Crockpot BBQ Beef

This is the best Crockpot bbq beef with chuck roast recipe made with barbecue sauce in a slow cooker. Pile it on buns for sliders or sandwiches. Want to make this faster, give our Instant Pot bbq beef directions a whirl too.

Ready for some Crockpot bbq beef sliders for a party or fun dinner idea? This. Is. Great! When I find a cut of beef on sale and want to make the tenderest meat possible, I always reach for my slow cooker. It’s just the way to go. Find this and more Crockpot recipes on my site that we make each week!

Occasionally I find a cut of beef on sale and just can’t pass it up. Recently we bought half a cow so we have a lot of beef to use too! Stored in our freezer it makes it easier during the winter months because I have fewer trips to the store to make.

What is the best cut of meat for pulled beef?

Certain cuts aren’t as easy to use and really need to be slow cooked for the best results. I do recommend making with slow cooker chuck roast with a thick flavorful barbecue sauce to shred easily. A round roast is another option. It is best thrown in my Crock pots and cooked all day long without interruption!

You are going to want to start out with a 3-4 lb. fresh or thawed beef roast to begin with. I like to use chuck roast the best because it has a decent amount of fat and marbling which makes it tender enough to shred when done. Another alternative is to initially cut into large chunks of roast into cubes and it will take less time. We did this with our slow cooker beef barbacoa recipe.

Can you cook roast with just bbq sauce in slow cooker.

Yes basically you would use BBQ sauce of your choice, our favorite is sweet and spicy, you could use homemade barbecue sauce too. You will need just a bit of liquid in there too to thin it out and create enough hot steam to break down the connective tissues to shred easily when done.

I also like to add a packet of onion soup mix too because it adds a lot of flavor to the dish but really there aren’t any necessary seasonings you must add.

Can you cok Crockpot BBQ Beef with a frozen roast?

Wondering if you can do this with frozen roast in slow cooker? You can!! Believe it or not the cook time doesn’t really change right out of the freezer or fresh, it should just be the same weight. Use the same steps and ingredients below and you will be set either way.

How Long to Cook Crockpot BBQ Beef

Slow cooker bbq beef printable recipe below. Spray inside of pot with non stick spray. Place piece with fat side up into your pot. Rub onion soup mix all over, then all of your liquids. Close the lid and set on low for 6-8 hours cook time or until it is fork tender.

Shred and remove any fat pieces. Pour bbq sauce over meat. Stir so it is nice and coated. Can serve immediately or let it sit on low for 20 more minutes to soak in sauce.

Can you cook beef on high in a Crockpot?

Do not attempt to cook this on high. Low and slow is the answer when it comes to thick tough pieces like this. Cover and cook it early in the morning if you have an even larger cut. If it is rather large you can cut it in half before putting it inside your pot.

How do you know when bbq beef is done?

If it’s been cooked long enough you should only need 2 forks to pull it apart. If it is tough to do then it hasn’t been in long enough. You will know by the very first pull whether it’s melt in your mouth tender. If it doesn’t fall apart when pulled just slightly just add another hour and test again.

Serve on buns with red cabbage coleslaw on top and a small bowl full of additional sauce on the side. This is great for a large crowd because it is always a hit and quite inexpensive to feed a bunch of people.

How to freeze leftovers

Once it’s finished cooking allow it to cool. Put leftovers into quart-sized freezer bags. Remove air inside and lay them flat as they freeze to make nice “bricks” of frozen beef. To reheat it’s best to allow meat to defrost in the fridge, or countertop, before heating. 

Other easy beef recipes you’ll love

I have used large chunks of pork before similarly, like we did with our slow cooker carnitas. Looking for other easy slow cooker recipes?. My girls love Crockpot chili mac. Tender slow cooker Korean beef is excellent and slow cooker beef and broccoli too