• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Easter Recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter Recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter Recipes
    • About
    • Recipes
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Beef

    Slow Cooker Pulled Beef

    Published: Feb 7, 2013 · Modified: Oct 7, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    124 shares
    • 13
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb
    Slow Cooker Pulled Beef with a text title overlay.

    This Slow Cooker Pulled Beef is incredibly easy to make and has so many uses, from tacos to burrito bowls to sandwiches or even just on rice. Melt in your mouth shredded beef in an incredible sauce - this is the kind of recipe that your slow cooker is made for. Great for feeding a crowd, and it freezes well too.

    A bowl of pulled beef next to a blue towel.

    The perfect dump and leave meal - just put the beef and sauce ingredients in your slow cooker and then you can forget about it until it's ready. This slow cooker pulled beef is a great meal to batch cook and then add to meals throughout the week.

    With a deliciously rich and flavour packed sauce, this is the BEST pulled beef and it only takes a few minutes to prep.

    Looking for some other beef recipes to try? Why not try our 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef, Hidden Vegetable Beef Burgers or Mexican Beef and Potato Bake.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • What you will need
    • Step by step
    • Best beef to use
    • Health benefits of beef
    • What to serve with Slow Cooker Pulled Beef
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More slow cooker recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Easy - This is an easy dump and leave meal. There is no need to sear the beef first, so it takes just a couple of minutes to prepare.
    • Great for feeding a crowd - You can easily double this recipe (as long as your slow cooker is big enough) so that it will feed a few people.
    • Freezes well - This is a great batch cook meal, because it freezes so well.
    • Versatile - This slow cooker pulled beef can be used for lots of different meals. We have shared our favourite ways to serve it below.

    What you will need

    • Beef - Slow cookers are great for making budget friendly meals, because you can use cheaper cuts of meat. Cooking low and slow will get cheaper cuts really tender and still full of flavour. We used braising steak for this recipe.
    • Stock - This is what makes up most of the sauce. Use a really good quality beef stock pot as you will taste the difference. If you are making this for young children, then use a low salt stock.
    • Red wine vinegar - This adds a lovely flavour. You could use apple cider vinegar instead.
    • Onion - This adds flavour and texture - make sure you finely dice them. You could use shallots instead which adds a nice sweetness.
    • Garlic - Freshly crushed is best, but you could use frozen, or ready crushed in a tube.
    • Tomato puree (paste) - This helps to thicken the sauce and also add some colour.
    • Worcestershire Sauce - A little bit of Worcestershire sauce goes a long way. It adds a real rich and deep flavour.
    • Seasoning - As well as sea salt and black pepper, we added some paprika and dried basil and oregano and garlic granules.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    Step by step

    One: Put all of the ingredients into your slow cooker. Mix well and put on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

    A slow cooker bowl containing raw beef, stock and spices.

    Two: Once it is cooked, shred the beef using 2 forks.

    Shredded beef in a bowl.

    Best beef to use

    Chuck roast is definitely the best cut of meat to use for pulled beef. In the UK, this cut is referred to as braising steak. Similar to the shoulder of pork, chuck/braising steak contains a good amount of fat and marbling, making it perfect for shredding. We cut ours in to chunks for adding to the slow cooker.

    When it comes to slow cooker pulled beef, there is no need for an expensive joint of meat. You can get away with using a cheap cut, as cooking it low and slow makes it really fall apart and melt in your mouth.

    You could also use skirt, rump roast or brisket. Cooking times may vary though.

    A plate of raw beef cubes.

    Health benefits of beef

    Beef can definitely play an important role in a balanced diet and using lean cuts is key for this. It can provide a lean source of protein, iron and eight essential vitamins and minerals. Beef is a significant provider of protein and is naturally low in sodium and contributes towards good health and wellbeing.

    To make a lighter version of this slow cooker pulled beef, make sure to trim all the visible fat off the beef.

    Shredded Beef Tacos on a board surrounded by tortilla chips and a bunch of cilantro.

    What to serve with Slow Cooker Pulled Beef

    This Slow Cooked Shredded Beef goes in so many things. Here are just a few ideas of how to use it:

    • Tacos
    • Enchilladas
    • Burritos
    • Pizza topping
    • On tagilatelle or udon noodles
    • Fajitas
    • Sandwiches
    • Burrito bowl
    • Nacho topping
    • In a burger bun with coleslaw
    • On rice or mashed potato
    A burrito bowl consisting of shredded beef, lettuce, salsa, rice, tortilla chips and sliced radish.

    FAQs

    How long do you cook slow cooker pulled beef for?

    We recommend cooking it on low for 7-8 hours. However you can cook it in your slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours. It will depend on your slow cooker and the size of the chunks of beef too. If your beef isn't falling apart then it isn't tender enough and it needs some extra time.

    How to store slow cooker pulled beef

    It will also keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, but it might start to get a bit dry.

    Can you freeze slow cooker pulled beef?

    Yes, pulled beef freezes really well. You can portion it out and it will keep in the freezer for 2-3 months.

    How to reheat slow cooker pulled beef

    The best way to reheat pulled beef is in a pan with a little oil. It will only takes a couple of minutes.

    What slow cooker to use

    There really is no rule here, just make sure that the beef you are using can fit in your slow cooker. We use a Crock Pot DuraCeramic Slow Cooker and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too. So, we thicken the gravy on the hob, in the slow cooker bowl. You can also sear the meat in it first. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.

    Do you have to sear the meat first?

    You don't have to, but if you have the time then it adds such a depth of flavour. Basically, you want to trigger the Maillard reaction. It is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavour. You don't have to though, and you can just throw everything in to the slow cooker and leave it if you are really short on

    Can you prepare slow cooker pulled beef in advance?

    Yes, you can do some of the prep in advance. You can sear the meat and add it to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients and then allow it to cool fully and then put it in the fridge (in your slow cooker pot) for up to 24 hours. You can then put it on the next day, but it might take longer to cook as it will be cold straight from the fridge

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Slow cookers all cook things at different rates. You want to make sure that you don't overcook your beef as it will dry out. The beef is cooked when it easily shreds with a fork.
    • If you like your food with a real kick of heat, add some extra red chilli flakes.
    • If there is a lot of juice in your slow cooker after you take the joint out to shred, then you might want to remove some of the mixture before putting the shredded meat back in.
    • For something different, but really easy, mix the beef with BBQ sauce rather than the stock.

    More slow cooker recipes

    • Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry in a bowl with some brown rice
      EASY Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
    • Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken on a blue plate with a knife and fork.
      Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork in a burger bun with coleslaw.
      Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Slow Cooker Meatballs on a plate with a fork.
      Slow Cooker Meatballs

    If you’ve tried this pulled beef recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Slow Cooker Pulled Beef in a white bowl

    Slow Cooker Pulled Beef

    By: Dannii
    This Slow Cooked Pulled Beef recipe is a must try. It's tender, succulent, and packed with so much flavour.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican, Tex Mex
    Prep: 5 mins
    Cook: 4 hrs
    Total: 4 hrs 5 mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 214kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a fish.
    Fish
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    An illustration of a wine glass.
    Sulphites
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 400 g (14 oz) Chuck roast/braising steak
    • 1 Onion - diced
    • 250 ml (1 cups) Beef stock
    • 2 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic granules - crushed
    • 0.5 teaspoon paprika - juice only
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • 0.5 teaspoon Dried basil
    • 0.5 teaspoon Dried oregano
    • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato puree

    Instructions

    • Put all of the ingredients into your slow cooker and stir and put on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
    • Once it is cooked, shred the beef using 2 forks.

    Notes

    • Slow cookers all cook things at different rates. You want to make sure that you don't overcook your beef as it will dry out. The beef is cooked when it easily shreds with a fork.
    • If you like your food with a real kick of heat, add some extra red chilli flakes.
    • If there is a lot of juice in your slow cooker after you take the joint out to shred, then you might want to remove some of the mixture before putting the shredded meat back in.
    • For some extra flavour, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 615mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 192IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

    You'll love these too...

    • Two air fryer burgers on a wooden board next to some lettuce leaves.
      Air Fryer Burgers
    • A plate of air fryer meatballs.
      Air Fryer Meatballs
    • Cumberland pie with a portion removed.
      Cumberland Pie
    • Indian Burger on a wooden serving board.
      Indian Burger

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dee

      June 12, 2022 at 12:32 am

      I have a pressure cooker instead of a slow cooker, how long will I need to cook it for? Half the time I'm guessing?

      Reply
    2. Kate

      February 07, 2013 at 10:14 pm

      Have you made mole before? I would love a healthy recipe of that :)

      Reply
    3. Alice

      February 07, 2013 at 9:55 pm

      Yummy!

      Reply
    4. Charlotte

      February 07, 2013 at 8:21 pm

      I don't have a slow cooker, but I could put it on low in the oven.

      Reply
    5. Nicola

      February 07, 2013 at 7:54 pm

      This would only be better if you came and made it for me. I am too lazy lol

      Reply
    6. Regina

      February 07, 2013 at 7:45 pm

      Sounds delicious. I am pinning this for later.

      Reply
    7. Heidi

      February 07, 2013 at 7:32 pm

      Lots more slow cooker recipes please. All my cooking is done in mine during the cold months, my kitchen is too cold to stand around it for too long.

      Reply
    8. Sonia

      February 07, 2013 at 7:17 pm

      I love your Mexican recipes. I always look them up when I can't decide what to make for dinner. They are a crowd pleaser in our house.

      Reply
    9. Blair

      February 07, 2013 at 7:06 pm

      Your coleslaw is so amazing. I need more things to put it on (I am not ashamed to admit that I eat it straight from the bowl), so I will make these for sure. Another amazing recipe.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.
    heart icon

    Welcome!

    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About HHH»

    Easter Recipes

    • Asparagus salad on a large round plate.
      Asparagus Salad
    • Cubes of mini egg fudge on a wooden board.
      Easy Mini Egg Fudge
    • Easter Rocky Road in a metal tray.
      Easter Rocky Road
    • Four mini egg cookies on a cooling rack.
      Mini Egg Cookies
    • Easter nests in a six hole muffin tray.
      Easter Nests
    • Slow cooker lamb ragu in a round bowl.
      Slow Cooker Lamb Ragu

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • A pile of air fryer chips.
      The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry on a blue and white plate.
      10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy tomato pasta sauce coating tagliatelle on a white plate.
      Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • Slow cooker beef brisket sliced up on a serving board.
      Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • See our Web Stories page

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with us
    • FAQ
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2011-2023 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 13
    124 shares