready and waiting to be devoured. That dream is about to become a reality. Our tried-and-tested Slow Cooker BBQ Beef recipe is the ideal solution for effortless weeknight meals and relaxed weekend feasts.

We firmly believe that incredible food shouldn’t be complicated. This particular recipe is the essence of ‘set and forget’ cooking. With just a handful of minutes for preparation in the morning, your slow cooker takes over, working its magic to turn a simple cut of beef into a truly delicious centrepiece. It’s a dish that delivers comfort, flavour, and happiness to any dining table. If you’re a fan of straightforward yet flavour-packed dishes, we think you’ll also adore our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe.

Whether you choose to pile it onto a soft brioche bun, tuck it into tacos, or serve it alongside creamy mashed potatoes, this versatile shredded beef is destined to be a new favourite in your home.

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

• Effortless to Make, Packed with Flavour: We’re talking about a mere 15 minutes of prep work. Simply combine the ingredients in your slow cooker, and it transforms into a stunning meal. It’s the ultimate Easy slow cooked beef for anyone who loves a proper home-cooked dinner without the fuss.
• Unbelievably Tender and Succulent: The gentle, slow cooking process expertly breaks down the beef, resulting in meat so tender that it effortlessly shreds with the touch of a fork.
• Ideal for Meal Prepping: This recipe yields a generous portion, and we find the leftovers are even more flavourful the following day! It’s perfect for easy lunches or quick dinners during a busy week.
• Wonderfully Versatile: Don’t limit yourself to sandwiches! This beef is fantastic on nachos, in quesadillas, piled onto jacket potatoes, or simply served with your favourite steamed vegetables. The serving options are truly endless.
• A Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: If you’re hosting a gathering, this recipe is a lifesaver. It can be easily scaled up to feed a large group with very little stress, giving you more precious time to spend with your guests.

Ingredients

For this recipe, we rely on a handful of simple yet robust ingredients that combine to create a truly spectacular BBQ sauce. Here is everything you will need:

• 1.5kg beef brisket or chuck roast, visible fat trimmed
• 2 medium brown onions, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 250ml (1 cup) your favourite BBQ sauce
• 120ml (1/2 cup) beef broth or stock
• 80g (1/2 cup) soft brown sugar, packed
• 60ml (1/4 cup) apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato purée
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried mustard powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Buns, coleslaw, and pickles for serving (optional)

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Beef

Creating this dish is remarkably simple. We’ve outlined the process in four easy-to-follow steps to take you from start to finish. Whether you own a slow cooker or a Crock-Pot, this Crockpot BBQ beef recipe is sure to be a success.

Step 1: Create the Base Layer

First, we build a foundation of flavour for the beef to cook upon. Arrange the thinly sliced onions in an even layer across the bottom of your slow cooker. This not only imparts a lovely sweetness as the onions break down but also elevates the beef, preventing it from catching on the base.

Step 2: Whisk the BBQ Sauce Together

In a medium bowl, we will prepare the star of the show: the sauce. Combine your chosen BBQ sauce, the beef broth, soft brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, tomato purée, minced garlic, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and pepper. Give it all a good whisk until the sugar is fully dissolved and the sauce is smooth. This mixture will tenderise the beef and infuse it with that signature sweet, tangy, and smoky taste.

Step 3: Let It Cook Low and Slow

Nestle your beef brisket or chuck roast right on top of the onions in the slow cooker. Pour your freshly made BBQ sauce all over the beef, ensuring it is generously coated. Secure the lid, turn the slow cooker to the ‘low’ setting, and allow it to cook for 8–10 hours. If time is tight, you can use the ‘high’ setting for 4–5 hours, though we feel the ‘low and slow’ approach gives the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth result.

Step 4: Shred, Mix, and Serve

When the cooking time is complete, the beef will be exquisitely tender. You can check its readiness by prodding it with a fork – it should shred with no resistance. Gently lift the beef out of the slow cooker and transfer it to a large dish or cutting board. With two forks, pull the meat apart until it’s fully shredded. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker and stir it through the rich sauce, making sure every strand is coated. Let it rest for another 10-15 minutes to absorb even more flavour. Your perfect Shredded beef is now ready to be enjoyed!

Choosing the Best Cut of Beef

The triumph of this recipe truly depends on selecting the right cut of beef. You need a cut that has plenty of marbling and connective tissue, as these elements render down during the extended cooking time, creating an exceptionally moist, tender, and flavourful dish.

• • Beef Brisket: This is our number one recommendation. It offers a superb ratio of meat to fat, which translates to a deep, rich flavour and a wonderfully tender texture after hours in the slow cooker.

–Chuck Roast: Often sold as braising steak, this is another fantastic and typically more economical choice. Sourced from the shoulder, it is rich in connective tissue that melts beautifully, making it perfect for shredding.

We suggest you steer clear of leaner cuts such as sirloin or rump roast, as they are prone to becoming dry and chewy when cooked for a prolonged period. For a comprehensive look at different beef cuts and their ideal uses, this guide from BBC Good Food is a brilliant resource.

Our Favourite Ways to Serve Slow Cooker BBQ Beef

One of the greatest attributes of this recipe is its sheer versatility. While it creates the most amazing BBQ sandwich filling, that’s really just the start! Here are a few of our preferred ways to serve it:

1. The Classic Sandwich: Load the succulent shredded beef onto a toasted brioche or a sturdy crusty roll. Add a generous topping of creamy coleslaw and a few tangy pickles for the ultimate BBQ beef sandwich experience.
2. Fully Loaded Nachos: Arrange a layer of tortilla chips on a baking sheet, then top with the BBQ beef and a liberal amount of grated cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, then finish with soured cream, jalapeños, and guacamole.
3. Stuffed Jacket Potatoes: A fluffy, hot-from-the-oven jacket potato filled with our smoky BBQ beef and a cooling dollop of soured cream is the very definition of comfort food.
4. Flavour-Packed BBQ Beef Tacos: Spoon the beef into warmed tortillas and garnish with your go-to taco toppings, such as shredded lettuce, fresh diced tomatoes, and a scattering of coriander.
5. The Ultimate Mac and Cheese Topping: Elevate your classic macaroni and cheese to a whole new level by adding a hearty scoop of the BBQ beef on top of each portion. It is a true game-changer!

If you’re on the hunt for another quick and versatile meal that the entire family will enjoy, we highly recommend you try our Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls.

FAQ

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Comfort Meal

And there we have it – a straightforward, delectable, and immensely satisfying Slow Cooker BBQ Beef recipe that we’re confident will become a regular feature in your meal plan. It stands as proof that you don’t need to spend hours actively cooking to produce a meal that’s bursting with flavour and adored by all.

The real beauty of the slow cooker lies in its ability to do all the hard work for you, tenderising the beef to perfection while allowing the sauce’s flavours to meld into something truly remarkable. It’s the ideal dish for a cosy evening in, a summer garden party, or a hectic weeknight when you need a dependable and delicious meal.

We are so excited for you to give this recipe a go! When you do, we would love it if you could come back and share your thoughts in the comments below. Did you serve it in a sandwich, on nachos, or did you invent a new way to enjoy it? We love hearing your stories! Please don’t forget to rate the recipe and share it with your loved ones.

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