Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef with Potatoes

Tender beef, buttery garlic sauce, and soft baby potatoes come together in this comforting one-pot slow-cooker dinner. Searing the beef first is optional, but it adds extra flavor.

Ingredients

For the Beef

• 2½ lb (1.1 kg) beef chuck roast or beef stew meat, cut into large chunks
• 1½ lb (680 g) baby Yukon Gold or baby red potatoes, halved if large
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 5–6 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce, optional
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• ½ tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt, or to taste
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Optional

• ½ tsp red pepper flakes for heat
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
• 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water for thickening the sauce

Instructions

1. Prepare the beef: Pat the beef dry with paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
2. Sear the beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef in batches for about 2–3 minutes per side, until browned. This step is optional but gives the finished dish deeper flavor.
3. Prepare the slow cooker: Place the potatoes and sliced onion in the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange the browned beef on top.
4. Make the garlic butter: Melt the butter and stir in the minced garlic, thyme, parsley, rosemary, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes if using.
5. Combine: Pour the garlic-butter mixture over the beef and potatoes. Pour the beef broth around the sides of the beef.
6. Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes are soft.
7. Thicken the sauce (optional): For a thicker gravy, mix cornstarch with cold water. Stir it into the cooking liquid and cook on HIGH for another 15–30 minutes.
8. Finish: Gently stir everything together and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
9. Serve: Serve the tender beef and potatoes warm, spooning plenty of the garlic-butter sauce over the top.

Tips

• Baby Yukon Gold or red potatoes hold their shape particularly well during slow cooking.
• Don’t cut the potatoes too small, or they can become overly soft before the beef is finished.
• For the most tender beef, use the LOW setting and allow the full cooking time.
• A simple green salad, steamed green beans, or dinner rolls make excellent sides.

Servings: 6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 7–8 hours on LOW
Total time: about 8 hours 15 minutes.