Slow Cooker Ragu with Beef (Printable version)
Rich Italian meat sauce slow-cooked for deep flavor and tender beef.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch pieces
02 - 1 tsp kosher salt
03 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 medium carrots, diced
06 - 2 celery stalks, diced
07 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
→ Tomatoes & Liquids
08 - 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - ½ cup dry red wine
11 - ½ cup beef broth
→ Herbs & Seasoning
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1 tsp dried basil
14 - ½ tsp dried thyme
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Finishing
17 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
18 - ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
19 - Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Season the beef pieces evenly with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear beef on all sides until browned, about 5 minutes; transfer to slow cooker.
03 - Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the skillet and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened; transfer to slow cooker.
04 - Pour crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, red wine, and beef broth into slow cooker. Stir in dried oregano, basil, thyme, bay leaf, and crushed red pepper flakes if using.
05 - Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours until beef is very tender and shreds easily.
06 - Remove bay leaf and shred beef with two forks directly in slow cooker.
07 - Stir in unsalted butter and chopped fresh parsley. Adjust seasoning to taste.
08 - Serve sauce hot over cooked pasta or creamy polenta and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- Eight hours of hands-off cooking means the beef becomes almost impossibly tender and the flavors meld into something you can't rush.
- This sauce freezes beautifully, turning a single afternoon of prep into weeks of weeknight dinners waiting in your freezer.
02 -
- Don't skip the searing step; those caramelized bits build the foundation of flavor that eight hours of slow cooking amplifies.
- If your slow cooker runs hot, check the beef at seven hours to make sure it's not falling apart prematurely.
03 -
- For an even richer sauce, use a combination of beef and pork; the pork adds sweetness and helps break down into a silkier consistency.
- If you prefer a lighter version without sacrificing flavor, ground turkey works in place of chuck roast, though the texture will be different and cook faster.