Slow Cooker Beef Barbecue

If you haven’t already noticed, I’m a big fan of my slow cooker. I use it at least once a week because it’s a great time-saver. I throw some ingredients into the pot in the morning, and dinner is hot and waiting for us at the end of the day. It’s like magic!

Another thing that’s like magic? This Slow Cooker Beef Barbecue! It reminds me of the beef barbecue that my mom makes on the stovetop – sweet, tender, and full of flavor. Pure comfort food, in my book!

Ingredients – Here’s What You’ll Need;

• Beef Chuck Roast
• Onion
• Barbecue Sauce
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Dijon Mustard
• Liquid Smoke
• Garlic Powder
• Sandwich Buns (optional)

So even though Keith is a master smoker and makes the best smoked barbecue around town, I rely on these sandwiches for a satisfying weeknight meal when my resident Smoke Master is otherwise occupied. And by the way — Keith and the boys totally give this dinner the stamp of approval!

Serve the barbecue sandwiches with coleslaw or salad and potato chips on the side, and your family will be very happy!

What To Do With Leftovers

If you have left-overs, the meat freezes really well. A good way to switch it up? Stuff the extra barbecue in tacos, in quesadillas, on pizza, or inside a baked potato!

More Beef Recipes To Try:

• 4-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole
• Dump and Bake Beef Stroganoff Casserole
• Easy Beef Enchiladas
• Melt In Your Mouth Braised Beef Brisket

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Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches

5 from 2 votes

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 9 hours hours

Total: 9 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 504 kcal

Author: Blair Lonergan

A tender chuck roast simmers all day in a rich, smoky barbecue sauce until it's fall-apart juicy and ready to pile onto sandwich buns. Just 5 minutes of prep and your Crock Pot does the rest!

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Equipment

• 6-7 quart slow cooker

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 boneless beef chuck roast (about 2.5 - 3 lbs.)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 ¾ cups barbecue sauce (one 18-oz. bottle of Stubbs Original works well)
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)
• Sandwich buns, coleslaw, and sliced pickles, for serving

Instructions

• Spray the liner of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place the diced onion in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  
• Pat the beef dry with paper towels. Season both sides with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place the roast on top of the onion.
  
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke (if using). Pour the sauce over the beef.
  
• Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef shreds easily with two forks.
  
• Transfer the beef to a cutting board, large bowl, or rimmed baking sheet. Shred with two forks, discarding any large pieces of fat. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker and stir into the sauce.
  
• Serve on sandwich buns. Top with coleslaw, sliced pickles, or extra barbecue sauce as desired.
  

Notes

• Chuck roast is key. The marbling and connective tissue in chuck roast break down over the long cook, giving you tender, juicy shredded beef. Leaner cuts won't yield the same succulent meat.
• LOW heat gives the best results. HIGH works in a pinch (4-5 hours), but 8-10 hours on LOW produces noticeably more tender, juicy beef.
• Pick a sauce you love. The barbecue sauce is the main flavor driver here. A slightly sweet sauce with a little tangy bite like Stubbs Original works especially well.
• Liquid smoke is optional. Add it for a subtle smoky depth that mimics slow-smoked barbecue. A little goes a long way: 2 teaspoons is plenty.
• Toasting the buns helps. Run sandwich buns under the broiler for 1-2 minutes before loading them up. It adds texture and keeps the bread from getting soggy.
• Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in a saucepan over low heat with a splash of water or extra BBQ sauce.
• Leftover ideas: Use the shredded beef in tacos, quesadillas, on pizza, or spooned over a baked potato.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of beef plus 2 tablespoons sauceCalories: 504kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 38gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 1530mgPotassium: 921mgFiber: 2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 221IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 5mg

Keyword: bbq beef sandwich, BBQ beef sandwich recipe, Beef barbecue, braised BBQ beef sandwich, pulled beef sandwich, slow cooker BBQ beef sandwiches

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Author: Blair Lonergan

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This recipe for Slow Cooker Beef Barbecue was originally published in April, 2013. The photos were updated in June, 2017.