Description
Sunday Dinner Slow Cooker Beef Ragu is the kind of easy dinner that turns simple ingredients into a rich, cozy comfort meal. This hearty beef recipe features tender shredded chuck roast simmered in a slow cooker with tomatoes, garlic, onion, and herbs for a flavorful sauce that is perfect over creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, or pasta. It is a great choice for Sunday dinner, family dinner ideas, easy recipe planning, and comforting food ideas when you want a satisfying homemade meal with very little hands-on work.
Ingredients
3 pounds beef chuck roast
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, or cooked pasta for serving
Instructions
1. Pat the beef chuck roast dry and season it with salt and black pepper.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the beef on all sides until browned.
3. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and diced carrots to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
4. Place the seared beef into the slow cooker and spoon some of the sauce over the top.
5. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours, until the beef is very tender.
6. Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks.
7. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce.
8. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
9. Serve warm over creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, or pasta, then top with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Searing the beef first adds a deeper, richer flavor to the finished ragu.
For a thicker sauce, leave the lid off for the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking.
This ragu tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had more time to come together.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 48g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: Sunday dinner, slow cooker beef ragu, beef ragu, easy dinner, comfort food, family dinner ideas, shredded beef recipe, crockpot dinner