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!
My boys love BBQ Beef sandwiches from a BBQ joint in my hometown, so I made it a mission to make an easy but delicious BBQ slow cooker pulled beef recipe. They love Balsamic Braised Pot Roast, so I knew they would love this pulled beef recipe, too.
This Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Beef comes together super quickly and it slow cooks to perfection all day long. And my kids love it!
This shredded BBQ beef recipe is delicious and turns out so tender and easy to shred. This 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, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, or Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes.
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Ingredients
- Beef Chuck Roast - chuck roast is the perfect cut of beef for shredded beef sandwiches (just like in my Instant Pot Italian Beef recipe!). 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 or do a island style BBQ sauce like I use in my Slow Cooker Caribbean Chicken!
- 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.
Refer to the recipe card for the complete ingredient list.
Variations
Add some spice - if you would like your BBQ beef to have a kick, add ¼-1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Switch up the BBQ sauce - use whatever your favorite BBQ sauce is to determine the exact flavor of the BBQ beef. Use a low sugar BBQ sauce if that is important to you.
Step by Step Instructions
As mentioned, this recipe for slow cooker pulled beef is so easy to make! Here are the step by step instructions on how to make it. Refer to the recipe card for the complete instructions.
Step 1. Add the bottled BBQ sauce, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl.
Step 2. Mix together the ingredients well.
Step 3. Add the chuck roast in the slow cooker.
Step 4. Cover the chuck roast with the BBQ sauce.
Step 5. Cook the beef on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the meat shreds easily.
Step 6. Shred the beef with two forks. 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. They are also great served with some Greek Fries! Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches are a true family favorite in our household!
Recipe FAQs
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!
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.
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 for 24 hours 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 on low in the slow cooker.
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!
Yes. To make the beef ahead of time, cook according to directions, shred, and refrigerate. Reheat in the slow cooker on high for 1 hour.
Other beef recipes to consider...
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
Ingredients
- 3-4 lbs beef chuck roast
- 16 ounce bottle BBQ Sauce whatever your favorite kind is! We love Stubbs or Lillie's Q
- 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place chuck roast in a large slow cooker.
- In a bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour over the beef.
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or low for 7-8 hours, until the beef shreds easily. Note: if your chuck roast is frozen, add 1 hour to cooking time.
- Shred the beef and return to the slow cooker with the BBQ sauce.
- Cook on high for 30 more minutes. This step is optional, but allows the sauce to cook down a little more.
- Serve on buns.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- This beef is great in sandwiches, but also delicious on top of mashed potatoes with corn and BBQ baked beans.
- To prep ahead of time, make the BBQ sauce ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- To make the beef ahead of time, cook according to directions, shred, and refrigerate. Reheat in the slow cooker on high for 1 hour.
- To make into a freezer meal - combine the BBQ sauce and chuck roast in a freezer bag and freeze up to 3 months. Prior to cooking, let thaw in the refrigerator for about 24 hours.
Have. You made this in the Instant Pot? What timing would you use? I’ve done pork butt in the IP for 90 min.
This was delicious barbecue beef. Toasted the buns on the griddle, great meal!