Slow Cooker Roast Beef that you can slice into tender slices cooked to a perfect medium temperature. Enjoy for dinner or sliced thinly in sandwiches, you will never buy the deli variety again!
The recipe for this came from a new series I’ve started in 2017 of slow cooker sandwiches. I’ve combed through list after list of the top sandwiches people crave and I’ve started making slow cooker versions of them all. Most delicious project ever. This Slow Cooker Roast Beef can be served in thick slices for a beautiful meal worthy of company or it can be sliced thinly and used in place of deli roast beef (coming Friday!).
At the beginning of this month I spoke at a blogging conference where I met Gina from Skinnytaste. I had so much fun meeting her my friend surprised me with one of her cookbooks. So when I came across Gina’s recipe for this roast beef in her book I immediately tested it out. It felt so meant to be that I would come across a recipe for one of the sandwiches on my long list. The verdict?
It is perfect! I added garlic to the recipe and skipped the broth, but the technique is what is golden here. It tastes like a shortcut Prime Rib dinner without the effort and high price tag! Win win! If you’re looking for a side dish to this Slow Cooker Roast Beef, I would recommend Classic Steakhouse Creamed Spinach and the Richest, Cheesiest, Crispy Mashed Potatoes. It may as well be Chistmas dinner because your meal is going to be amazing.
Looking for more Slow Cooker Beef dishes?
- Slow Cooker Pastrami
- Ultimate Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Corned Beef Dinner
- Chipotle Barbacoa Beef (Copycat)
If you’re keeping track here are the sandwiches we’ve got so far:
- Slow Cooker Pastrami Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Reuben Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker McRib Sandwiches
- Turkey Moist Maker Sandwich <— turkey made in the slow cooker
There’s more on the way too, I’ve made and photographed a lot of slow cooker sandwiches, so if you’re enjoying this series definitely stick around, more are coming!
Tools Used in the making of this Slow Cooker Roast Beef:
Slow Cooker with Thermometer Probe: This slow cooker is a new addition to our house but it is an amazing new toy I’ve been having fun with. The thermometer fits through the lid without letting the heat escape.
Thermometer: If you don’t have that slow cooker, this thermometer can stay in the slow cooker with no issues.
Skinnytaste Fast and Slow: An amazing book by an even more amazing blogger. Her food doesn’t taste like it lost flavor to be better for you.
Recipe
Slow Cooker Roast Beef
- Yield: 12 servings
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Course: Main
- Cuisine: American
- Author: Sabrina Snyder
Ingredients
- 5 pounds chuck roast
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
Instructions
Note: click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.
- Rub the chuck roast with the salt, pepper and garlic.
- Heat up your slow cooker insert (if cast aluminum) or a large pot on high heat with the canola oil.
Sear the beef on each side for 3-4 minutes.
- Put the beef and the drippings from the pan into your slow cooker.
Cook on low for 90 minutes.
- Using a standard meat thermometer or a slow cooker with a thermometer probe, cook to 135 (medium rare) or 140 (medium) degrees.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 12 servings, Amount per serving: 351 calories, Calories: 351g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 130mg, Sodium: 540mg, Potassium: 627mg, Vitamin A: 25g, Vitamin C: 0.2g, Calcium: 33g, Iron: 3.9g
All images and text © for Dinner, then Dessert.
This is great and so easy. I’m trying with frozen roast but net time I’ll try it thawed. I tried this a while ago and it was easy.
Me encanta tus recetas.
gracias
I like my pot roast sliceable not shreadded. Using your recipe will the chuck roast get tinder?
Yes, make sure to let the roast rest for about 10 minutes before slicing it to allow the juices to soak in. Enjoy!
Delicious this is the 3 rd time I’m making it
That’s awesome, Emma! Thanks for the 5 stars.
Is this recipe degrees C or F?
Just tried this today, and unfortunately didn’t work out for me. Ended up being well done as I was waiting for the temperature to rise, I’m thinking it must be the C or F problem
The temperatures for the meat thermometer listed in the recipe are Fahrenheit.
Thank you, will be making this again tomorrow with the correct unit of temperature.
This is my family’s go to recipe which we have at least once every two weeks. The only thing we do different is we leave it in the slow cooker until it gets very tender and almost falls apart. We love it! Thank you!
So glad you all enjoy it so much!
I don’t have the type of thermometer that stays inside the crock pot. Can I just take the lid off periodically and stick a thermometer into the meat ?
Yes 🙂
Loved those recipes, thank you very much. I’m going to try them.
love your recipes
can i use a 4 lb. blade roast..??ty
Yes 🙂
Hi!
Just came across this and am INTRIGUED to say the least! 🙂 Very much want to try this but all I have is a shoulder roast and a bottom round roast- will either of those roasts work?
The shoulder roast should work but the bottom round roast doesn’t really have enough fat on it to work with this recipe. I hope you enjoy it!
Never in a million years would I have thought rare roast beef in a crock pot! This is what I did for 5 lb standing rib roast: crock on low while heating 1 cup beef broth on stove and browning meat all sides. Then paint with oil , thyme n pepper. Place in crock ribs down. A meat thermometer is imperative. Mine has a probe on a white attached to a display you set for alarm when it reaches correct temp. For med rare.
It took 3 hrs 15 min on low. Starting with room temp meat….perfect !!!!! Wowzer. Frees up oven space……..Thanks.
So happy you enjoyed! Sounds delicious how you made it!
I have top round can it be substituted
You can, but because it’s a leaner meat, you may want to cook it for less time. It won’t render down the same over the lengthy time.
I made this tonight and it is still very much RAW in the middle. Had to put it back in the slow cooker and Im still waiting for it 🙁
Janine, this is one recipe (since it needs to cook to such a specific temp) that a thermometer is called for in the recipe. Depending on how thick your cut of beef is you have to know by temperature when it is done. The timing is a guideline on this one and the steps are for the method. I wouldn’t guess/eyeball for something this specific. Sorry for any confusion.
The only thing I added was I lined the crockpot with sliced onions. I seared the beef and added what little juices to the crockpot with the roast. Cooked on low for 90 minutes and checked the temperature. Added more cooking time in 20 minute intervals until perfect!
The juices make a wonderful gravy!
So glad it turned out so well!
Do you add water to the recipe?
I don’t. The meat creates it’s own moisture so it’s not needed 🙂
I’m doing a 2.5 lb roast, what is your recommended cooking time on that weight for medium rare to medium center?
I would check it after an hour. You are looking for a temperature rather than a time and slow cookers can run hot so look for 135 (medium rare) or 140 (medium)
Hi. We do not have a slow cooker. We have had “pink meat” at a restaurant and it was delicious.Can pink meat be created using a normal electric cooker.Please say it can and how do you do it.
Kind Regards
Brian
I have a delicious Prime Rib recipe that will get that “pink meat” and it’s cooked in the oven. A little more work but very worth it!
https://dinnerthendessert.com/perfect-garlic-prime-rib/
If the roast is tender and not 5lbs, how long would you cook it for?
It depends on how much smaller the roast is. What you are looking for is an internal temperature of 135 (medium rare) to 140 (medium). Enjoy!
I love your recipes
Made this today and it was very good.Will make it again and try some of your other recipes.Thank you.
Hi! I’ve made this twice now and each time it has been the most perfect beef I’ve ever cooked! Thank you. 🙂
Can lamb be cooked the same way and still be medium rare and sliceable? Fingers crossed you see this before tomorrow!
Yes, I just haven’t tested timing yet. I would recommend sticking with around the same cut or thickness and start with that timing for cook time. Hope this helps! So sorry I’m seeing this much later though.
I have just taken a frozen beef joint from the freezer and as soon as it thaws I will try this recipe for our guests tomorrow.
This recipe looks amazing. I generally buy CAB rump roasts. Is that cut suitable for this recipe? Some comments said their roast was tough. Not sure what cut of meat they used.
Sure 🙂