Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes Recipe
This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes is a comforting, hearty meal perfect for any day of the week. Tender beef chuck roast simmers slowly with baby Yukon Gold potatoes, infused with a rich garlic butter sauce seasoned with Italian herbs and fresh parsley. The dish is easy to prepare with minimal hands-on time, delivering robust flavors and melt-in-your-mouth textures that make for a satisfying family dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours (low) or 4.5 hours (high)
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes (low) or 4 hours 45 minutes (high)
- 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 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 browned to develop a richer flavor. Work in batches if necessary, then transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Place the halved baby Yukon Gold potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seared beef chunks on top, then scatter sliced onions and chopped carrots if using, creating layers of flavor.
- Make 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 parsley to form a fragrant sauce.
- Combine Ingredients: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes. Drizzle the garlic butter sauce on top and gently toss everything together inside the slow cooker to distribute flavors evenly.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is tender and easily pulls apart, and the potatoes are soft but remain intact.
- Adjust Flavor and Sauce Consistency: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired. If the sauce is thinner than preferred, allow it to sit uncovered for 15 minutes or mash a few potatoes into the broth to thicken it slightly.
- Serve: Transfer the beef and potatoes to a serving platter. Spoon extra sauce over the top, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Searing the beef before slow cooking adds extra depth of flavor but can be skipped for convenience to save time.
- For firmer potatoes, add them halfway through the cooking time instead of at the beginning.
- Prep all ingredients the night before to save time on busy mornings or days.
- Use plant-based butter and gluten-free broth to make this recipe dairy-free and gluten-free suitable.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator and taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld.
Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef, slow cooked potatoes, beef chuck roast recipe, easy slow cooker meal, comfort food, garlic herb beef
