3-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
This 3-ingredient slow cooker BBQ beef is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dinner for busy days. With just a chuck roast, bottled barbecue sauce, and broth, the slow cooker does all the work transforming simple ingredients into tender, juicy shredded beef packed with rich barbecue flavor.
It’s an easy slow cooker beef recipe that’s budget-friendly, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for weeknight dinners, game days, potlucks, or meal prep. If you love pulled pork but want a heartier, beefy alternative, this slow cooker BBQ beef will quickly become a family favorite.
Benefits of Slow Cooker BBQ Beef:
Only 3 simple ingredients
Hands-off crockpot meal
Tender, fall-apart shredded beef
Perfect for sandwiches, baked potatoes, or rice
Great for meal prep, freezing, and feeding a crowd
Customizable sweet, smoky, or spicy flavors
Ingredients:
3–3½ pounds beef chuck roast, excess fat trimmed
2 cups barbecue sauce (your favorite brand or flavor)
½ cup beef broth or water
Directions:
Place the beef chuck roast into the slow cooker. Cut into 2–3 large pieces if needed so it fits evenly.
In a bowl, mix the barbecue sauce with the beef broth (or water).
Pour the sauce mixture over the beef, turning to coat.
Cover and cook:
LOW: 8–10 hours
HIGH: 4–5 hours
until the beef is fork-tender.
Remove the beef and shred using two forks, discarding large pieces of fat.
Skim excess fat from the sauce if needed, return shredded beef to the slow cooker, and stir well.
Let sit on WARM for 10–15 minutes so the beef absorbs even more sauce.
Serve hot on buns, over rice, or on baked potatoes.
Serving Ideas:
BBQ beef sandwiches with coleslaw
Over baked potatoes or mashed potatoes
Served with rice or mac and cheese
Perfect with classic sides like potato salad, baked beans, or corn on the cob
Tips & Variations:
Sweet BBQ Beef: Use a brown sugar or honey-based barbecue sauce
Smoky Flavor: Choose hickory or mesquite BBQ sauce
Spicy Kick: Add hot sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, or chipotle in adobo
Leaner Option: Substitute bottom round roast (slightly less rich but still tasty)
Freezer-Friendly: Freeze leftovers up to 3 months for quick meals later
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days
Freeze cooled BBQ beef for up to 3 months
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3-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Beef made with tender chuck roast and rich barbecue sauce. An easy crockpot dinner perfect for sandwiches, meal prep, and feeding a crowd.
