Description
This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes recipe offers a comforting and hearty meal featuring tender chunks of beef chuck roast cooked low and slow to perfection with baby Yukon Gold potatoes, savory garlic butter, and aromatic herbs. It’s an easy, flavorful dish perfect for busy days, delivering a rich blend of buttery, garlicky goodness balanced with subtle heat from red pepper flakes and fresh parsley for freshness.
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
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for searing, optional)
- 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
Instructions
- Prep and Season the Beef: Pat the beef chunks dry using paper towels to ensure a good sear and season generously with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor.
- Sear the Beef (Optional): Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef chunks for about 2-3 minutes per side until browned, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. This step adds depth of flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- Prepare Slow Cooker Base: Place the halved baby Yukon Gold potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seared beef chunks on top. If using, scatter sliced onions and chopped carrots over the beef for added sweetness and texture.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, melt the unsalted butter and stir in minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and chopped fresh parsley to create a fragrant sauce.
- Add Broth and Sauce: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes. Drizzle the prepared garlic butter sauce across the ingredients and gently toss to evenly coat everything without disturbing the layering too much.
- Cook in Slow Cooker: Cover and cook on LOW setting for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is tender enough to shred easily with a fork and the potatoes are soft but still hold their shape.
- Adjust and Thicken Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. If the sauce is too thin, leave the slow cooker uncovered for about 15 minutes to reduce the liquid, or mash a couple of potatoes into the broth for natural thickening.
- Serve: Transfer the slow-cooked beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon extra sauce over the top, garnish with additional fresh parsley, and serve warm for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- Searing the beef is optional but recommended to deepen flavor and improve texture.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or omit entirely for a milder dish.
- Add vegetables like carrots and onions for extra sweetness and nutritional value.
- Be sure not to overcook the potatoes to avoid mushiness.
- Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This dish can be reheated gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- 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, easy slow cooker recipe, garlic butter potatoes, comfort food slow cooker
