Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes Recipe
This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes recipe features tender, flavorful beef chuck roast cooked low and slow with baby Yukon Gold potatoes, garlic, butter, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for an effortless and comforting meal, it requires minimal prep and yields a rich, hearty dish ideal for family dinners or meal prepping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours 45 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 the beef chunks dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture, then season generously with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor throughout cooking.
- Sear the Beef (Optional): Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef chunks for 2-3 minutes per side until nicely browned to develop a deeper, richer flavor. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
- Layer Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the halved baby potatoes evenly at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seared (or raw) beef chunks on top. Scatter sliced onion and chopped carrots over the meat if using to add sweetness and texture.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Stir in the minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and chopped fresh parsley to create a fragrant butter mixture.
- Add Liquids and Sauce: Pour the 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes to provide moisture. Drizzle the garlic butter sauce over everything and gently toss or distribute to coat ingredients evenly.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes are soft but still hold their shape, for the best texture and flavor development.
- Adjust Sauce and Finish: Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper as desired. If the sauce seems too thin, let it sit uncovered for about 15 minutes to reduce or mash a couple of potatoes into the broth to thicken it.
- Serve: Transfer the beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon extra sauce over the top, garnish with additional fresh parsley, and serve warm alongside your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- Searing the beef before slow cooking adds a deeper, caramelized flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- For firmer potatoes, add them halfway through the cooking time instead of at the beginning.
- Prepare all ingredients the night before for an easy, ready-to-start meal in the morning.
- Use plant-based butter and gluten-free beef broth to make this recipe dairy-free and gluten-free.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator and often taste even better the next day after flavors meld.
Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef, beef chuck roast, slow cooker recipe, comfort food, easy dinner, beef and potatoes