Slow Cooker Bbq Beef With Liquid Smoke

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Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef

This amazing shredded barbecue beef is cooked all day in your slow cooker for an outrageously tasty meal that's perfect for game days, picnics, potlucks, and more. It's a crowd-pleasing recipe that lets your crockpot do most of the work.

Whether you make barbecue beef for summer entertaining or as a cozy meal in the winter, this slow cooker method of making it will leave you with fall-off-the-fork tender beef with tons of flavor. The addition of liquid smoke gives it a deep, rich savory taste. Our favorite way to eat it is to pile it high on a toasted bun, top it with some coleslaw and then dig in.

One of the best things about this shredded barbecue beef is that you can make enough for leftovers. If you're into meal planning, make a double batch of this (you might need two slow cookers) and freeze the extra for use later.

How can I use this barbecue beef?

Other than piling it on a bun, here are few delicious ways to plan a meal around slow cooker shredded barbecue beef.

Serve it with rice or mashed potatoes and a green veggie on the side.
Use it as a burrito filling along with cheese, rice, and beans
Use it as a pizza topping along with onions, peppers, and cheese.
Add it on top of sheet pan nachos along with some grated cheese and bake until warm.
Add in on top of baked sweet potatoes along with a dollop of slaw.

How do I store barbecue beef?

Shredded barbecue beef will keep in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for 3-4 days. To freeze it, seal it in a freezer-safe container or plastic zip-lock bag and label it. It will keep for up to 2 months. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

What size slow cooker should I use?

This recipe calls for a 3-4 lb roast so use at least a 5-quart or larger slow cooker.

Tips for making the best slow cooker barbecue beef

Make sure you apply cooking spray or oil to the inside of your slow cooker for easy cleanup!
Use a fatty cut of meat. The more marbled, the better. The fat will keep it moist and tender as it slowly cooks.
Seasoning is key. Here, we're using an onion soup packet. You can certainly use real onions instead, but be sure and season the meat heavily, as well, with your favorite seasonings.
Use minimal liquid. The fat from the meat will release making its own liquid. Make sure and just use 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar for every 4 pounds of meat, as the recipe calls for.
Do not add the barbecue sauce at the beginning. You'll need the meat to cook for hours before shredding it. For a deeper barbecue taste, add the sauce after you've shredded the meat and then add it back to the slow cooker to keep it warm for another hour before serving.
Don't try to cook this on high half the time. This type of meat needs the low and slow method of cooking for a full 8 hours to achieve a tender fall apart texture that's easy to shred.

How do you shred cooked beef?

Use the two-fork method. You can remove the roast from the slow cooker to a large platter or shred it right inside of the slow cooker.
Hold the roast steady with one fork while you shred the beef with the other fork. Shred with the grain, not against it.
Continue shredding until there are no large chunks left.

Ingredients needed for slow cooker barbecue beef

1 (3 to 4 pound) beef chuck or round roast

1 packet onion soup mix (for every 4 pounds of meat)

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (for every 4 pounds of meat)

2 tablespoons of liquid smoke

2 cups barbecue sauce

How to make slow cooker barbecue beef

Pour olive oil in the bottom of the slow cooker liner or spritz with nonstick cooking spray.
Place beef roast in the crock with the fatty side up so the fat drippings baste the roast as it cooks. Rub onion soup mix into all sides of the roast. Pour red wine vinegar and liquid smoke over seasoning. Cover with lid.
Cook on low for 8 hours or until fork-tender.
Remove roast from the slow cooker. Pull apart roast using two forks.
Add barbecue sauce to the roast and stir to combine. Serve over buns or rice or potatoes.

Whether cooking for a crowd, meal prepping, or just making a family dinner, this slow cooker barbecue beef recipe is full of smoky and savory flavor. No matter how you serve it, your friends and family will gobble up this incredible barbecue beef with gusto.

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Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 (3 to 4 pound) beef chuck or round roast
1 packet onion soup mix (for every 4 pounds of meat)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (for every 4 pounds of meat)
2 tablespoons of liquid smoke
2 cups favorite barbecue sauce

Instructions

Pour olive oil in the bottom of the slow cooker liner or spritz with nonstick cooking spray.
Place beef roast in the crock with the fatty side up so the fat drippings baste the roast as it cooks. Rub onion soup mix into all sides of the roast. Pour red wine vinegar and liquid smoke over seasoning. Cover with lid.
Cook on low for 8 hours or until fork-tender.
Remove roast from the slow cooker. Pull apart roast using two forks.
Add barbecue sauce to the roast and stir to combine. Serve.