Description
Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Ragu delivers Italian comfort straight to dinner tables with rich, tender meat melting into silky sauce. Simmered low and slow, this classic recipe promises deep flavors that invite hungry diners to savor each comforting spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.25 pounds chuck roast (trimmed of excess fat and bone removed)
- 1.75 pounds chuck roast (trimmed of excess fat and bone removed)
- 30 ounces (850 grams) tomato sauce
- 8.8 ounces (250 grams) pappardelle pasta
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Seasonings:
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 0.25 teaspoon pepper
- Salt to taste
Serving Suggestion:
- Parmesan cheese for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Place chuck roast in slow cooker, creating a flavorful base with tomato sauce, minced garlic, aromatic bay leaves, crushed fennel seeds, and a hint of red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
- Seal the lid and allow the meat to simmer gently on low temperature for 6-8 hours, or alternatively on high for 3-4 hours until beef becomes remarkably tender and easily falls apart.
- During the final hour of cooking, prepare pasta according to package instructions, ensuring al dente texture that will complement the rich ragu sauce.
- Once cooking completes, carefully extract bay leaves and use two forks to meticulously shred the beef into delicate, succulent strands, then season the sauce with salt to enhance its deep, complex flavors.
- Transfer perfectly cooked pasta to serving dishes, generously ladle the robust ragu over top, and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese for an elegant, rustic Italian-inspired meal that promises comfort and satisfaction.
Notes
- Choose a well-marbled chuck roast for maximum tenderness and rich flavor development during slow cooking.
- Control spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes, making the dish mild or more intense based on personal preference.
- Consider using gluten-free pasta for a celiac-friendly version without compromising the robust sauce’s taste.
- Freeze leftover ragu in portions for quick future meals, which maintains its deep, complex flavors when reheated.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg