Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Beef

If there's anything that is designed to be made in a slow cooker it's chuck roast. Specifically, chuck roast in BBQ sauce. Just like with my citrus shredded beef recipe, the magic of a slow cooker and just the right seasonings is amazing.

This BBQ shredded beef recipe is made with super simple ingredients and results in the best pulled beef sandwiches. I like to pair with a feta and zucchini salad for a complete meal. Or make rice bowls, tacos, or top homemade tostadas and add your favorite toppings.

Enjoy for BBQs or potlucks if you're serving a lot of people or whip it up for any easy weeknight meal, then enjoy the leftovers all week long. Your entire family will thank you!

🧾Ingredient Notes

• Beef - Use an inexpensive cut of meat like boneless chuck roast, shoulder, or blade roast. You'll need something in the 2-3 pounds range with good marbling.
• Seasonings - You'll season the beef with a simple combination of chili powder and cumin before cooking. I tested this recipe with garlic powder or onion powder too but I found that it didn't
• Onion - Cooking the beef with onion adds texture and infuses it with great flavor. Be sure to cut it into thin slices so it incorporates well with the beef.
• BBQ Sauce - You can use a homemade recipe listed in the recipe card below or a store-bought version of your favorite barbecue sauce.
• Beef Broth - Adds moisture and flavor to the beef as it cooks. You don't need much, and yes, you can use water or water with a little beef bullion if needed.
• Buns - I use gluten-free brioche buns, but feel free to use whatever you prefer.
• Toppings - My favorite pulled beef sandwich toppings are my old fashioned slaw recipe and dill pickle slices. But you can try my spicy coleslaw if you are feeling saucy.

Make the BBQ Sauce (optional)

Making homemade barbecue sauce is totally optional but surprisingly simple! So, feel free to skip this step if you like and just use the bottled stuff. 

To make your own sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, then add garlic and red pepper flakes.

Next, add the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, dark brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and dijon mustard. Mix to combine and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes. 

You can serve the BBQ sauce as-is or blend it with an immersion blender so it's nice and smooth. Either way is delicious! 

Cook the Beef

Trim excess fat from the beef. Sprinkle the beef with chili powder and cumin, then place it in the bottom of the slow cooker along with the sliced onion and BBQ sauce. 

Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 8-10 hours. You can also crank it up to high for 4 to 6 hours but the texture might a bit chewier.

Once the time is up, remove the beef from the crockpot and shred it.

For shredding meat, I am a huge fan of Bear Paws meat shredders They look totally ridiculous but are inexpensive. They make quick work of shredding chicken, pork, and even spaghetti squash!

Skim the fat off the top of the sauce, optional but if your beef was heavily marbled it may benefit from reducing it slightly.

Add the shredded beef back to the crockpot. Cook for another 30 minutes, then taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Assemble Your Sandwiches (optional)

Lay your brioche buns, slider buns, or hamburger buns of your choice out onto a clean work surface. Butter the inside of each, then place the buttered side down onto a preheated griddle. Let the buns cook for just a couple of minutes or until they're toasted to your liking. 

Scoop the shredded meat onto each bun, top with coleslaw and pickles, then dig into your delicious barbecue sandwiches.

🥗What to Serve with BBQ Pulled Beef

Crockpot BBQ beef sandwiches on gluten-free Hawaiian rolls are a hearty entree that can be served with plenty of your favorite side dishes! 

Enjoy them alongside molasses baked beans with bacon, grape tomato salad, lemon orzo salad, corn ribs, or blue cheese potato salad.

Not feeling sandwiches? You can easily add this BBQ shredded beef to a number of different recipes. Try it over nachos or in tacos, mix it into your favorite mac and cheese.

🌡️Storing Leftovers

Leftover shredded beef will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. When you're ready to serve again, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then warm either in the microwave or on low on the stove until heated through.

Will BBQ sauce burn in a slow cooker?

If you cook the beef with just BBQ sauce, then it is more likely to burn. If you add a liquid along with the BBQ sauce, then it will be fine as long as you cook to the recipe instructions.

What is the best beef to use for BBQ pulled beef?

For slow cooker shredded beef, use an inexpensive cut like chuck, shoulder, or blade roast-they become tender and juicy with long cooking. For a richer option, try brisket or short ribs, which have more fat and flavor.