Slow Cooker BBQ Beef (Whole30)

Short on time? This Slow Cooker BBQ is the ultimate ‘set it & forget it’ kind of meal!

Meal prep magic

It’s no secret that we’re obsessed with meal prepping around here. It’s literally our secret weapon when it comes to eating healthy despite all the ‘fullness’ our lives have to offer. Having a fridge full of ready-to-cook meals, reheat and eat meals and salads and snacks prepped and ready to go means we don’t have to wonder ‘what’s for dinner?’ or rely on sheer willpower to stay out of the fast food drive-thru.

If the idea of meal prepping is new to you – or you’re a seasoned meal prepper who’s strayed from your weekly habit or taken some time off (it happens, especially during the holidays!) – then check out our 7 Steps for Mastering Meal Planning in 2018 to get you started or help you rekindle your meal prep mojo.

Now that we’ve got that little PSA out of way, let’s talk about one of my favorite meal prep recipes of all time: Slow Cooker BBQ Beef

I love this recipe because:

• Makes a huge batch – enough to serve 10-12 – so it’s perfect for batch cooking and for parties or potlucks
• Uses an less expensive cut of meat
• Freezes well
• Can be used several different ways – stuffed in a sweet potato, served over cauliflower rice or a bed of greens, wrapped in lettuce or collard leaves, added to eggs or even served on a gluten-free bun if you’re not doing a Whole30
• It’s amily-friendly and kid-approved
• Requires just 15-20 minutes of prep time – even less if you skip the browning/searing step
• It’s Whole30-friendly – no sugar, dairy, gluten or soy; just real food ingredients you might already have on hand

If you’re not already convinced that this Slow Cooker BBQ Beef deserves a place on your meal plan, then let me show you just how easy it is.

Start with good onions. I prefer the jumbo sweet onions for their flavor and because they cook down nice and soft – which is great if you have little ones who like to pick things out of their food. These onions are nearly indistinguishable from the meat thanks to the acid from the vinegar and tomatoes and the long cooking time.

Browning the meat before tossing it in the slow cooker is totally optional. Cutting the roast into smaller chunks makes it easier to handle and also helps the meat cook faster and more evenly (and IMHO, you get a more tender, fall apart product in the end). It’s also easier to handle in the pan if you do choose to brown it first.

Place the onion in the slow cooker, add the beef and then the sauce (which I alluded to earlier, is super simple and you likely have everything already on hand!) Now give it a good stir to coat the meat and onions with the sauce.

Now, put the lid on the slow cooker, set it to low and walk away for  8-10 hours. When you return you’ll have a whole mess of beautiful and super versatile BBQ beef to do with as you please.

I personally love it stuffed into a baked sweet potato and topped with my simple 4-ingredient coleslaw for the ultimate Whole30-friendly comfort meal!

Now it’s your turn.

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Let's Get Cookin'

Slow Cooker BBQ Beef (Whole30)

• Author: The Real Food Dietitians
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 8 hours
• Total Time: 8 hours 15 mins
• Yield: 10-12 1x
• Category: Main Entree, Slow Cooker, Meal Prep
• Cuisine: Whole30, Paleo, Dairy-free

Print Recipe

★★★★★ 4.9 from 10 reviews

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ – 3 lb. boneless beef chuck roast
• 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 6-oz. can tomato paste
• 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard (use a compliant brand such as Annie’s, Everyday 365 or Tessemae’s for Whole30) 
• 1 ½ Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup water
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 ½ tsp. oregano, dried
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. black pepper

Simple Cole Slaw

• 1 (9-ounce) bag coleslaw mix (shredded green cabbage, carrots and red cabbage)
• ⅓ cup Whole30-compliant mayo (such as Primal Kitchen)
• 3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Slice onions and place on the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Cut beef roast into 3 chunks, about 1 lb. each. If searing meat before placing in the slow cooker, heat 1 Tbsp. fat of choice in a Dutch oven or other large pan over medium-high heat. When fat is hot, add beef and sear 4-5 minutes on each side, turning once.
3. Transfer meat to slow cooker with the onions.
4. Mix together remaining ingredients and pour over beef and onions. Stir to coat meat and onions.
5. Place lid on slow cooker and cook on LOW heat for 8-10 hours or until meat is tender and shreds easily.
6. Remove meat from slow cooker to a baking dish and shred with 2 forks, return meat to slow cooker and stir into onions and sauce before serving.
7. Store leftovers in a lidded container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage.

Notes

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Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4 ounces
• Calories: 384
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 275mg
• Fat: 24g
• Carbohydrates: 4g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 35g

What’s your favorite ‘set it & forget it’ kind of meal? Share in the comments below!

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This post contains affiliate links, which means we receive a percentage of the sale if you use the link to make your purchase. This does not change the price of the product. This income directly offsets the cost of web hosting and maintenance so we greatly appreciate your support.

About Jessica Beacom

Jessica is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Boulder, CO with her hubby and two daughters. She's been described as a 'real food evangelist' and loves sharing her knowledge with others to help them break free of the diet mentality and find their own food freedom. In her spare time she enjoys CrossFit, telemark skiing, mountain biking, teaching herself how to play the banjo and camping out under the stars.