Easy Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue

Welcome to Myriad Cooking, where we make delicious meals simple! Prepare to discover the magic of our Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue. This recipe delivers incredibly tender, flavorful beef, effortlessly cooked to perfection in your slow cooker. It is wonderfully easy to prepare and yields a mouth-watering result that’s sure to impress everyone. Perfect for family dinners, game day gatherings, or any occasion when you crave comforting, home-cooked goodness.

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue

• Effortless Slow Cooker Preparation: Simply set it and forget it! Your slow cooker does all the hard work, leaving you free to enjoy your day.
• Rich, Tangy, Sweet Barbecue Flavor: Our homemade sauce blends the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy notes for an unforgettable taste.
• Melt-in-Your-Mouth Tender Beef: Slow cooking transforms a chuck roast into incredibly juicy, fork-tender meat that practically shreds itself.

Research in culinary science explains how slow cooking breaks down collagen into gelatin which contributes to the tenderness of the beef.

• Ideal for Various Occasions: Serve this versatile Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue for casual weeknight dinners, potlucks, or backyard barbecues.
• Customizable Homemade Sauce: Adjust the sweetness or tanginess of the barbecue sauce to perfectly match your family’s preferences.

Easy Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue

This recipe guides you through making tender, flavorful shredded beef barbecue in a crockpot. It’s a perfect dish for gatherings or a satisfying family meal, ensuring a rich, saucy, and succulent result with minimal effort.

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Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 9 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total Time 10 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

• Small bowl
• Slow cooker
• Large cutting board
• Saucepan

Ingredients

  

Rub

• 2-3 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
• 2.5 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1.5 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Roast and Cooking Liquid

• 4 lb beef chuck roast
• 2 Tbsp yellow mustard
• 0.67 cup beef broth
• 1 tsp liquid smoke optional
• 3-4 Tbsp unsalted butter sliced

Barbecue Sauce

• 1 large yellow onion finely minced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 tsp olive oil
• to taste salt and pepper
• 20-24 oz ketchup bottle
• 0.33-0.5 cup packed light brown sugar
• 0.25 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2-3 Tbsp molasses
• 0.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

 

Cooking the Beef

• Combine the spices for the rub in a small bowl. Place the chuck roast in the slow cooker, drizzle with mustard, and rub it into the meat.
• Season the roast with the spice rub on all sides. Carefully add beef broth and optional liquid smoke around the roast, then top with butter slices. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours until fork-tender.
• Transfer the cooked roast to a cutting board, shred the beef, and discard any large fat pieces. Drain the slow cooker juices, then return the shredded beef to the slow cooker.

Making the Barbecue Sauce

• For the barbecue sauce, heat butter and olive oil in a saucepan, then sauté minced onion and garlic until soft and translucent (5-8 minutes).
• Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, molasses, and Worcestershire sauce until combined. Pour the sauce over the shredded beef in the slow cooker, stir well, and cook on HIGH for about 30 minutes for flavors to meld.
• Serve the shredded beef barbecue hot.

Notes

Ensure to pour broth around the roast to keep the rub intact. The low and slow cooking method is key for tender, shreddable beef. Don’t forget to drain excess fat after shredding for a cleaner barbecue.

Keyword Barbecue beef sandwich, Crockpot BBQ beef, Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue, Easy shredded beef recipe, Slow cooked chuck roast, Slow cooker shredded beef, Tender pulled beef

Ingredients

Gather these simple ingredients to create your next favorite meal, a delicious Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue.

For the Crockpot Shredded Beef

• 2-3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 lb beef chuck roast
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• ⅔ cup beef broth
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
• 3-4 tablespoons unsalted butter (sliced)

For the Homemade BBQ Sauce

• 1 large yellow onion, finely minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 20-24 oz bottle of ketchup
• ⅓-½ cup packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2-3 tablespoons molasses
• ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Notes & Substitutions

For the best results, use a beef chuck roast or brisket for this shredded beef recipe; they become wonderfully tender. The yellow mustard is crucial; it enhances flavor and helps tenderize the meat, but don’t worry, you won’t taste it in the final dish. Adjust the amount of brown sugar in the barbecue sauce to suit your preferred level of sweetness. If you’re short on time, a good quality store-bought barbecue sauce can be used as an alternative to the homemade version. Add liquid smoke for an extra layer of authentic, smoky flavor that truly elevates your Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue.

Equipment

You won’t need many special tools for this easy recipe. Gather these standard kitchen items before you start.

• A standard 6-quart slow cooker will comfortably fit your beef roast.
• You will need a large cutting board for preparing the beef.
• A saucepan is essential for simmering the homemade BBQ sauce.
• Meat shredding claws are optional but make shredding the tender beef much easier.

Instructions

This Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue recipe comes together with minimal effort, thanks to the magic of slow cooking. Follow these simple steps for a mouth-watering meal.

Prep the Beef

Combine the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir them together until well blended and fragrant. Add the chuck roast to your slow cooker, then drizzle it generously with yellow mustard. Rub the mustard into the meat, ensuring an even coating. Sprinkle half of the prepared dry rub over the mustard, rubbing it into the beef. Flip the roast over and apply the remaining rub, covering the entire surface.

Slow Cook the Beef

Carefully pour the beef broth around the base of the roast in the slow cooker, avoiding the top of the meat. If using, add the liquid smoke at this stage, again pouring it around the roast. You want to keep that flavorful rub intact! Finally, top the roast with the sliced unsalted butter. Cover your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours, or until the roast is incredibly fork-tender and easily falls apart. This slow cooking process makes perfect shredded beef.

Shred and Drain

Once cooked, carefully remove the tender roast from the slow cooker and transfer it to a large cutting board. Using two forks or meat shredding claws, shred the beef, discarding any large pieces of fat as you go. Next, drain all the cooking juices from the slow cooker, leaving it empty. Return the wonderfully shredded beef to the clean slow cooker.

Make the BBQ Sauce

Now it’s time to prepare the homemade barbecue sauce. Add the butter and olive oil to a saucepan and heat it over medium heat. Add the finely minced yellow onion and garlic to the pan. Sauté them until they are soft and translucent, which should take about 5-8 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Next, stir in the ketchup, packed light brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, molasses, and Worcestershire sauce. Continue to stir until all the ingredients are well combined and the sauce begins to thicken slightly.

Combine and Finish

Pour the freshly made BBQ sauce directly over the shredded beef in the slow cooker. Stir everything together thoroughly, ensuring the beef is completely coated in the rich, tangy sauce. Cover the slow cooker once more and cook on HIGH for an additional 30 minutes. This final cooking step allows the flavors of the sauce and beef to meld perfectly and slightly caramelize.

Serve

Serve your hot and delicious Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue immediately. Enjoy the rich flavors and tender texture!

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Always cook your beef until it is truly fork-tender; this ensures easy shredding and a wonderfully succulent texture. Don’t add the barbecue sauce too early in the slow cooking process, as it can make the beef less tender. Adjust the sauce to your liking, adding more brown sugar for sweetness or apple cider vinegar for extra tanginess. A common mistake is undercooking the roast, which makes shredding difficult. Another error is washing off the rub when adding liquids; pour broth carefully around the meat.

Serving Suggestions, Storage & Variations

Serving Ideas

Serve your delicious Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue piled high on toasted hamburger buns for a classic sandwich. Pair it with creamy coleslaw or a hearty potato salad for a complete meal. You can also serve this flavorful shredded beef over fluffy mashed potatoes or alongside crispy french fries.

Storage

According to food safety guidelines, cooked beef can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Store any leftover Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze the cooked beef in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen beef overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Variations

Easily customize this Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue recipe to suit your taste. For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the BBQ sauce. Increase the liquid smoke amount for a more intense smoky flavor. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, simply add a bit more brown sugar or molasses. Refer to the FAQ for a quick Instant Pot method.

Nutrition

Here is an estimated nutritional breakdown per serving for this savory Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue.

Nutritional values are estimates only and can vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods. Please use your preferred nutrition calculator for precise information.

FAQ

Conclusion

This Crockpot Shredded Beef Barbecue truly showcases how simple and rewarding slow cooking can be. You get to enjoy incredibly tender, flavorful beef with minimal hands-on effort, perfect for busy schedules. It’s a versatile dish that brings smiles to every table, proving that delicious home-cooked meals don’t have to be complicated. We encourage you to try this recipe soon and experience its amazing flavors. Don’t forget to share your comments and reviews; we love hearing from you!