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Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes Recipe

4.7 from 739 reviews

This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes is a hearty and comforting meal perfect for busy days. Tender chunks of beef chuck roast are slow-cooked with baby Yukon Gold potatoes in a rich garlic butter sauce infused with Italian herbs. Optional vegetables like onions and carrots can be added for extra flavor and nutrition. The slow cooker method makes this dish effortless while delivering deeply savory and melt-in-your-mouth results.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Potatoes

  • 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

  1. Season the Beef: Pat the beef chunks dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture. Generously season all sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance flavor.
  2. 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 adds extra depth of flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
  3. Prepare the Slow Cooker: Place the halved baby potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seared beef chunks on top. If using, scatter the sliced onion and chopped carrots evenly over the beef and potatoes.
  4. Make Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and chopped fresh parsley until well combined.
  5. Add Liquids and Sauce: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes in the slow cooker. Drizzle the prepared garlic butter sauce over everything. Gently toss the ingredients to distribute the sauce evenly.
  6. Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours. The beef should become fork-tender and the potatoes soft but still hold their shape.
  7. Adjust and Thicken Sauce: Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper as needed. If the sauce is too thin, leave the slow cooker uncovered for 15 minutes to reduce the liquid or mash a couple of potatoes into the broth to thicken.
  8. Serve: Transfer the tender beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon extra sauce over the top, sprinkle with additional fresh parsley, and serve warm for a comforting meal.

Notes

  • Searing the beef before slow cooking enhances the flavor but can be skipped to save time.
  • Adding onions and carrots is optional but adds extra texture and sweetness.
  • For thicker sauce, reduce liquid uncovered or mash some potatoes into the cooking liquid at the end.
  • Leftovers store well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave.
  • Use baby Yukon Gold potatoes for best texture; other small potatoes can be substituted.

Keywords: slow cooker beef recipe, garlic butter beef, slow cooker potatoes, beef chuck roast slow cooker, easy beef dinner