Description
Savor the Slow-Cooked Perfection of Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu. This hearty, slow-simmered sauce is packed with tender beef, aromatic vegetables, and a rich, tomatoey flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 – 3 pound boneless beef chuck roast
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup carrots, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 cup celery, finely chopped
- 4 – 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
1. Brown the Beef: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, brown the beef cubes on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per batch. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker.
2. Sauté the Veggies: In the same skillet, cook the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic for about 5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes more. Deglaze the pan with the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
3. Add to the Slow Cooker: Pour the vegetable mixture into the slow cooker with the browned beef. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Mix well to combine.
4. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.
5. Shred and Return: Remove the beef cubes from the slow cooker, shred them with two forks, and then return the shredded beef to the sauce. Stir to combine. Discard the bay leaves and rosemary sprig.
6. Serve: Toss the Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu with your desired pasta, top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and garnish with chopped basil or parsley. Enjoy this comforting meal!
Notes
Choose the Right Beef: Opt for a boneless beef chuck roast for tenderness.
Brown the Beef: Browning adds depth of flavor.
Customize the Sauce: Experiment with additional vegetables.
Thicken the Sauce: Use cornstarch slurry for a thicker consistency.
Accommodate Dietary Needs: Serve over gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles if needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 grams
- Sodium: 800 milligrams
- Fat: 20 grams
- Saturated Fat: 6 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 30 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Protein: 35 grams
- Cholesterol: 80 milligrams