Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites Recipe
Reader's Favorite Main Dishes.
A savory and tender meal of garlic butter beef bites, made effortlessly in the slow cooker. Perfect for a cozy, comforting dinner.
I remember my mom using her slow cooker on busy weekdays. It felt like a little secret she had, a promise that no matter how chaotic the day got, a warm, home-cooked meal would be waiting for us. This recipe is my little nod to that memory. It’s about creating that same sense of comfort and effortless care. The beef becomes so unbelievably tender, it just falls apart with a gentle nudge of a fork. It’s the kind of food that doesn't need to be perfect; it just needs to be shared. It’s a quiet dinner, a satisfying sigh, a full belly. Yeah, that's what this is.
Why This Recipe Feels Like a Hug
- •So Tender: The slow cooking process makes the beef unbelievably tender, it practically melts.
- •Minimal Effort: After a quick sear, the slow cooker does all the work. It’s a true set-it-and-forget-it meal.
- •That Garlic Butter Scent: Your home will smell incredible. It’s the most welcoming aroma.
- •Versatile Comfort: Perfect over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice. It’s comfort in any form.
Honestly, the way these beef bites just melt in your mouth is something else. It’s become our family's favorite comfort food, hands down.
Essential Ingredient Guide
- The Beef Cut: Chuck roast is honestly my favorite for this. It has wonderful marbling that becomes so tender and flavorful after slow cooking. Sirloin tips also work well, but chuck roast has my heart for this dish.
- Fresh Garlic: Please, use fresh garlic cloves here. The pre-minced jarred stuff just doesn't have the same vibrant, pungent flavor. The recipe calls for a lot, and for good reason—it’s the star!
- Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the saltiness of the final dish, especially since soy sauce and broth also add sodium. You can always add more salt, but you can’t take it away.
Complete Cooking Process
- Searing for Flavor: The first step is to give the beef a beautiful brown crust. This isn't just for looks; it's a process called the Maillard reaction, and it creates layers upon layers of deep, savory flavor that will infuse the entire dish.
- Building the Sauce: Once the beef is seared, you'll use the same pan to soften the onions and garlic, then deglaze with broth. This simple action lifts all the flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan and makes them the foundation of your garlic butter sauce.
- The Slow Simmer: With everything combined in the slow cooker, the magic happens. Over several hours, the tough connective tissues in the beef break down, resulting in incredibly tender bites, while all the flavors meld together into something truly special.
- Finishing Touches: A simple cornstarch slurry at the end transforms the cooking liquid into a rich, velvety gravy that coats every single piece of beef. A final sprinkle of fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness.
A Few Things You Might Be Wondering
→Can I cook this on high to speed it up?
You can, but I really recommend the low setting if you have the time. Cooking it low and slow is what makes the beef so incredibly tender. High will get it cooked, but the texture is just better on low.
→What kind of beef is best for this recipe?
My go-to is always a beef chuck roast. It has the perfect amount of fat to keep the meat moist and tender during the long cook time. Beef brisket or sirloin tips are also good alternatives.
→Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Absolutely! Just swap the soy sauce for a gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos. Also, double-check that your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free, as some brands contain malt vinegar.
→What if I don't have a slow cooker?
No problem. You can make this in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over very low heat for 2-3 hours, or in the oven at 325°F (160°C) for about 3 hours, until the beef is tender.
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites Recipe
Slow cooker garlic butter beef bites recipe for a savory and tender meal. Discover delicious dinner ideas with this easy recipe!
Timing
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
4-5 hours
Total Time
4 hours 15 minutes
Recipe Details
Ingredients
For the Beef Bites
- 012 to 2.5 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 021 teaspoon kosher salt
- 031/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 042 tablespoons olive oil
- 051/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
- 061 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 078-10 cloves garlic, minced (yes, that many!)
- 081/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 092 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 101 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 111 teaspoon dried thyme
For the Garnish & Sauce
- 012 tablespoons cornstarch
- 022 tablespoons cold water
- 03Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
First, pat your beef cubes dry with a paper towel and season them generously with salt and pepper. This little step helps get that beautiful brown crust.
Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the beef cubes in a single layer and sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until they're nicely browned. Transfer them to your slow cooker. Repeat with the remaining beef. Look, you can skip this, but that browning adds so much depth.
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the same skillet and cook for about 3-4 minutes, until it softens. Add the minced garlic and cook for just one more minute until you can smell it—wow, that smell is amazing. Be careful not to let it burn.
Pour the beef broth into the skillet to deglaze the pan, scraping up all those lovely browned bits from the bottom. Pour this mixture over the beef in the slow cooker.
Add the cubed butter, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and dried thyme to the slow cooker. Give it a gentle stir just to say hello.
Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. Honestly, low is the way to go for the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth result.
About 20 minutes before serving, whisk the cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl to make a slurry. Pour it into the slow cooker and stir gently. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened up into a beautiful, glossy gravy.
Taste and adjust seasoning if you need to. Sprinkle with fresh parsley right before serving. It just brightens everything up.
Notes & Tips
- 1Feel free to add sliced mushrooms during the last hour of cooking for an extra earthy flavor.
- 2If you like a little bit of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added with the other seasonings.
Tools You'll Need
- •Don't overcrowd the pan when searing the beef. Work in batches to ensure each piece gets a beautiful, deep brown crust.
- •Use low-sodium beef broth and soy sauce to better control the final saltiness of the dish. You can always add more salt at the end.
- •Let the beef rest for a few minutes in the sauce after it's done cooking. It helps the meat reabsorb some of the delicious juices.
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