38 of Our Favorite Slow-Cooker Beef Recipes

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38 of Our Favorite Slow-Cooker Beef Recipes2/38 Slow-Cooker Tater Tot Casserole 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker Tater Tot Casserole Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: What’s not to love about classic Tater Tot casserole—especially when it’s made in the slow cooker? You’ll want to add this family-pleasing potluck favorite to your regular rotation. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado Cooking for kids? You can’t miss with this slow-cooker variation on a classic tator tot casserole. It even includes a green vegetable! 3/38 Slow-Cooker Cubed Steak

1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker Cubed Steak Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 40 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Easy and inexpensive, this recipe is perfect for those busy nights when you want something delicious yet simple. Tender steak is covered in a thick gravy sauce that uses cream of mushroom soup, beef broth and onion soup mix to give it that comforting taste. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan Easy and inexpensive, this recipe is perfect for those busy nights when you want something delicious yet simple.

—Sally Pahler, Palisade,

The secret is to use two different kinds of soup—a canned mushroom soup and a dried onion soup mix—to infuse flavor into the meat. 4/38 Slow-Cooked Beef Burritos with Green Chiles 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 7 hours 20 min Servings 14 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I created this recipe years ago, and it has become such a favorite that the wonderful aroma of it cooking makes my family instantly happy. It is hearty, flavorful and easy to prepare, and it uses the long, slow-cooking method that truly defines comfort food. —Sally Pahler, Palisade,

Colorado Need a great way to feed a group (or a fussy family)?

Colorado Need a great way to feed a group (or a fussy family)? Make a big batch of seasoned beef, gently shred with forks and let everyone make their own burrito or taco. Serve with your favorite taco bar toppings. 5/38 Slow-Cooker Jerked Short Ribs 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Slow Cooker Jerked Short Ribs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 15 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sweet and spicy jerk seasonings give these saucy ribs an unforgettable taste! They’re great in the summer because they don’t heat up the

—Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin

kitchen. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin These tangy, spiced short ribs are a tempting alternative to plain barbecue ribs. In the summertime, serve with corn on the cob. During winter, opt for hot mashed potatoes. 6/38 Sauerbraten Soup 5 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Sauerbraten Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours 15 min Servings 11 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sauerbraten and soup are both family favorites. This combines the two, without the long marinating time the traditional beef dish requires. You can substitute spaetzle or gnocchi for the egg noodles. —Jennifer

Yerkes, Franklin Square, New York In a rut with the same old beef recipes?

Yerkes, Franklin Square, New York In a rut with the same old beef recipes? Try the traditional spiced German dish sauerbraten, which makes a deletable sweet-and-sour beef seasoned with ginger, cloves, pickling spices and an unusual thickening agent: crumbled gingerbread cookies. Different but delicious! 7/38 Slow-Cooker Chipotle Beef Carnitas 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker Chipotle Beef Carnitas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 8 hours 40 min Servings 16 servings plus 1/4 cup leftover spice mixture Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I came up with this beef carnitas recipe while trying to figure out what

I could do with a pot roast that had been in the freezer

I could do with a pot roast that had been in the freezer. Now I keep the rub in a plastic bag, ready and waiting in my cupboard, and I can get the roast in the slow cooker in less than 15 minutes. —Ann Piscitelli, Nokomis, Florida The secret to great carnitas? A balanced spice mix. This recipe makes a bigger batch of the spice blend than you’ll need for this slow-cooker beef dish. Keep the rest in the pantry and the next time you make carnitas, they’ll be seasoned in a jiffy. 8/38 Slow-Cooker Spaghetti & Meatballs 34 Reviews

It is my No. 1 standby recipe and also makes amazing meatball sandwiches

Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 5 hours 50 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and this dish is still one that guests request frequently. It is my No. 1 standby recipe and also makes amazing meatball sandwiches. The sauce works for any type of pasta. —Jane Whittaker, Pensacola, Florida Making meatballs in the slow cooker ensures they’ll be perfectly cooked through and completely tender, with no hovering over a splattering stovetop. This is one of our most highly rated

pasta recipes for its well-seasoned tomato sauce, too

pasta recipes for its well-seasoned tomato sauce, too. Serve with your favorite pasta shape or on meatball sandwiches. 9/38 Beef Barbecue 5 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We like to keep our freezer stocked with plenty of beef roasts. When we’re not in the mood for pot roast, I fix these satisfying sandwiches instead. The meat cooks in a tasty sauce while I’m work. The meat cooks in a tasty sauce while I’m at work. Then I just shred the

beef and serve it on rolls

beef and serve it on rolls. —Karen Walker Sterling, Virginia This saucy shredded pot roast has a secret ingredient: apricot preserves. The jam adds sweetness and thickens the rich sauce as the beef cooks low and slow. Serve on rolls with a salad or a vegetable side. 10/38 Fabulous Fajitas 25 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Fabulous Fajitas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve enjoyed cooking since I was a girl growing up in the Southwest. When friends call to ask me

for new recipes to try, I suggest these flavorful fajitas

for new recipes to try, I suggest these flavorful fajitas. It’s wonderful to put the beef in the slow cooker before church and come home to a hot delicious main dish. —Janie Reitz, Rochester, Minnesota Imagine fajitas, and you might think of the dangerously hot, sizzling skillet emerging from a restaurant kitchen. It’s exciting—and delicious—but you can get all the flavor of fajitas in the slow cooker, no smoking stovetop required. Set up the meat and vegetables in the morning, and before dinner all you need to do is heat up your favorite flour or corn tortillas. 11/38 Barbecued Beef

They’re great for picnics and parties

Ribs 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 5 hours 45 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These tender, slow-cooked beef ribs with a tangy sauce are a cinch to make. They’re great for picnics and parties. —Erin Glass, White Hall, Maryland Perfect for a balmy summer picnic or a chilly winter weekend potluck, these barbecued ribs are slathered with a tangy homemade sauce. Tweak the spice mixture to add heat, sweetness or umami. 12/38 Slow-Cooked Beef Enchiladas 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 7 hours 30 min Servings 6 enchiladas

When the meat is done, assemble with tortillas and bake

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Enchiladas get a beefy boost of goodness from slow-cooked roast. When the meat is done, assemble with tortillas and bake. Top with lettuce and tomatoes if desired. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin These enchiladas aren’t the speediest slow-cooker recipe, but they’re worth the time. First, simmer seasoned beef in a slow cooker. When it’s tender, shred with forks. Fill the tortillas, top with sauce and bake into yummy, gooey enchiladas. 13/38 Slow-Cooked Beef Tips 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooked Beef Tips Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 6

The seasonings give the broth a wonderful

hours 40 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These slow-cooked beef tips remind me of a childhood favorite. I cook them with mushrooms and serve over brown rice, noodles or mashed potatoes. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota 14/38 French Dip 53 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved French Dip Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 5 hours 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For a sandwich with more pizazz than the traditional French dip, give this recipe a try. The seasonings give the broth a wonderful

flavor, and the meat cooks up tender and juicy

flavor, and the meat cooks up tender and juicy. This slow-cooked version will soon be a favorite at your house too. —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee An all-time favorite hot sandwich, French dip is a cozy dinner or lunch on chilly days. Cooking the beef in the slow cooker makes it simple and imparts plenty of flavor. Serve on a crusty roll with plenty of au jus for dipping. 15/38 Slow-Cooked Flank Steak 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 4 hours 15 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My slow cooker gets lots of use,