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Slow Cooker Beef Ragu for Tender, Hearty Italian Dinner

Close-up of wide pappardelle pasta generously topped with rich beef ragu and grated Parmesan cheese.
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Make this rich Beef Ragu in your slow cooker for melt-in-your-mouth tender beef and a deeply flavorful sauce. This recipe delivers classic Italian comfort food with minimal effort, perfect for a family meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup dry red wine (like Chianti or Merlot)
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound pappardelle pasta (for serving)
  • Fresh Parmesan cheese, for topping

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef pieces dry and season them with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches on all sides. Remove the browned beef and set it aside.
  3. Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the same skillet. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  4. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Transfer the browned beef and the cooked vegetables to your slow cooker basin.
  6. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, red wine, and beef broth. Stir to combine.
  7. Add the oregano, basil, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir the mixture well.
  8. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.
  9. Remove the bay leaf. Shred the beef directly in the sauce using two forks. Stir the shredded beef back into the sauce.
  10. Cook the pappardelle pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta.
  11. Serve the hearty beef ragu generously over the hot pasta. Top with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, sear the beef in batches before adding it to the slow cooker.
  • You can substitute beef broth with water if you skip the red wine.
  • This sauce freezes well, making it an excellent make-ahead dinner option.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbyfelix.com/best-beef-ragu-slow-cooker-comfort-dinner/