Get ready for a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meal that defines comfort food. This Slow Cooker Beef Manhattan is a classic dish featuring incredibly tender, fall-apart chunks of beef and vegetables slow-cooked in a rich, savory gravy. Traditionally served over slices of toasted bread to soak up every last delicious drop, this is one of the most satisfying Comfort Food Dinners you can make. The slow cooker does all the hard work, transforming simple ingredients into a deeply flavorful meal that the whole family will love.
Why This is the Perfect “Set It and Forget It” Meal
This Beef Manhattan Recipe is a true game-changer for easy, hearty meals.
- Melt-in-Your-Mouth Tender Beef: The magic of the slow cooker turns a humble beef chuck roast into incredibly tender, juicy bites of perfection.
- Rich and Savory Gravy: Searing the beef and scraping up all the browned bits creates a deeply flavorful gravy that is the heart of this dish.
- A Complete One-Pot Meal: With meat, potatoes, and carrots all cooking together in one pot, this is a complete and satisfying dinner with minimal cleanup.
- Incredibly Easy: After a quick sear, you simply let the slow cooker work its magic for hours, filling your home with the most amazing aroma.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
This recipe uses classic, wholesome ingredients for a truly authentic taste.
The Ingredient Lineup:
- 2 pounds of beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- Seasonings: 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste.
- For Serving: 4-6 slices of thick-cut bread (like Texas toast or sourdough) and fresh chopped parsley for garnish.
Step-by-Step Slow Cooker Instructions
A few minutes of prep in the morning leads to a spectacular dinner at night.
Part 1: Prepare the Beef
- Sear the Beef for Flavor: Season the beef chunks generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef in a single layer (working in batches if necessary) and sear on all sides until a deep brown crust forms. Transfer the browned beef to your slow cooker.
- Sauté the Aromatics: In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
Part 2: Combine and Cook
- Deglaze the Pan: Pour the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce into the hot skillet. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Combine in the Slow Cooker: Pour the broth mixture from the skillet over the beef in the slow cooker. Add the potatoes and baby carrots and stir everything gently to combine.
- Slow Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours, until the beef is fall-apart tender and the vegetables are soft.
Part 3: Serve the Classic Way
- Toast the Bread: Just before serving, toast your slices of bread until they are golden brown and slightly crisp.
- Serve: Place a slice of toasted bread on each plate and generously spoon the hot beef, vegetables, and rich gravy over the top. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is “Beef Manhattan”? Beef Manhattan is a classic American comfort food dish that is essentially a hot open-faced roast beef sandwich. It consists of tender roast beef and gravy served over a slice of bread, often with mashed potatoes on the side. This slow cooker version simplifies the process by cooking the potatoes and carrots right in with the beef and gravy.
2. Can I serve this over noodles instead of bread? Absolutely! This recipe makes for a fantastic Crockpot Beef And Noodles meal. Simply cook your favorite type of egg noodles according to the package directions. Instead of serving over bread, serve the tender beef and gravy over a generous portion of the hot noodles. This is a great way to make an Easy Beef And Noodles dinner.
3. How can I make the gravy thicker? If you prefer a thicker gravy, you can make a simple cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Stir this slurry into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of the cooking time and turn the heat to HIGH to allow the gravy to thicken.
4. What is the best cut of beef for this recipe? The best cut of beef for this Slow Cooker Beef Manhattan is a well-marbled chuck roast. The fat and connective tissue in the chuck roast break down during the long, slow cooking process, resulting in incredibly tender, flavorful meat that is perfect for this dish.
The Ultimate Slow Cooker Beef Manhattan: A Comfort Food Classic
Equipment
- Slow cooker 6-quart recommended
- Large skillet for searing beef and deglazing
- Wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits
- Knife and cutting board
- toaster for bread slices
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4-6 slices thick-cut bread (Texas toast or sourdough), for serving
- fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Season beef chunks with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear beef on all sides until browned. Transfer to slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, sauté onion for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute. Deglaze pan with beef broth and Worcestershire, scraping up browned bits. Stir in thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Pour broth mixture into slow cooker over beef. Add carrots and potatoes. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until beef is fall-apart tender and vegetables are soft.
- Toast slices of bread. Serve beef, vegetables, and gravy over the toasted bread. Garnish with parsley and enjoy.