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Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes Recipe

4.5 from 61 reviews

This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes is a comforting and hearty main course perfect for family dinners. Tender beef chuck roast is slow-cooked with baby Yukon Gold potatoes, fragrant garlic butter, and Italian herbs to create a rich and flavorful meal that requires minimal hands-on time. Whether you sear the beef beforehand for extra flavor or skip that step for convenience, this recipe delivers melt-in-your-mouth beef and perfectly soft potatoes in one delicious, easy crockpot meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Seasoning

  • 2.5 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (for searing, 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)

Vegetables and Broth

  • 2 lbs baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 medium onion, sliced (optional)
  • 1 cup carrots, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare and Season Beef: Pat the beef chunks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Generously season all sides with salt and black pepper for enhanced flavor.
  2. 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. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. This step is optional but adds a deep, rich flavor.
  3. Arrange Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the halved baby Yukon Gold potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the seared beef chunks on top. Scatter the sliced onion and chopped carrots over the beef if using.
  4. 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 until well combined.
  5. Add Broth and Sauce: Pour the low-sodium beef broth evenly over the beef and potatoes. Drizzle the garlic butter sauce over everything. Gently toss the ingredients to help distribute the sauce throughout the slow cooker.
  6. Cook Slowly: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours. Cook until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes are soft but not mushy.
  7. Adjust and Thicken Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust salt and pepper as needed. If the sauce is too thin, leave it uncovered for 15 minutes to reduce or mash a couple of potatoes into the broth to thicken.
  8. Serve: Transfer the beef and potatoes gently to a serving platter. Spoon any extra sauce over the top, sprinkle with additional fresh parsley for garnish, and serve warm.

Notes

  • Searing the beef before slow cooking adds extra flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
  • For firmer potatoes, add them halfway through the cooking time rather than at the beginning.
  • Prep all ingredients the night before for an effortless morning start.
  • Use plant-based butter and gluten-free beef broth to make the recipe dairy-free and gluten-free.
  • Leftovers store well in the refrigerator and taste even better the next day as flavors meld.

Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef, beef and potatoes, comfort food, easy dinner, crockpot recipe, family meal, potluck, gluten-free, one-pot meal