The Best Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Recipe

This Slow Cooker Shredded Beef makes the juiciest fall apart tender pulled beef. We use this versatile, big batch recipe to make dozens of different meals, including shredded beef sandwiches, tacos, pasta, and more!

The reviews on this one speak for themselves! This easy pulled beef is beloved by our family and many others. Give it a try and set yourself up for a weeks’ worth of delicious meals!

This post is sponsored by Ohio Beef. As always, all opinions are my own.

Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Beef

Shredded beef is my back to school BFF. When I’ve got a busy week ahead, I know this recipe has my back. It’s meal prepping MAGIC that makes a whole week of meals a breeze.

My favorite part about this pulled beef is just how easy it is!

• This recipe takes less than 10 minutes to prep and only requires a handful of pantry staples and seasonings, like onions, garlic, and red wine vinegar.
• There is absolutely no searing required. This is a “dump it in the crock pot and move on with your day” situation.
• The flavor is super versatile. I don’t add any broth to the slow cooker, so the meat cooks in its own delicious juices. The resulting pulled beef is rich, savory, and accented by caramelized onions and garlic.
• This recipe can feed a crowd, have plenty of leftovers, or freeze for later! We love making this recipe for parties and turning it into Shredded Beef Sliders or freezing the leftovers to take out during an especially busy week.
• It’s gluten free, dairy free, and Keto friendly! This is one of our go-to meals for guests because it fits a variety of dietary needs.

What to Make with Shredded Beef

Ok wait, I changed my mind. My actual favorite part about shredded beef is alllll the delicious things you can make with it.

The first night we make it, we keep it simple and serve the pulled beef over homemade egg noodles (store bought noodles are also 100% on the level) or creamy mashed potatoes.

You can even get crazy and do noodles AND mashed potatoes in a beef-inspired version of this Amish Chicken and Noodles.

The next two nights we might shake things up with a sweet and spicy Beef Ramen Stir Fry or Easy Shredded Beef Enchiladas.

Leftover pulled beef also makes a great filling for Mexican Breakfast Burritos or Gyros.

If you really want to impress the pants off your guests, make a whole lot of these Shredded Beef Sandwiches for a football watching party and be amazed at how quickly they disappear.

Key Ingredients + Substitutions

• Chuck roast– This is my favorite beef cut for shredded beef. Look for roasts with good marbling. This recipe uses 2 roasts, to equal 4-5 lbs. of boneless meat.
• Olive oil and Red wine vinegar- The acidic vinegar is a necessary counterpart to the rich beef. White wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar can be substituted in a pinch.
• Seasonings– We use a blend of Kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper, garlic powder, dried parsley, and dried basil to make sure the beef is well seasoned and never bland.
• Garlic and Onions– Finish the dish with fresh sliced garlic and onions, which become soft and slightly sweet as they soak up the juices from the crock pot.

How To Make Pulled Beef in the Crock Pot

Now that you’re dreaming of all the delicious beefy recipes that await you, let’s break down how to make this easy shredded beef!

To make the pulled beef:

Step 1: Place your chuck roast (or roasts) on a cutting board and use a fork to stab a few holes on all sides of the meat.

Step 2: Whisk together some olive oil and red wine vinegar then rub it all over the meat. Sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, basil, parsley, and garlic powder.

Step 3: Cut a large onion into wedges, placing half of it on the bottom of the slow cooker, followed by the roast. Sprinkle with sliced garlic cloves and top with the remaining onion.

Step 4: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, until the beef shreds easily with a fork.

FAQs

How do I know when shredded beef is done?

If you test the roast after 8 hours and it doesn’t easily pull apart, it needs a little longer to cook. It’s a common misconception that a tougher roast is overcooked. In most cases, the opposite is actually true! Give the roast an extra hour or two, and it should shred easily with a little help from two meat forks. 

What is a good cut of beef for shredding?

It may sound counterintuitive, but the best cuts of meat for tender, juicy shredded beef are actually the toughest cuts. Tough cuts like chuck roast stand up well to slow cooking, and become succulent and pull-apart-tender after hours in the crock pot.

My favorite cut is a chuck roast, which may also be labeled as a shoulder roast, chuck eye roast, or arm chuck roast. Look for a roast that has good marbling (or white fat) running through it, and please please don’t trim the fat off before cooking it!

Brisket is another great choice for shredded beef. In fact, I use brisket to create these amazing Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Brisket French Dip Sandwiches. 

Because I like to have enough beef for several meals, I always use at least 4 lbs. of boneless meat. You likely won’t find a single roast this big at the grocery store, so pick up two 2-3 lb roasts at a time.

Look out for deals to save money! Our local grocery store often runs Buy One-Get One sales on roasts. Learn more ways to save when buying beef here.

Do I need to add liquid to the crock pot with the roast?

You really don’t! The beef will release plenty of juices as it cooks. If you really want to, you can add 1 cup of beef broth, but I promise it’s not necessary.

Do I need to brown roast before slow cooking?

When I make Slow Cooker Beer Pot Roast or Crock Pot French Onion Beef Stew, I recommend browning the meat first, but for pulled beef this extra step isn’t needed. The beef will be plenty flavorful without browning.

More of our Favorite Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

Beef is an excellent source of protein (there’s 25 grams in just a 3 ounce serving!), and it’s one of our favorite meats to make in the slow cooker. Here are more ways to put your crock pot to good use!

• Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles
• Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings
• Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Beef
• Crock Pot Corned Beef and Sauerkraut
• Slow Cooker Steak Bites
• Easy Crock Pot Round Steak
• Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef

Visit www.OhioBeef.org, and follow the Ohio Beef Council on Facebook and Instagram for more beef nutrition facts, cooking tips, and recipes. Use #OhioBeef to share photos of your healthy meals this school year!