Introduction
There’s nothing quite like coming home to the smell of slow-cooked beef bathing in a garlicky, buttery gravy. This dish is the epitome of comfort food: tender, fall-apart chuck roast slow-cooked to perfection in a pool of garlic butter and savory beef gravy. Perfect over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles, it’s an easy, hands-off recipe that tastes like you worked all day on it (even though your slow cooker did all the heavy lifting).
🛒 Ingredients
For the Beef:
- 3–4 lbs beef chuck roast (boneless)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for searing)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced
- 2 cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)
For the Gravy (after slow cooking):
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Season and Sear the Beef
- Pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder on all sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef for 3–4 minutes per side until browned. (This step locks in flavor—don’t skip it!)
Step 2: Prepare the Slow Cooker
- Place sliced onions and minced garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the seared roast on top of the onion and garlic.
- Add Worcestershire sauce, thyme, beef broth, and dot the top of the roast with butter slices.
Step 3: Slow Cook the Beef
- Cover and cook:
- Low: 8–9 hours
- High: 5–6 hours
- The beef should be fork-tender and easily shred apart when done.
Step 4: Make the Gravy
- Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks.
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with cold water until smooth.
- Pour the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker juices. Stir well.
- Turn the slow cooker to High and cook for 5–10 minutes until the gravy thickens.
- Return the shredded beef to the thickened gravy and mix well.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Serve hot over:
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Buttery egg noodles
- Steamed white or brown rice
- Toasted sandwich buns for a killer beef dip sandwich
👩🍳 Tips & Variations
- Add veggies: Toss in carrots or mushrooms with the onions for a heartier meal.
- Make it spicy: Add red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce for heat.
- Shortcut: Skip the searing step if you’re pressed for time—it’ll still be tasty, just slightly less rich in flavor.