Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef is an easy, healthy, dump-and-go, delicious dinner. This freezer friendly recipe is a win for my family and is a great recipe for large groups. So simple!
This post was created in partnership with Hy-Vee (Columbia).
Slow Cooker Shredded Balsamic Beef might be the easiest and very best slow cooker meal I’ve ever made for my family. You simply can’t beat the aroma of slow cooked chuck roast. It’s one of the best dump-and-go meals you’ll find!
Everyone, from ages 4 to 42, devoured this tender, flavorful meat dish. I have served it with mashed potatoes (and of course veggies and fruit), which is perfect for all that extra sauce in the crock, or Boiled Baby Potatoes go well with it, too. Then, the next night we had this same Slow Cooker Shredded Balsamic Beef on mini wheat rolls as “french dip” sandwiches. Again, a huge win!
Video Tutorial: How to Make Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Boneless roast beef (chuck or round roast)
- 1 cup beef broth (or sub chicken stock)
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (Gluten-free option: Use coconut aminos or gluten-free Tamari Soy Sauce)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and pepper
Where to Get Your Ingredients
We suggest grabbing all your ingredients at your local Hy-Vee grocery store or using their Aisles Online to have your groceries delivered or prepared for pick up. They are always well-stocked and offer the best meat and produce around.
To make things easy for you, we’ve already started a custom shopping cart with the Balsamic Shredded Beef ingredients to save you time…
How to Freeze Slow Cooker Shredded Beef
This recipe works great to prep ahead and freeze. You can make lots of batches at once if you plan ahead a bit.
Freezer Meal Instructions:
Method 1: Uncooked
To Freeze: Place all ingredients together in a freezer friendly plastic bag and freeze. To prepare, let bag thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours.
To Prepare: After thawed, cook as directed.
Method 2: Fully Cooked
To Freeze: Fully cook the meal (through Step #4). Let it cool completely. (Safety Note: Do not let the meat sit on the counter more than 2 hours.) Store meat and sauce in a freezer container or freezer bag after it’s cooled completely.
To thaw: There are at least three safe ways to defrost and warm up this meal.
- Let meat thaw in the fridge for 24-48 hours and then warm gently on the stove top or in the microwave. (This is the preferred method.)
- From frozen on stove top: Place the frozen meat and sauce on the stove top in a pot over medium-low heat. Dump 1 cup of water or beef broth over the top. Put a lid on and stir periodically until warmed through.
- From frozen in microwave: Place frozen meat and sauce in a microwave-safe bowl. Use the DEFROST setting to thaw, stirring occasionally. Then heat in the microwave on the COOK setting in 30-60 second increments until warmed through.
Can You Make Shredded Beef in the Instant Pot?
You bet! Just follow the instructions in the recipe below but make the following changes:
- Cut the beef into 2×2 pieces.
- Place the beef and the sauce in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 30 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10+ minutes.
If you want to know how to convert other recipes to the Instant Pot, be sure to download our Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart. We also have a cookbook that gives slow cooker AND Instant Pot instructions for EVERY recipe. You can check out From Freezer to Cooker here.
What Goes Well with Shredded Beef?
Here are a few ideas of how to serve Balsamic Shredded Beef:
- Serve over Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Cream Cheesy Mashed Sweet Potatoes, or polenta (as pictured) and drizzle the juices from the cooker over it all.
- Use the meat for mini sandwiches on rolls. Put the au jus (leftover juices) from the cooker in small ramekins to use for dipping…like French Dip!
- Serve with our 3-Minute No-Boil Corn on the Cob or our Simple Baby Boiled Potatoes.
WANT MORE DUMP AND GO SLOW COOKER RECIPES?
We’ve rounded up 15+ amazing dump and go slow cooker recipes. Bonus: You can make them ahead and freeze these meals for later, too. Freezing instructions included!
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PinDescription
Slow cooker balsamic shredded beef is packed full of flavor and oh-so-easy to savor. So. Good.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 – 3 pound boneless beef chuck roast
- Kosher salt and pepper
- 1 cup beef broth (or sub chicken stock)
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (Gluten-free option: Use coconut aminos or gluten-free Tamari Soy Sauce)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (increase if you want more heat)
Instructions
Make It Now:
- Put roast beef into slow cooker and season with Kosher salt and pepper on all sides.
- In a small bowl, mix together all remaining ingredients. Pour over roast beef.
- Slow cook on LOW for about 8 hours, or until meat easily shreds apart.
- Using two large forks, shred the meat apart in the slow cooker.
- Serve meat warm on top of mashed potatoes or on a bun with a bit of the sauce over the top. There should be plenty of sauce for dipping sandwiches, too!
Freeze For Later:
Method 1: Uncooked
To Freeze: Place all ingredients together in a freezer friendly plastic bag and freeze. To prepare, let bag thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours.
To Prepare: Thaw using one of these three safe ways and then cook as directed.
Method 2: Fully Cooked
To freeze: Fully cook the meal (through Step #4). Let it cool completely. (Safety Note: Do not let the meat sit on the counter more than 2 hours.) Store meat and sauce in a freezer container or freezer bag after it’s cooled completely.
To thaw: Thaw using one of these three safe ways and then warm on the stove over low heat or in the microwave.
Equipment
Buy Now →
Notes
Where We Get Our Beef: We get our beef from ButcherBox. The beef is grass-fed and curated from trusted farms. We highly recommend this service to source healthy meat–like uncured bacon, chicken, and wild salmon–and have used it for years ourselves.
DON’T FORGET…
Don’t forget to grab all your ingredients at your local Hy-Vee grocery store or using their Aisles Online to have your groceries delivered or prepared for pick up. To make things easy for you, we’ve already started a custom shopping cart with the Balsamic Shredded Beef ingredients to save you time…
This sounds great! Is there something I could use in place of the honey? We are currently watching carbs and sugar 🙂
I think leaving the sweetener out of this will change the recipe fairly substantially. Maybe try cutting it in half?
This is a great recipe. It’s actually pretty similar to a Filipino dish called adobo, which has many regional variations. The one my father made uses white vinegar instead of balsamic, and uses bay leaves and peppercorns instead of honey and red pepper flakes. You can use any meat, and it’s served over rice. This recipe took me back to my childhood!
Thanks for sharing about your experience, Mike. I’ll have to research that dish now. I’m glad you liked this version.
I haven’t made this recipe yet.. and I stress the yet! Having read your replies to others, and seeing the work that you do, I just wanted to thank you. You are so willing to help others, share knowledge, and spread joy. You’re such a kind and sweet person. You have a positive impact on many people’s lives through the work you do. Your fingerprints can be found in many kitchens, all over, for years to come. Think about that.
I love seeing someone sharing their time and using their gifts to help others. Your love is a witness, and it made my day! Thank you!
★★★★★
Well, thank you so much for that kind word! That’s my heart as a blogger/business owner–to share what I’ve learned and been given in order to bless others. I’m grateful for this work and the people I get to serve (and learn from!).
This recipe is a keeper! Easy and so tasty! One of our family’s new favorites!
★★★★★
Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback, Regina. We’re so glad you enjoyed this one!
So easy & delicious! My whole family raves about this meal. My very picky 2 year old even asked for more! I love how easy it is to make and that I can put it in the crockpot in the morning & not have to worry about making supper later in the day.
★★★★★
Wonderful, Lucy! Thanks for sharing.
Could you bake in the oven on low heat?
I haven’t tested it this way, but I’m sure you could in a Dutch oven with the lid on. A quick google search and I found a recipe from The Pioneer Woman that says cook at 275°F for 3 hours for a 3 lb roast or 4 hours for 4-5 lb roast. She is usually reliable. Give yourself extra time, in case it’s not fall-apart tender when you check it. Hope that helps!
This recipe is fabulous! Easy to follow, smells great and tastes even better. I sometimes double the sauce so I can have more gravy at the end – it’s so good! It’s a family favorite!!
★★★★★
Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback and a review, Kimberly. Super helpful!
We couldn’t believe how easy this was to make and how delicious and flavorful it was!! I’ve since told everyone I know they must make this recipe ASAP.
★★★★★
Woo hoo!!!
This one is SO good. When my husband was sick last week, the only thing that sounded good was ‘that roast you make’….. After nearly 30 years of believing he didn’t like roast, this one changed his mind!
This is one of the best compliments ever, Lois. I’m glad it provided some comfort to your sick hubs and it changed his mind. 😉
Y’all must make this ASAP! Hands down The BEST roast we’ve ever tasted!!! I used mushroom broth instead of beef broth. Served it with skin on roasted butternut squash, extra balsamic & cold arugula salad greens. The juices are the salad dressing.
Wasn’t just the BEST thing I’ve had since my special fight cancer diet but, BEST EVER!
★★★★★
Oh my goodness, that sounds amazing. I’m totally going to do this. Yum! Thanks for the review and wishing you many blessings on your cancer-fighting journey.
What size crock pot does this recipe require?
It was tested in a 6 quart slow cooker, but I think a 3, 4, or 5 quart crock pot could work.
I am so sorry. I don’t know why I’m not seeing the mistakes in my writing. My original question, would it be helpful to brown the meat first for either the slow cooker or instant pot?
You can certainly brown it first if you’d like. But, I don’t do that (too much mess and time) and it still turns out delicious every time. I hope that helps!
That should gave read instant pot.
Hello. Is browning the meat helpful for either the slow cooker or I stand pot?
Can this be cooked in a Dutch oven?
Yes, but I’m not sure on the timing for temp since I haven’t tested it that way.
Can I make this with flank steak?
I think this marinade would be great on flank steak. I wouldn’t slow cook it, though, if that’s what you were thinking. Flank steak is great on the grill and cooks very quickly.
Made this again this week. Had it the first night over mashed potatoes/cauliflower. The second night, I slipped brioche hot dog buns and a couple of slices of mozzarella/provolone under the broiler and topped with the meat for French Dips, using all that good broth as au jus. SO good!! I’m guessing we’ll fight over who gets the last serving for lunch today!
★★★★★
Yummmm! Such a great idea for reusing the leftover meat. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review and some ideas, Lois. 🙂
Made this last night in my instant pot. So easy and so good. I served it both ways on a hoagie with dipping sauce and I made gravy with the other half of the sauce. I will make this again.
★★★★★
Thanks for taking the time to share your review and feedback, Suzie! So glad you liked it!
Hi how long in the instant pot? I was thinking the same thing, but i dont want to deal with a slow cooker, since I’m leaving to go out of town the day it needs cooked. (Hubby just told me he has to bring lunch to feed 7 guys at work on Wednesday, lol)
Hi Jo. I make it all the time in the Instant Pot. Cut the meat in 2×2 inch pieces and pressure cook for 30 minutes and then natural release for 10 minutes.
This recipe is so good! I made it in my Instant Pot and it was perfect. It’s so tender and flavorful that ever my picky kids will eat it!
★★★★★
We love hearing that, Ashley. Thanks for letting us know!
This was great tasting and super easy! My husband loved the flavor. I made two at once so I could pop one in the freezer!
★★★★★
So smart! It is such an easy freezer meal.
This was so good. All 4 of my kids and husband ate it up! I have made it multiple times.
★★★★★
Now that’s a win!
This recipe was so good and so easy! I did this as a part of a 1 hour meal prep and made two at once…we cooked and ate them within 2 weeks! Im intimidated by beef recipes sometimes because I don’t have much experience with different cuts of meat but this recipe made it so easy! Make it; you won’t be disappointed!
★★★★★
That’s awesome to hear. We love inspiring confidence in the kitchen. You should try out our BBQ shredded beef recipe next. Yummmm
My favorite recipe for the past few years. Meat is incredibly tender after slow cooking on this combination of liquids. Perfect over mashed potatoes.
★★★★★
My husband and all four kids (ages 2-14) loved this meal! I made it in the instant pot, and it was super easy! Definitely worth doubling and freezing half for later 😀
★★★★★
The balsamic beef is absolutely delicious! So tender and lots of flavor! I served it over cauliflower mash potatoes with green beans! Highly recommend!
★★★★★
I made this in the instant pot and it was so easy! It was flavorful and was enjoyed by entire family! We served it with cauli mashed potatoes and cut the red pepper flakes down for my kids. Highly recommend this recipe. It’s in our monthly routine.
★★★★★
One of our new favorite recipes. I usually make as directed, but last night I subbed chicken stock for the beef stock and used a pork roast. It was delicious, and I’m happy to have another pork roast recipe now!
★★★★★
This is one of my personal favorites. It’s so savory and delish.
★★★★★
Thanks, Holly! Glad it works well for you.
I love this recipe. I was always looking for different way to prepare a beef roast and this is it! I love it as is, my kids prefer a little less heat so I cut some of the red pepper flake. But it’s incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful. Try it!
★★★★★
I love this no fail recipe! I have done it with beef roast in the instapot as well as with a venison roast in the crock pot. It comes out tender and a distinct flavor that you don’t get with just onion soup mix. A great change up.
I made this for dinner last night and it was delicious. I made it over the polenta and it was perfection!!!
★★★★★
Would this be good on Kings Hawaiian sweet rolls?
Ooo, I bet it would be yummy!
Guys!! you REALLY need to try this one!! It does NOT taste as easy as it is! I package it as a meal kit with Ore-Ida Steam & Mash potatoes… Such an easy meal to throw together, and seriously, comfort food on steroids!
★★★★★
What is in the picture underneath it? Is that polenta?
Yes, it’s polenta. 🙂
I have made this before and it was amazing. I want to make it again but I can’t see the recipe can you please help?
I’m so glad you said something! I made a revision yesterday that (for some unknown reason) made the recipe card not visible. It’s back now. Enjoy!
This is a recipe that you hold onto. Delicious with basic, identifiable ingredients. One of my top, if not top, slow cooker recipes.
★★★★★
That’s great to hear, Emily. Thanks for the feedback!
Husband claimed top ten of all meals I’ve ever made. He never offers compliments on meals but he sure was vocal about this one. Will make this again. Everyone loved it
★★★★★
That’s fantastic!
This was amazing! I made it for a party with some slider rolls. I don’t often eat meat and I couldn’t stop. Delicious!
★★★★★
We’re so glad you liked it and it worked well for your party!
Can you cook it for 4 hours in high??
It may take more like 5 hours, depending on the size of your roast.
Tips on cooking this in the Instant Pot instead of slow cooker?
Yep! Just cut the beef into 2×2 inch cubes and cook with the sauce for 30 minutes with a 10 minute natural release. Shred and you’re good to go! Check out our Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart here for more help: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/instant-pot-cooking-times-chart/
This recipe is delicious! We just cooked and served it to about 100 people for a Lenten dinner at our church and it was a big hit, with adults and kids alike! Many people asked for the recipe. Thanks for sharing it!
This makes my heart so happy, Amy. Wow, so cool to see our recipes used to benefit a community like yours. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I made this last night for dinner. I put the meat in around 10 in the morning and everything was cooked by 6:30. I did turn the temp up to high around 3:30 to make sure the meat was cooked all the way through. The meat easily shredded, and I threw it back into the crock pot juices until my husband got home from work. I served it with roasted root veggies. My husband ate it on a muffin like a french-dip sandwich. We both loved it. I mostly made this to freeze the leftovers to eat once baby arrives (I’m 38 weeks pregnant), and I am excited to have a delicious dinner to thaw when we’re too busy to cook dinner. Thank you for such an easy and delicious meal!
★★★★★
We eat it like french dip sandwiches, too. So glad you liked it. Definitely the longer it cooks, the more easily those tough cuts of beef will shred apart.
Wondering if I can prep the roast with marinade, freeze, then pop in the slow cooker and cook from frozen? Might take a little longer, but that would be ok. Any experience with this or hang-ups to think about?
Hi Tara. We don’t recommend cooking a frozen meal in the slow cooker. From the research we have done, it sounds like there is a chance it can sit at the unsafe temp for food too long. I’ve done it, but it’s just not worth the risk to me in the future.
Has anyone tried substituting the beef for chicken in this recipe?
Chicken might work, but you’d need to adjust the cook time depending on what cut you are using. Chicken breasts cook quickly in the slow cooker, like in 2-3 hours.
i read the comment about the nesco roaster. You need this roaster! its like a crockpot but it cooks the same temperatures as a oven.You will not be sorry!! It cooks the best lasagna ive ever had!!My grandmothers secret recipe.
If I put carrots and chopped red potatoes in the crockpot under the meat, would it all cook together ok? I need something I can put on in the morning before I leave for the office and it’ll be ready when I get home in the evening with no maintenance during the day.
Jamie, I’ve made veggies all day like that and they get completely mushy, especially with the sauce. You can try it, but it’s not my favorite. You’d be better off just throwing the veggies in some boiling water when you get home, boiling them for 8 minutes or so, and tossing with butter, salt, and pepper to taste. Here’s an easy recipe: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2016/11/simple-and-delicious-boiled-baby-potatoes/
I am thinking of making this ahead of time and reheating for a family reunion in the crockpot, any suggestions?
It will work great! Just thaw overnight and re-warm over low in the crockpot when ready to serve.
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I put carrots and new potatoes in the bottom and let them cook all day with the roast and they turned out great. Not too mushy! Everyone loved it and said this is a keeper!
★★★★★
Thanks for the feedback and for letting us know about the veggies. I’m totally trying that next time. Thanks!
This is fantastic! I’m happy to report every member of my family enjoyed it, including me, and I’m not really into beef. Thanks, ladies!
★★★★★
Woo hoo! Great to hear this, Ashley.
This looks so good! Do you know if it could be doubled and still fit in a standard 6-quart crockpot?
I haven’t tried doubling this recipe. It would certainly fit, but may take longer to cook.
Do you think this would work in a large Nesco type roaster? I need to feed large crowd and would double possibly triple recipe. If so what temperature would you recommend and how long?
I’m sorry but I’m not familiar with that appliance.
Is it spicy with the red pepper flakes? Just want to make sure my kids will like it!
★★★★★
It doesn’t have too much heat. But, feel free to pull back on the red pepper the first time you make it.
We enjoyed this Balsamic Shredded Beef tonight. I had a cheap cut of beef in the freezer and threw it in the crockpot this morning along with the other ingredients. It turned out sooooooo good. This recipe is a keeper!
★★★★★
Awesome! I’m making it tomorrow for my fam!
If I wanted to make this without honey so my almost one year old could enjoy it with us, should I substitute something else, or just leave out the honey?
I think the concern with honey for babies is that it might be contaminated in the bottle it comes in. Once it’s cooked (for 8 hours, no less), wouldn’t it be fine? You might Google to find out. But, if you want to substitute it, just add 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar. That would be tasty.
Just found your site, these recipes look delicious! I think what Meredith meant was that honey has botulism toxins in it and is not safe for children under the age of 1.
“Don’t give your baby any honey before she’s a year old, even if it’s to treat a cough. This is because honey can, very occasionally, contain a spore of a bacterium called clostridium botulinum. This can cause a rare form of food poisoning (botulism) in babies.”
Yum yum yum! So easy and such a good twist on my basic slow cooker chicken! Would be so yummy on salads too.
Yum! We don’t eat a lot of beef in our house but I might have to make an exception and give this a try!