This Slow Cooker Roast Beef is going to become your go-to for an easy Sunday Roast. Tender, melt in your mouth slices of beef with a crispy crust in a rich and flavour packed gravy. Yes, this crispy roast beef is really cooked in the slow cooker. This is the perfect, fuss-free way to cook a beef joint and a great way to feed a hungry crowd.

Very little effort goes in to preparing this Slow Cooker Roast Beef, and it is definitely worth the wait for the cooking time. You get perfectly cooked beef every time, but it is SO easy to make. It is literally fool-proof. Leftovers are delicious in a sandwich too, so make more than you think you will need.
Simply prepare the beef (it makes all the difference) and pop it in the slow cooker for a few hours. We usually do this before we go out for our long Sunday walk, and come back to our meat ready to carve.
Jump to:
Why should you try it?
- The perfect easy roast dinner. Don't be put off making roast beef, as this recipe is fool proof. Obviously it isn't roasted, but a slow cooker version of roast beef.
- Very little prep involved
- It makes the BEST gravy at the same time
- Leftovers make a delicious sandwich filling
What you will need
- Beef joint - don't think that you need to use anything expensive, as when you cook meat in a slow cooker it makes it really tender, even if it is a cheap joint. We recommend topside or brisket.
- Shallots - this helps to add loads of flavour to the gravy. We used shallots as they add a little sweetness, however, you could swap it for a small white onion and chop it up fairly small.
- Garlic - this also adds lots of flavour. We always like to use fresh and crush our own, however you could use frozen or a jar of lazy chopped garlic.
- Beef stock - we used a stock pot and added some water to it. Try to use a really good quality stock pot, as it will really make a difference to the flavour of the gravy.
- Thyme - beef and thyme is a delicious combination. You could swap it for fresh rosemary instead. Make sure it is fresh and not dried, as you just won't get the same flavour.
- Flour - this is what will thicken the gravy.

Step by step
One: Coat the beef joint in the flour so that it is all covered. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and brown the joint on all sides.

Two: Put in the beef in the slow cooker with the shallots, thyme and stock.

Three: Cook on low for 7 hours or high or 4 hours.

Four: To make the gravy, sieve the juices in to a saucepan and then put on a gentle heat. Add a little cornflour (make a slurry first by removing a little liquid, mix in the cornflour to make a paste, and mix it back into the gravy) at a time, whisking, until it thickens.
What cut of beef to use for Slow Cooker Roast Beef
The great thing about this recipe is how adaptable it is, so you can use pretty much any joint of beef you like. We used a topside beef joint as it cooks well in a slow cooker and it's also a really good value joint of meat. However you could use brisket (although this will fall apart more) or even a cheap roasting joint.
Because it is cooked low and slow, it is really forgiving and you will end up with really tender slices of beef no matter what cut you use. We like to trim the visible fat off the beef joint just to make it as lean as possible.
The only thing that really matters is making sure that the joint is the right size for your slow cooker. If it is too big, you might struggle to fit it in your slow cooker.

What to serve it with
This epic roast beef is a must when it comes to a Sunday roast dinner. But, what is a Sunday roast without all the sides? And do we have some side dishes for you! Take a look of some of these that go perfectly with our slow cooker roast beef:
- Easy Roast Potatoes
- Balsamic and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Cauliflower Cheese
- Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
- The BEST Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Mustard and Honey Roasted Parsnips
- Vegetable Mash
- Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- Garlic and Parsley Roasted Carrots
What to do with leftovers
You are going to want to make more than you think you need, as the leftovers are amazing in a sandwich. We like the beef, with a little of the gravy, in between 2 slices of sour dough, with some horseradish, rocket lettuce and sun-dried tomatoes. It also goes well shredded in a pasta bake.

FAQs
Whilst beef is not the leanest meat, it has lots of nutritional benefits including being a great source of protein and iron. We also trim off any visible fat so that it is as lean as possible.
You don't have to, but we really recommend it as it adds such a depth of flavour. Depending on the size of your beef, it will only take about 10 minutes to do all side. Basically, you want to trigger the Maillard reaction. It is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavour. You don't have to though, and you can just throw everything in to the slow cooker and leave it if you are really short on time.
There really is no rule here, just make sure that the beef joint you are using can fit in your slow cooker. We use a Crock Pot DuraCeramic Slow Cooker (aff) and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too. So, we thicken the gravy on the hob, in the slow cooker bowl. You can also sear the meat in it first. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.
Yes, you can do some of the prep in advance. You can sear the meat and add it to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients and then allow it to cool fully and then put it in the fridge (in your slow cooker pot) for up to 24 hours. You can then put it on the next day, but it might take longer to cook as it will be cold straight from the fridge.
Yes, for best results you should let it rest. To do this, cover with foil and rest the beef for about thirty minutes. This is a great time to make your gravy.
You can store sliced roast beef in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Extra tips
- Pat the beef dry before you season it and add the flour. The dryer it is, the more is will brown.
- If you want to add even more flavour to the gravy, then once you have taken the seared beef out of the pan, you can de-glaze it with either some stock of a glug of red wine. Once added to the pan, use a wooden spoon to scrape it and then pour it in to the slow cooker.
- You can add even more flavour to the gravy by cooking some chopped carrots and celery at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Always slice the beef against the grain.
- You can swap the fresh thyme for rosemary instead.
- If your beef is still a bit tough after it is sliced, then you can put the slices back in the slow cooker in the gravy and cook for a further hour.
- How long you cook the beef for depends on how you like it good. The best way to check it is cooked to your liking is to use a meat thermometer. As a general rule, it should be 50°C for rare, 60°C for medium and 70°C for well done. It will carry on cooking as it rests though.
- If you have any gravy leftover, you can wait for it to cool and then pour it in to freezer bags and freeze flat.
More slow cooker recipes
Do you want to be kept up to date on more delicious posts like this? Please subscribe to the blog mailing list (it takes 30 seconds). Click here to sign up. |
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓
Recipe card


Slow Cooker Roast Beef


Ingredients
- 1.5 kg beef joint
- 1 Pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 4 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 shallots diced
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 500 ml beef stock
- 10 g fresh thyme
Instructions
- Coat the beef joint in the flour so that it is all covered. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and brown the joint on all sides.
- Put in the beef in the slow cooker with the shallots, thyme and stock.
- Cook on low for 7 hours or high or 4 hours.
Notes
- Pat the beef dry before you season it and add the flour. The dryer it is, the more is will brown.
- If you want to add even more flavour to the gravy, then once you have taken the seared beef out of the pan, you can de-glaze it with either some stock of a glug of red wine. Once added to the pan, use a wooden spoon to scrape it and then pour it in to the slow cooker.
- You can add even more flavour to the gravy by cooking some chopped carrots and celery at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Always slice the beef against the grain.
- You can swap the fresh thyme for rosemary instead.
- If your beef is still a bit tough after it is sliced, then you can put the slices back in the slow cooker in the gravy and cook for a further hour.
- How long you cook the beef for depends on how you like it good. The best way to check it is cooked to your liking is to use a meat thermometer. As a general rule, it should be 50°C for rare, 60°C for medium and 70°C for well done. It will carry on cooking as it rests though.
- If you have any gravy leftover, you can wait for it to cool and then pour it in to freezer bags and freeze flat.
Natalie
I never made roast beef in the slow cooker. Looks easy and the meat is delicious, tender, and perfect. I will give it a try. Thanks!
Jessie
I love Roast Beef and have a roast that I am needing to make. I will be giving this a try soon it sounds amazing.
veenaazmanov
Thanks for such a delicious recipe and best for my weekend planning. Looks Soft, juicy , flavorful and mouth melting .....Yum
April
This was so tender and juicy! I love how you included why it was so important to sear the roast.
Claudia Lamascolo
This roast must melt in your mouth fork tender! It looks amazing!
Beth
My family and I are going to love this recipe! I can't wait to give this a try! So excited!
Kechi
Isn’t the slow cooker one of the best appliances out there? I would love to make this ahead and use it for the entire week! YUM!
Tara
What a gorgeous roast beef! Love your photos and the minimal prep time. Such a great use of the slow cooker.
Anjali
I love easy slow cooker recipes!! This looks perfect for the holidays!
Katie
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
Jen
Making that little effort to sear the meat before really does make a difference. So delicious!
Maria
Beef roast on a Sunday is always a good idea. Thanks for sharing!
Danielle Wolter
Oh my, this was just perfect! Easy to make and I'll def be trying again for holidays!
Gina
Love how such a simple ingredient list can transform to something so delicious in the slow cooker, thanks for the great recipe!
Chris Collins
Love a roast beef! Your version looks so tender and juicy :)
Jess
This is my favorite meal to make for Sunday dinners. A no-fuss meal for a relaxing afternoon without skimping on taste.
Beth
This looks so delicious and full of flavor! I can't wait to give this a try! My family is going to love this recipe!
Alina
This is so good for dinner! I love slow cooked food, makes it more tender and flavorful
Carrie Robinson
Such a perfect dinner idea for winter time! :) Love that you made this in the slow cooker.
Luci
Your slow cooker roast beef is delicious! It is one of my new favorite recipes. I loved how the beef just melts in your mouth and the gravy paired with it was perfect. Such a wonderful flavor combo!