Slow Cooker Melt-in-Your-Mouth Shredded Beef
Tender, juicy, and packed with rich savory flavor, this slow-cooked shredded beef practically falls apart with a fork. It’s perfect for sandwiches, tacos, rice bowls, mashed potatoes, or a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
For the Beef
– 3–4 pounds (1.4–1.8 kg) beef chuck roast
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1 large onion, diced
– 4 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 cups beef broth
– 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
– 2 tablespoons tomato paste
– 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
– 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1 teaspoon onion powder
– 1 teaspoon garlic powder
– 1½ teaspoons salt
– 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
– 2 bay leaves
Instructions
1. Season the beef
Pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels. Season generously on all sides with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and thyme.
2. Sear for extra flavor
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the roast for 3–4 minutes per side, until deeply browned. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker.
3. Build the flavor
Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 2–3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
4. Slow cook
Pour the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce into the skillet, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom. Pour everything over the beef in the slow cooker. Add the apple cider vinegar and bay leaves.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8–9 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef is exceptionally tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
5. Shred the beef
Remove the roast and discard the bay leaves. Use two forks to shred the beef into tender pieces. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker and stir it into the flavorful juices.
6. Serve and enjoy!
Let the shredded beef soak up the juices for 10–15 minutes before serving. Spoon it over mashed potatoes, pile it onto toasted buns, or use it to make delicious tacos, burritos, or rice bowls.
Pro Tip
For the richest flavor, don’t skip the searing step. Those golden-brown bits create an incredibly delicious base for the slow-cooked beef.
