Description
This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender beef chuck roast cooked low and slow with baby Yukon Gold potatoes, garlic, butter, and aromatic herbs. The beef becomes melt-in-your-mouth soft, infused with savory flavors from garlic, Italian herbs, and a rich buttery sauce. Perfect for an easy yet impressive weeknight meal or a cozy family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 2.5 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 medium onion, sliced (optional)
- 1 cup carrots, chopped (optional)
- 2 lbs baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved
Seasonings and Sauces
- 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 the Beef: Pat the beef chunks dry thoroughly with paper towels and season generously with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor.
- Sear the Beef (Optional): Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef chunks for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned, working in batches if necessary. This step develops deeper flavor but can be skipped.
- Layer Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the halved baby Yukon Gold potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker to serve as a base. Add the seared beef chunks on top, then scatter sliced onions and chopped carrots if you are using them.
- Make the 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 garlic butter mixture.
- Add Liquids and Sauce: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes. Drizzle the prepared garlic butter sauce on top and gently toss the ingredients slightly to distribute the flavors without breaking the potatoes.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 7-8 hours, or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes are soft but still hold their shape.
- Adjust and Thicken Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper seasoning as needed. If the sauce appears too thin, let it sit uncovered for 15 minutes to reduce, or mash a few potatoes into the broth to thicken it up naturally.
- Serve: Transfer the tender beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon additional sauce over the top, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve warm for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- Searing the beef is optional but enhances flavor by developing a rich crust.
- Using low-sodium beef broth helps control the salt content.
- You can add other root vegetables like parsnips or turnips for variation.
- For thicker sauce, allow it to reduce uncovered at the end or mash some potatoes into the broth.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours (LOW) or 4.5 hours (HIGH)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef, beef chuck roast recipe, slow cooked beef and potatoes, dinner recipe, comfort food, crockpot beef stew
