Enjoy a Hearty Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Recipe Tonight!

Sundays are made for slow-simmered, soul-warming meals that fill the house with mouthwatering aromas and bring the family together. Enter the Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu – a classic Italian-inspired dish that simmers to perfection while you enjoy your day. This rich, meaty sauce is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for tossing with pasta or serving over creamy polenta for a hearty, satisfying dinner.

Table of Contents

The Magic of Slow Cooking Beef Ragu

The key to an exceptional Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu is in the low and slow cooking method. As the beef simmers away in the aromatic sauce, the flavors meld and intensify, resulting in a luxuriously tender, flavorful ragu that will have your family begging for seconds. The long, gentle cooking process breaks down the connective tissues in the beef, transforming even the toughest cuts into melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.

Ingredient Spotlight: Building Layers of Flavor

To create the ultimate Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu, you’ll need a few key ingredients:

• 2.5 – 3 lbs boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1.5 cups)
• 2 large carrots, peeled and finely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup dry red wine (or beef broth if preferred)
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 cup beef broth (low sodium preferred)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed (or 1 sprig fresh rosemary)
• 1 tsp kosher salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
• Optional: Pinch of red pepper flakes

For serving, you’ll want cooked pasta (pappardelle, tagliatelle, or rigatoni), fresh Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh basil or parsley.

Step-by-Step: Slow Cooking the Perfect Beef Ragu

Ready to get cooking? Here’s how to make the ultimate Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu:

1. Brown the Beef

Start by heating the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if needed, brown the beef cubes on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per batch. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker.

2. Sauté the Veggies

In the same skillet, cook the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes more. Deglaze the pan with the red wine (or beef broth), scraping up any browned bits. Pour the veggie mixture into the slow cooker.

3. Add the Remaining Ingredients

To the slow cooker, add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir everything together until well combined.

4. Slow Cook to Perfection

Cover the slow cooker and cook the Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.

5. Shred and Return

Remove the beef cubes from the slow cooker, shred them with two forks, and then return the shredded beef to the sauce. Stir to combine. Discard the bay leaves and rosemary sprig, if used.

6. Serve and Enjoy

Toss the Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu with your favorite cooked pasta, then top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped basil or parsley. Serve this comforting Italian-inspired feast to your family and get ready for the compliments to start rolling in!

Tips for Perfecting Your Beef Ragu

To ensure your Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu is the best it can be, here are a few tips:

• Choose the right cut of beef: Chuck roast is the ideal choice for its perfect balance of flavor and tenderness when slow-cooked.
• Substitute beef broth for wine: If you prefer not to use wine, you can replace it with an equal amount of beef broth.
• Adjust seasoning to taste: Feel free to add more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes to suit your personal preferences.
• Store and reheat with ease: The ragu can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

More Related Recipes You Might Enjoy

• Italian Bolognese Sauce
• Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
• Beef Stroganoff
• Vegetable Ragu for a Vegetarian Option

FAQs About Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu

How long do you cook beef ragu in the slow cooker?

The Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu should be cooked on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.

How long should you let ragu cook?

For the best results, you should let the Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu cook for at least 8 hours on the LOW setting or 4-5 hours on the HIGH setting. This long, slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld and the beef to become incredibly tender.

How to cook beef in a slow cooker for Sunday dinner?

To cook beef in a slow cooker for a Sunday dinner, start by browning the beef cubes in a skillet to lock in the flavor. Then, add the beef and other ingredients to the slow cooker and let it cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours. The Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu recipe is the perfect example of this method, resulting in a deliciously tender and flavorful dish.

Why should you not put raw meat in a slow cooker?

You should not put raw meat directly into a slow cooker because the low cooking temperature may not kill harmful bacteria quickly enough, potentially leading to food safety issues. By browning the beef first, you’re able to lock in the flavor and sear the outside, which helps ensure the meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature during the slow cooking process.

Conclusion: A Sunday Feast Worth Savoring

The Sunday Slow Cooker Beef Ragu is the ultimate in comfort food, with its rich, meaty sauce and tender shredded beef. By letting this dish simmer away in the slow cooker, you can enjoy a hassle-free, flavor-packed meal that will have your family raving. So, gather your loved ones around the table and indulge in this comforting Italian-inspired feast – it’s sure to become a new Sunday tradition!

Craving even more magical meals? Browse Amelia’s Pinterest boards for quick dinners, cozy bakes, and tons of flavorful inspiration.

Print