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Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Recipe

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3.9 from 13 reviews

  • Author: Eve
  • Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Description

This Easy Slow Cooker Beef Ragu is a hearty, flavorful dish perfect for a comforting weeknight meal. Tender chuck roast simmers slowly in a rich tomato sauce infused with garlic, fennel seeds, and a touch of spice. Served over pappardelle pasta and topped with parmesan cheese, this recipe requires minimal prep time and delivers maximum deliciousness.

Ingredients

Beef Ragu

  • 1.25-1.75 pounds chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat and bone removed
  • 30 oz tomato sauce
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Pasta and Toppings

  • 8.8 oz pappardelle pasta
  • Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Trim any excess fat from the chuck roast and remove the bone if present. Thinly slice the garlic cloves.
  2. Combine in Slow Cooker: Place the chuck roast into the slow cooker. Add tomato sauce, sliced garlic, bay leaves, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes if using, and pepper. Cover the slow cooker with the lid.
  3. Cook the Beef: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, allowing the beef to become tender and soak up the flavorful sauce.
  4. Cook Pasta: While the beef is cooking or nearing completion, prepare the pappardelle pasta according to the instructions on its packaging until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  5. Shred Beef and Finalize Ragu: Once cooking is done, remove the bay leaves from the slow cooker. Use two forks to shred the beef directly in the sauce. Taste the ragu and add salt as needed.
  6. Serve: Divide the cooked pasta among four bowls. Top the pasta with a generous amount of beef ragu sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Notes

  • If you can’t find pappardelle pasta, suitable substitutes include gemelli, penne, or fettuccine noodles.
  • You can also order specialty noodles online or from your grocery store if unavailable locally.
  • Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
  • This recipe is perfect for meal prep as the ragu develops more flavor when reheated.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: Italian

Find it online: https://everecipes.com/slow-cooker-beef-ragu-recipe/