Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes Recipe
This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender beef chuck roast cooked low and slow with baby Yukon Gold potatoes, garlic, herbs, and a rich butter sauce. Perfect for a hands-off meal with rich flavors and tender vegetables, this recipe offers an easy way to prepare a satisfying dinner with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
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 mix of thyme, oregano, basil)
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (plus more for garnish)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for searing, optional)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
Instructions
- Season and Dry Beef: Pat beef chunks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture and season generously with salt and black pepper to enhance the flavor before cooking.
- Sear the Beef (Optional): In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and sear beef chunks for 2-3 minutes per side until browned to develop rich caramelized flavor. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
- Layer Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place halved baby Yukon Gold potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seared beef chunks on top, and scatter sliced onion and chopped carrots if using to add extra flavor and vegetables.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Stir in minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, optional crushed red pepper flakes, and chopped fresh parsley to create a fragrant and flavorful sauce.
- Add Broth and Sauce: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes. Drizzle the garlic butter sauce over all the ingredients and gently toss to distribute the flavors throughout the slow cooker.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook the mixture 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 still hold their shape.
- Adjust Seasoning and Thicken Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper as needed. If the sauce is too thin, cook uncovered for 15 minutes to reduce, or mash a couple of potatoes into the broth to thicken it naturally.
- Serve: Transfer the beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon the extra sauce over the top, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Searing the beef before slow cooking adds extra depth of flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- For firmer potatoes, add them halfway through the cooking time instead of at the beginning.
- Prep all ingredients the night before for an easy start in the morning.
- Use plant-based butter and gluten-free broth for dairy-free and gluten-free adaptations.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator and taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld.
Keywords: Slow cooker beef recipe, garlic butter beef, beef chuck roast, easy slow cooker meals, comfort food, crockpot beef and potatoes