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    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker

    Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Beef Recipe

    Published: Jan 17, 2023 · Modified: Oct 10, 2024 by Beth Sachs · 5 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Pulled beef pin image.

    An easy slow cooker pulled beef recipe made with tender pull-apart beef brisket in a sweet, smoky, and tangy BBQ sauce!

    Five minutes of prep and eight hours in the slow cooker produce the most delicious and tender BBQ pulled beef, perfect for feeding a crowd! You might also like my slow cooker BBQ pulled chicken recipe.

    Slow cooker pulled beef in a slow cooker basin.

    Would you like to save this?

    We'll email you this post for easy access later! You'll also join the Effortless Foodie mailing list and receive my popular 'No Bake Bars and Slices' eBook for free!

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    This BBQ pulled beef brisket is so versatile! You can serve it with rice, tortilla chips, burritos, tacos, in sandwiches, and leftovers are great on air fryer jacket potatoes!

    It's a quick dump-and-go recipe, so it's great for sticking on first thing in the morning before work and leaving it to do its thing during the day. A saviour on busy weekdays when we have lots of after-school clubs.

    👩‍🍳 Love easy slow cooker recipes? Try my simple slow cooker chilli con carne or slow cooker chicken chasseur next!

    ⭐ Slow Cooker Recipe eBook ⭐

    With easy to follow recipes and instructions you'll be able to master the art of slow cooking in no time. Buy now for £3.99!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🔪 How to make pulled beef in slow cooker
    • Top Tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More slow cooker recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    • Tender pull-apart beef brisket.
    • Easy dump-and-go slow cooker meal.
    • Feeds a crowd.
    • Freezer-friendly.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients for slow cooker pulled beef.

    Beef Brisket - 1.5kg beef brisket joint.

    Onion - one large onion peeled and roughly chopped.

    Sauce - BBQ sauce, light brown sugar, cider vinegar, yellow American mustard (not English mustard - it's too hot!), smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, water).

    🔪 How to make pulled beef in slow cooker

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Place the beef brisket joint in your slow cooker basin.

    Two: Mix together the onion and sauce ingredients in a jug then pour over the beef joint.

    Three: Cook on low for 8 hours. Take the beef out of the slow cooker and place it on a chopping board. Cut thick slices of beef with a sharp knife then shred the beef with two forks. Place the shredded beef back into the slow cooker and mix it into the sauce.

    Making pulled beef in a slow cooker - step by step photo instructions collage.

    Top Tips

    • Use American yellow mustard in this recipe. English mustard and Dijon mustard are too strong and will overpower the other flavours in the sauce. You can find American yellow mustard next to BBQ sauce and Tomato Ketchup in the supermarket.
    • If you would like to thicken the sauce, sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of thickening granules, or pour the sauce only into a saucepan, bring it to a boil and cook until it has thickened to your liking.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    There are plenty of ways to serve/use slow cooker pulled beef. Here are a few ideas!

    • Tacos and Burritos
    • Fajitas and Enchiladas
    • Pizza Topping
    • Rice
    • Sandwiches
    • Jacket Potatoes
    • Nachos
    • Dirty Chips
    • Burger Buns
    • Salad
    • Pico De Gallo
    • Lime Wedges. Sliced Red Onion & Sour Cream
    Pulled beef in a slow cooker with grated cheese, lime wedges and red onion.

    📖 Variations

    • Make the sauce spicy and add a teaspoon of chilli flakes or chilli powder.
    • Use pork instead of beef.
    • Add Italian seasoning, Chinese five spice, taco seasoning, or garlic powder to the sauce.
    • Make it in the pressure cooker instead.
    • Squeeze over fresh lime juice at the end of cooking.
    • Substitute the cider vinegar for red wine vinegar.
    • Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce and a tablespoon of tomato puree for a richer savoury flavour.

    🥡 Storage

    Store - The slow cooker shredded beef can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Reheat - Microwave until piping hot.

    Freeze - Once cool, place the shredded beef into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating.

    BBQ shredded beef in a slow cooker.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    Can you overcook pulled beef in slow cooker?

    Although slow cookers are designed to cook food for long periods of time, you can still overcook beef in a slow cooker so try and keep an eye on it. Test it with a fork to see if it's falling apart and tender.

    Can I put raw beef straight into a slow cooker?

    Yes you can!

    What cut of beef is best for shredding?

    Beek brisket or braising steak are both great for cooking long and slow in a slow cooker, and easy to shred with forks at the end of cooking.

    😋 More slow cooker recipes

    • Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne
    • Slow Cooker Pork Ragu
    • Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole
    • Slow Cooker Hunters Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
    • Slow Cooker Pork Casserole
    • Slow Cooker Beef Keema
    • Slow Cooker Red Lentil Dahl
    Pulled bbq beef brisket in slow cooker.

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    Recipe

    Slow cooker bbq pulled beef in a slow cooker basin.
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    5 from 11 votes

    Slow Cooker Pulled Beef

    An easy slow cooker pulled beef recipe made with tender pull-apart beef brisket in a sweet, smoky, and tangy BBQ sauce!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine British
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 8 hours hours
    Total Time 8 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
    Servings 8
    Calories 589kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Measuring Jug
    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 1.5 kg Beef Brisket Joint
    • 1 Onion peeled and chopped

    For the sauce

    • 200 ml BBQ Sauce
    • 3 tablespoon Light Brown Sugar
    • 2 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Yellow American Mustard NOT ENGLISH MUSTARD
    • 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Cayenne
    • 20 ml Water

    Instructions

    • Place the beef brisket joint in your slow cooker basin.
      1.5 kg Beef Brisket Joint
    • Mix together the onion and sauce ingredients in a jug then pour over the beef joint.
      1 Onion, 200 ml BBQ Sauce, 3 tablespoon Light Brown Sugar, 2 tablespoon Cider Vinegar, 1 tablespoon Yellow American Mustard, 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika, 1 teaspoon Cayenne, 20 ml Water
    • Cook on low for 8 hours. Take the beef out of the slow cooker and place it on a chopping board. Cut thick slices of beef with a sharp knife then shred the beef with two forks. Place the shredded beef back into the slow cooker and mix it into the sauce.

    Notes

    Expert Tips:
    • Use American yellow mustard in this recipe. English mustard and Dijon mustard are too strong and will overpower the other flavours in the sauce. You can find American yellow mustard next to BBQ sauce and Tomato Ketchup in the supermarket.
    • If you would like to thicken the sauce up, sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of thickening granules, or pour the sauce only into a saucepan, bring it to a boil and cook until it has thickened to your liking.
     
    Variations:
    • Make the sauce spicy and add a teaspoon of chilli flakes or chili powder.
    • Use pork instead of beef.
    • Add Italian seasoning, taco seasoning, or garlic powder to the sauce.
    • Make it in the pressure cooker instead.
    • Squeeze over fresh lime juice at the end of cooking.
    • Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce for a savoury flavour.
     
    Storage:
    Store - The slow cooker shredded beef can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    Reheat - Microwave until piping hot.
    Freeze - Once cool, place the shredded beef into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Slow Cooker Pulled Beef
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    589
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    41
    g
    63
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    17
    g
    106
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    17
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    131
    mg
    44
    %
    Sodium
     
    588
    mg
    26
    %
    Potassium
     
    642
    mg
    18
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    16
    g
    5
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    14
    g
    16
    %
    Protein
     
    36
    g
    72
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    537
    IU
    11
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    25
    mg
    3
    %
    Iron
     
    5
    mg
    28
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

    ⭐ Slow Cooker Recipe eBook ⭐

    With easy to follow recipes and instructions you'll be able to master the art of slow cooking in no time. Buy now for £3.99!

    More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

    • Slow cooker rolled lamb breast cut into slices with roast potatoes and stuffing.
      Slow Cooker Lamb Breast Recipe
    • Slow cooker red cabbage in a serving dish.
      Easy Slow Cooker Red Cabbage Recipe
    • Sliced slow cooker roast beef.
      Easy Slow Cooker Roast Beef Recipe
    • Slow cooker stewed apples in a black slow cooker basin.
      Slow Cooker Stewed Apples Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      January 17, 2023 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      This beef looks so tender and tasty and can be used in so many meals with so little effort. Thanks for sharing this.

      Reply
    2. Dannii

      January 17, 2023 at 1:27 pm

      5 stars
      We love making these for tacos. Perfect comfort food.

      Reply
    3. Biana

      January 17, 2023 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      This beef looks perfect for tacos! Thank you for sharing such an easy recipe.

      Reply
    4. Tara

      January 17, 2023 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum! You had me at sweet, smoky, and tangy BBQ sauce. This pulled beef looks so good and I love how easily it comes together in the slow cooker.

      Reply
    5. Dana

      January 17, 2023 at 2:07 pm

      5 stars
      This pulled beef has such a nice and tangy flavor! It also makes the house smell amazing while it's cooking. The perfect cozy comfort meal for rainy Sundays!

      Reply
    5 from 11 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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