Slow Cooker BBQ Beef

Slow Cooker BBQ Beef is an easy recipe for shredded BBQ beef in the crock pot! This slow cooked beef chuck roast is perfect on sandwiches topped with slaw and pickles, or as a main dish with rice or mashed potatoes. It is a great weeknight dinner!

Over Memorial Day Weekend we went to visit my dad in Iowa and, for dinner one night, we ordered from a local BBQ joint. We had a LOT of smoked meats, from pork and chicken, to brisket and BBQ beef. The boys ended up loving the BBQ Beef sandwiches, so I made it a mission to make an easy but delicious BBQ slow cooker pulled beef recipe. This Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Beef comes together super quickly and it slow cooks to perfection all day long.

This shredded BBQ beef recipe is delicious and turns out so tender and easy to shred. Slow cooker pulled beef is great on sandwiches, especially topped with some extra barbecue sauce, coleslaw and pickles, but can also be served as a main dish with some rice or mashed potatoes.

Ingredients in Crock Pot Barbecue Beef Recipe

• Beef Chuck Roast - chuck roast is the perfect cut of beef for shredded beef sandwiches. It is best slow cooked, which is exactly what the crock pot does in this recipe. Brisket would be a delicious alternative.
• BBQ Sauce - use whatever is your favorite brand! We love Stubb's or Lillie's Q. You could also make your own homemade BBQ sauce!
• Dijon Mustard, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika - these seasonings and spices add a ton of flavor and depth to the barbecue sauce. The Dijon Mustard adds a little tanginess and the acidity tenderizes the meat in the slow cooker.
• Salt and Pepper - season with salt and black pepper, to taste.

Crock Pot BBQ Beef Common Questions

• What cut of beef is best for shredding? A chuck roast is my favorite cut of beef for this BBQ beef recipe, as it shreds very easily once slow cooked long enough. Another great option would be brisket!
• Can I use short ribs for this recipe? I think you could use the BBQ mixture on top of short ribs in a slow cooker, however the cook time would be different. Short ribs would only need about 6 hours on low.
• Can this be made into a freezer meal? Yes! Simply combine the BBQ marinade with the chuck roast in a large freezer bag and freeze. Once you're ready to cook, thaw it overnight in the fridge and then cook according to directions. If the beef is still quite frozen when you're ready to cook it, it will likely need closer to 9-10 hours in the slow cooker.
• How should I serve slow cooker pulled Beef? This slow cooker BBQ shredded beef is perfect shredded and served with buns and coleslaw for a summer BBQ or picnic. It's also great with any kind of summer salads like potato salad, pasta salad, or sweet potato fries and is also great on a busy weeknight when you want to set dinner in the crock pot and forget it until dinner time!
• What should I do with leftovers? Leftover shredded BBQ beef is so delicious! The flavor is even better the next day. You could add a slice of cheese and pickles to make it a little different. We love having it as sandwiches two days in a row, but it's also delicious over mashed potatoes with a side of baked beans or corn. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Beef

As mentioned, this recipe for slow cooker pulled beef is so easy to make!

Make the BBQ Sauce. To start, mix together the jazzed up homemade barbecue sauce by combining bottled BBQ sauce, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

Combine sauce with beef. Place the chuck roast in the slow cooker and then cover with the sauce.

Cook. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours, until the meat shreds easily. If you have a particularly large chuck roast, you might need closer to 8 hours on low and 5 hours on high.

Shred the beef. Shred the meat using a couple of forks, and then cook on high for another 30-60 minutes. The last cook time is technically optional, but I found that it gets the sauce a bit richer in flavor!

That's it! Serve the crockpot BBQ beef on buns topped with some coleslaw and pickles for some crunch - it's delicious! Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches are a true family favorite in our household!

Like this Shredded BBQ Beef Recipe? Check these out, too!

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

Slow Cooker Korean Beef

Slow Cooker Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches