Slow Braised Beef in Rich Onion Gravy

Tender beef chuck roast slowly braised in a deeply flavorful onion gravy until melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Perfect served over mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles.

📝 Ingredients

• 3 lbs (1.4 kg) beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup dry red wine (or extra beef broth)
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 3 tbsp cold water
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Pat the beef dry and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the beef on all sides until deeply browned, about 3–4 minutes per side.
3. Transfer the beef to a slow cooker.
4. In the same skillet, add the sliced onions and cook for 8–10 minutes until softened and caramelized.
5. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
6. Add the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
7. Pour in the red wine (if using) and scrape up the browned bits from the pan. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
8. Stir in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, thyme, and bay leaves.
9. Pour the onion gravy mixture over the beef in the slow cooker.
10. Cover and cook on LOW for 8–9 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.
11. Remove the bay leaves.
12. Mix the cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry. Stir it into the gravy and cook on HIGH for another 15–20 minutes until thickened.
13. Shred or leave the beef in chunks, then stir gently to coat with the rich onion gravy.
14. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Buttered egg noodles
• Steamed white rice
• Roasted vegetables
• Crusty artisan bread

⏱️ Time

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 8–9 hours (LOW)
• Total Time: About 9 hours
• Servings: 6–8

💡 Tips

• Chuck roast is ideal because it becomes incredibly tender during slow cooking.
• For extra richness, stir in 2 tablespoons of butter just before serving.
• Add sliced mushrooms or carrots during the last 2 hours of cooking for additional flavor.
• Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well for up to 3 months.