Name: Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 370 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds beef roast (we used chuck roast, up to 3 lbs is fine without changes); 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon garlic salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon cajun seasoning; 2 cups BBQ sauce (divided); buns (for serving); sliced cheddar cheese ((optional) for serving)

These slow cooker BBQ beef sandwiches are about to become your new go-to dinner. Tender, saucy, and full of flavor—it’s everything you want piled onto a soft bun with melty cheese.

Tight close-up of one hoagie-style sandwich filled with shredded BBQ beef, cheddar cheese, and BBQ sauce, surrounded by fries and pickle slices.

Slow cooker BBQ beef is the kind of comforting, dump-and-go meal we all need more of. It’s made with a beautifully seasoned chuck roast slow-cooked in BBQ sauce until fall-apart tender, then smothered in even more sweet and tangy sauce.

It’s the kind of cozy winter meal you crave, but it’s just as perfect for summer BBQs—no oven required! For more incredible meaty sandwiches try my crock pot BBQ pulled pork with Root Beer and crockpot hot honey chicken sandwiches, my two other favorites!

We love it piled high on buns with cheddar and coleslaw. You can also serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, or even noodles.

It stays warm in the slow cooker for those who come home a little later, and it’s a meal that makes it easy for everyone to serve themselves.

Close-up of shredded BBQ beef in a slow cooker, mixed with sauce and garnished with chopped green herbs. A wooden spoon is partially visible at the top.

And because leftovers store and freeze beautifully and can be used in a variety of ways, this versatile crockpot pulled beef is one that you’ll keep coming back to!

Why you’ll love this BBQ beef recipe

It’s easy to make with just 10 minutes of prep time.
You can adjust the seasonings to your liking and use your favorite barbecue sauce.
The mouthwatering aromas are the stuff dreams are made of.
Low and slow cooking ensures meltingly tender beef.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker BBQ Chuck Roast

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Overhead image showing labeled ingredients for a slow cooker BBQ beef recipe. A bowl of raw chuck roast is in the center. Surrounding it are hamburger buns, sub rolls, a stack of cheddar cheese slices, a small bowl of mixed seasonings, and a ramekin of BBQ sauce.

Beef roast – I use chuck roast, between 2-3 lbs for this recipe. Some people use beef brisket or stewing beef but I typically save those for my crock pot beef brisket or crockpot steak bites recipes.
Seasoning: Onion powder, garlic salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and Cajun seasoning. This tasty blend helps flavor the meat. You can substitute garlic powder for garlic salt if you’d like to reduce the sodium.
BBQ sauce – Use your favorite store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce. I love the flavor of Sweet Baby Ray’s.
Buns – If you’re making crockpot BBQ roast sandwiches, soft sandwich buns are a must! Hamburger buns, kaiser rolls, and hoagie rolls all work well.
Cheddar cheese – Optional, but a slice of sharp cheddar melts beautifully over the hot beef and adds great flavor.

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Beef

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.

Step 1: Combine the seasoning in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning on both sides of the roast. Feel free to use your hands to rub it in.

Overhead image of a large, raw chuck roast placed in a slow cooker, heavily seasoned with a dry rub of various spices including black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.

Step 2: Place the roast in the basin of the slow cooker and pour half of the BBQ sauce over the top.

Seasoned chuck roast topped with BBQ sauce in a crockpot.

Pro Tip:

If you don’t want saucy beef, you can reduce or omit the barbecue sauce completely. The dry rub gives the beef plenty of flavor on its own.

Step 3: Cover with the lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Once it starts pulling apart easily with a fork, it’s ready to be shredded. Shred beef using two forks and then add the remaining BBQ sauce, stirring to combine.

Overhead image showing shredded BBQ beef filling the slow cooker, mixed with BBQ sauce and sprinkled with fresh chopped herbs.

Step 4: Slice your buns, scoop in some pulled beef, and top with a slice of cheddar cheese if desired. Enjoy!

Storage

Refrigerator: Keep leftovers stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezer: You can freeze it for up to 3 months. If you know ahead of time that you’ll be freezing it, you can freeze the beef on its own and add the barbecue sauce once you reheat it later on.

How to Reheat: Microwave individual portions. If reheating a big batch you can return it to the slow cooker on low until warmed through. Add a splash of BBQ sauce or beef broth if needed to loosen it up.

Hand holds a shredded BBQ beef sandwich.

Recipe Tips

Keep the fat on the beef until after it’s cooked. Once you start shredding it, you can get rid of any fatty parts.
Prepare in advance by slow cooking the beef chuck roast in half of the BBQ sauce, shredding it, and storing it overnight. Then, add the rest of the sauce when you add it back into the slow cooker to warm through.
You can use a larger roast if you have the room in your crockpot. However, you’ll likely need to increase the cooking time.

Serving Suggestions

If we’re talking potlucks and barbecues, then you’ve got to serve crockpot BBQ beef with red skinned potato salad or macaroni salad, slow cooker cowboy beans, and, of course, a helping of Jiffy cornbread with cream style corn.

Additions and variations

Swap the cheddar. Use a different kind of cheese instead. Try Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, Mozzarella, or Gruyere.
Add some heat. Spice it up with some red pepper flakes, diced jalapeños, or pepperoncini.
Add Worcestershire sauce. For deeper umami flavor, stir in 1–2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce when you add the first cup of BBQ sauce.
Use slider buns. Little beef barbecue sammies on Hawaiian buns make great appetizers!
Try a different meat. This recipe works well with rump roast, short ribs, beef brisket, pork roast, or even chicken breasts. Note that cooking time will vary.

Slow cooker BBQ beef sandwiches with cheddar and sauce.

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