Description
This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes is a hearty and flavorful dish perfect for a comforting meal. Tender beef chuck roast chunks are slow-cooked with baby potatoes, garlic butter, and aromatic herbs to create a rich and savory meal with minimal effort. The optional searing step adds extra depth of flavor, while the slow cooker does the rest, resulting in fall-apart tender beef and perfectly cooked potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 2.5 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 lbs baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved
- 1 medium onion, sliced (optional)
- 1 cup carrots, chopped (optional)
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (or a mix of thyme, oregano, basil)
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (plus more for garnish)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for searing, optional)
Instructions
- Season the Beef: Pat the beef chunks dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and black pepper to enhance the meat’s flavor.
- Sear the Beef (Optional): Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef chunks for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. This step is optional but adds depth of flavor. Work in batches if necessary.
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Place the halved baby potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seared beef chunks on top. Scatter sliced onion and chopped carrots over the beef if using.
- Make Garlic Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, melt the butter. Stir in minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and chopped parsley.
- Add Liquids and Sauce: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes. Drizzle the garlic butter sauce over everything and gently toss to distribute the flavors evenly.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes are soft but retain shape.
- Adjust and Thicken Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. If the sauce is too thin, let it sit uncovered for 15 minutes, or mash a couple of potatoes into the broth to thicken.
- Serve: Transfer the beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon extra sauce over the top, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve warm.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, do not skip the searing step, though it is optional.
- Including the onion and carrots adds extra sweetness and texture, but they can be omitted if desired.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit for mild taste.
- To thicken the sauce without mashing potatoes, you can also remove the lid near the end of cooking to reduce liquid by evaporation.
- Use low-sodium beef broth to control saltiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7-8 hours on LOW or 4-5 hours on HIGH
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef, beef chuck roast recipe, slow cooker potatoes, easy beef dinner, comfort food, one pot meal
