3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Beef Barbecue (Easy Shredded BBQ Beef)
Tender, juicy, and unbelievably easy, this Slow Cooker Beef Barbecue is a classic crockpot shredded BBQ beef recipe made with just 3 simple ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or feeding a crowd, this hands-off dish delivers bold barbecue flavor with minimal effort.
Slow cooking transforms an affordable beef chuck roast into fall-apart shredded beef, soaking up rich BBQ sauce for a comforting, protein-packed meal everyone loves.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
Only 3 ingredients – budget-friendly and pantry-ready
Set-it-and-forget-it crockpot meal – no babysitting required
Ultra-tender shredded beef – perfect for sandwiches or bowls
High-protein comfort food – filling and satisfying
Great for meal prep & freezing – ideal for busy families
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Ingredients
3–3½ lb beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
2 cups barbecue sauce (sweet, smoky, or spicy)
½ cup beef broth or water
How to Make Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Beef
Add the Beef
Place the beef chuck roast into the slow cooker. Cut into 2–3 chunks if needed for even cooking.
Mix the Sauce
In a bowl, stir together the BBQ sauce and beef broth until smooth.
Slow Cook
Pour sauce over the beef, turning to coat.
Cover and cook:
LOW: 8–10 hours
HIGH: 4–5 hours
Cook until fork-tender and easy to shred.
Shred the Beef
Remove beef and shred with two forks. Discard large pieces of fat.
Finish & Rest
Skim excess fat from the sauce if needed. Return shredded beef to the slow cooker, stir well, and let rest on WARM for 10–15 minutes to absorb flavor.
Serving Ideas
Pile onto burger buns for classic BBQ beef sandwiches
Serve over baked potatoes or rice
Use in BBQ beef sliders, tacos, or wraps
Top nachos or mac and cheese for a comfort-food upgrade
Storage & Meal Prep Benefits
Refrigerator: Keeps up to 4 days
Freezer: Freezes well for up to 3 months
Meal prep friendly: Portion with rice or veggies for fast lunches
Variations & Tips
Sweet BBQ beef: Use honey or brown-sugar BBQ sauce
Smoky BBQ beef: Choose hickory or mesquite sauce
Spicy BBQ beef: Add chipotle, cayenne, or hot sauce
Leaner option: Swap chuck roast for bottom round (less rich)
Party-perfect: Keep warm in the crockpot and serve with slider buns, coleslaw, pickles, and onions
Love easy slow cooker recipes?
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