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Slow Cooker Beef Ragu for Hearty Family Dinner

A close-up of wide pappardelle pasta generously coated in rich beef ragu, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
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Make this rich, slow-simmered beef ragu in your slow cooker for a comforting, melt-in-your-mouth family dinner. This recipe delivers deep flavor with minimal hands-on time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup dry red wine (optional, substitute with beef broth)
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound pappardelle pasta (or your favorite pasta)
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef pieces dry and season them generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches on all sides. Remove the browned beef and set it aside.
  3. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the same skillet. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Transfer the vegetables to your slow cooker. Add the browned beef, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, red wine (or broth substitute), beef broth, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to the slow cooker. Stir everything together.
  5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is completely tender and shreds easily with a fork.
  6. Remove the bay leaf. Shred the beef directly in the sauce using two forks. Stir the shredded beef back into the sauce. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  7. About 30 minutes before serving, cook the pappardelle pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta.
  8. Toss the cooked pasta with the rich beef ragu, or serve the sauce over the pasta. Top generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the ultimate comfort food pasta sauce experience.

Notes

  • For an even deeper flavor, sear the beef in flour before browning.
  • If you prefer a smoother sauce, carefully remove the beef after cooking, shred it, and then use an immersion blender to partially blend the sauce before returning the meat.
  • This hearty beef dinner freezes well for easy meal prep.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishcraze.com/slow-cooker-beef-ragu-recipe-for-family-dinner/