Hearty Beef Ragu You Can Set and Forget
Let me tell you—this beef ragu is the ultimate comfort meal. It’s the kind of dish you toss into the slow cooker in the morning and come home to something rich, saucy, and chef’s kiss delicious over pasta.
The meat falls apart, the sauce is deeply flavorful, and it requires hardly any hands-on time.
This is my go-to when I want to serve something impressive without babysitting a pot all day. Whether it’s for Sunday dinner or meal prep for the week, this one never lets me down.
Love beef pasta? Try creamy balsamic steak pasta or short rib pasta next!
How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Ragu
Key Ingredients
What you need: beef chuck roast, crushed tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, broth, tomato paste, spices, and herbs. Don’t forget the parpadelle for serving!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sear the beef. Cook until golden brown for added flavor.
- Add to the slow cooker. Add everything to the crock pot and combine.
- Slow cook. Cook on low for 8-10 hours, until the meat falls apart.
- Shred and serve. Shred the beef with two forks, prepare your pasta, and serve warm!
Recipe FAQs
Chuck roast is the best cut of beef for ragu because it’s well-marbled and breaks down into tender, flavorful shreds after slow cooking. You can also use beef short ribs or brisket, but chuck gives the perfect balance of richness and texture.
Traditional ragù is a broad term for Italian meat sauces that vary by region and often include chunks of meat, herbs, and tomatoes. Ragù alla Bolognese, from Bologna, is a specific version made with finely ground meat, soffritto, white wine, milk, and just a small amount of tomato for a rich, creamy texture.
Using the slow cooker to make beef ragu is a great way to let the flavors develop low and slow without much hands-on time. Just sear the beef first for extra flavor, then add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until the beef is fall-apart tender.
Serving Suggestions
Your options are kinda endless when it comes with what you want to serve your beef ragu on top of. Here are some of my favorites:
- Pappardelle: this is the most famous and is a thick cut pasta
- Gluten free pasta (any shape really!)
- Zucchini, butternut squash or sweet potato noodles
- Polenta
Slow Cooker Beef Ragu
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Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 1/2 pounds beef chuck roast cut into 4 large chunks
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 1 carrot peeled and chopped
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 stalk celery diced
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup reduced sodium beef broth or red wine
- 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 16 oz pappardelle pasta gluten-free if needed
- To serve: Parmesan, ricotta, or parsley
Instructions
- Turn slow cooker on high heat to warm.
- While it’s warming, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season both sides of the beef with salt and pepper. Add beef to hot skillet and brown on both sides, about 3 minutes on each side. This step is optional, but helps give the outsides of the beef a nice crust and boost in flavor.1 teaspoon olive oil, 2 1/2 pounds beef chuck roast, Kosher salt and pepper
- Once browned, remove the beef from the pan and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add the carrot, garlic, onion, celery, tomato paste, beef broth and crushed tomatoes to the crock pot with the beef. Mix gently to combine and cover the beef with the sauce. Add the bay leaves and fresh thyme on top, then close the lid and cook on low heat for 8-10 hours, until the sauce is a rich red color and the beef easily falls apart .1 carrot, 6 garlic cloves, 1 medium yellow onion, 1 stalk celery, 3 Tablespoons tomato paste, 1/2 cup reduced sodium beef broth, 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes, 2 bay leaves, 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
- Discard the thyme and bay leaves and use two forks to shred the beef in the pot.
- Cook the pasta or other desired side according to package directions. Drain and toss pasta with sauce before serving. Serve with desired toppings.16 oz pappardelle pasta
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was a home run!!! Super easy to prep and make and delicious and filling. 😋🤤
Thanks Emma!!