Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes Recipe
This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender chunks of beef chuck roast slow-cooked with baby Yukon Gold potatoes, garlic, and Italian herbs in a rich butter sauce. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal, it combines savory flavors and a melt-in-your-mouth texture with minimal effort thanks to the slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7-8 hours on LOW or 4-5 hours on HIGH
- Total Time: 7 hours 20 minutes to 8 hours 20 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 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
- Season the Beef: Pat beef chunks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, then season generously with salt and black pepper to enhance the meat’s natural flavors.
- Optional Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef chunks for 2-3 minutes on each side until they develop a brown crust. This step adds extra flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- Prepare Slow Cooker Base: Place the halved baby potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker. Layer the seared (or raw) beef chunks on top. If using, scatter the sliced onion and chopped carrots over the meat and potatoes.
- 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 to create the flavorful butter mixture.
- Assemble and Add Liquids: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes. Drizzle the garlic butter sauce over everything, then gently toss to distribute ingredients and flavors evenly.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker. Cook 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 retain their shape.
- Adjust and Thicken Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper if needed. If the sauce is too thin, let the slow cooker sit uncovered for 15 minutes or mash some potatoes into the broth to thicken it up.
- Serve: Transfer the beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon extra sauce over the top, sprinkle with fresh parsley for garnish, and serve warm for a delicious comforting meal.
Notes
- Searing the beef before slow cooking adds depth of flavor but can be skipped to save time.
- Use low-sodium beef broth to better control the saltiness of the dish.
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
- You can add other root vegetables such as parsnips or turnips for variety.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.
Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef, beef chuck roast recipe, easy slow cooker meals, beef and potatoes, comfort food, winter dinner
