Description

This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes is a hearty and comforting meal featuring tender beef chuck roast cooked low and slow with baby Yukon Gold potatoes in a rich garlic butter sauce. Enhanced with Italian herbs and a touch of crushed red pepper flakes, this dish offers a perfect balance of savory and aromatic flavors. Ideal for busy days, the slow cooker method ensures the beef becomes fork-tender while the potatoes soak up all the delicious juices.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Vegetables

2.5 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
2 lbs baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved
1 medium onion, sliced (optional)
1 cup carrots, chopped (optional)

Seasonings and Sauces

Salt and black pepper, to taste
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

Prepare and Season Beef: Pat the beef chunks dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture, then season generously with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor.
Optional Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef chunks for 2-3 minutes per side until nicely browned. Doing this in batches prevents crowding and ensures even browning, which adds depth to the dish.
Arrange Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the halved baby potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seared beef chunks on top, then scatter the sliced onions and chopped carrots if using, creating layers of flavor.
Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Stir in minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and chopped fresh parsley to infuse the sauce with aromatic flavors.
Add Liquids and Sauce: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes. Drizzle the prepared garlic butter sauce over all the ingredients, then gently toss to distribute the flavors without breaking the potatoes.
Cook Slowly: Cover the slow cooker and set to LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours. Cook until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes are soft but still hold their shape.
Adjust Seasoning and Sauce Thickness: Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper as needed. If the sauce seems too thin, leave the slow cooker uncovered for 15 minutes to reduce or mash a couple of potatoes into the broth to thicken it naturally.
Serve: Transfer the beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon any remaining sauce over the top, sprinkle with fresh parsley for garnish, and serve warm to enjoy this comforting slow-cooked meal.

Notes

For richer flavor, sear the beef before adding to the slow cooker, but this step is optional.
You can omit onions and carrots if preferred; potatoes and beef still make a satisfying dish alone.
Adjust crushed red pepper flakes based on your spice preference or omit for mild flavor.
If you don’t have fresh parsley, use dried parsley instead, adjusting quantity accordingly.
This dish can be made ahead and reheated; flavors tend to develop further overnight.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef, slow-cooked beef recipe, beef with potatoes, slow cooker dinner, comfort food recipe