Slow Cooker BBQ Beef is a simple & easy dinner recipe the whole family will love. If you love a tender cubed beef smothered in bbq sauce – this will be your new favorite meal.
Do you ever have a recipe that happens out of improvising? One day I had the hubs pull out some meat from the garage fridge for dinner.
He pulled out a package that we thought was a roast – but it was still in the bag & he didn’t verify first. I came downstairs to get it going & realized that it was stew meat, not a roast that he pulled out.
With a quick change of plans, I still tossed it in the cooker & created this Slow Cooker BBQ Beef that was absolutely scrumptious.
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So I tossed the beef into the cooker with a couple of mini cans of orange soda. That was it. Covered & let cook for about 6 hours.
Then I pulled it out, placed the meat on a lined baking sheet & brushed it with our favorite bbq sauce & seasonings. I broiled for about 15-20 minutes, just long enough to let the sauce caramelize & the edges char a bit.
We served this on a big burger bun. But you could also serve it over rice, in a taco or burrito. The possibilities are endless!
Be sure to try our Beef and Noodles Recipe – made in the slow cooker!
Slow Cooker Beef
Here are some commonly asked questions
How to store leftover bbq beef
If you happen to have any leftovers of this delicious beef – place it in an airtight container and keep refrigerated until ready to serve again. It will keep for up to 4 days.
To reheat, add a small splash of water to the container and microwave for a couple of minutes or until hot. (make sure you are using a microwave-safe container)
Can I use a different flavor of soda?
Yes – this recipe can be made with any flavor of soda. We used the orange soda because that is what we had on hand. But all you really need is the carbonation to tenderize the meat.
Is there a particular type of bbq sauce?
You can use any flavor of bbq sauce you prefer. We love the super sweet and tangy flavors so we typically serve this with Sweet Baby Rays or something similar.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
- stew meat
- orange soda
- granulated garlic
- seasoning salt
- salt & pepper to taste
- bbq sauce
Notes
- This can be made with cubed pork for a pork belly bites recipe.
- Want it fast? Make this (beef or pork version) in the air fryer – just cook at 400 for 12-18 minutes, stirring and flipping every several minutes.
Can this be made ahead of time?
You bet! If you want to make this ahead of time that will work fine. Just complete the instructions and then return the beef to a clean slow cooker and let it sit on the warm setting until your guests arrive. You can also make it the day before and then place the meat in the slow cooker on low or warm to reheat until you are ready to serve.
How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
- Place beef & soda in the slow cooker – cover & cook on high 5-6 hrs
- Once the beef is fork-tender & falling apart, remove & place on a lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with seasonings & brush with bbq sauce.
- Broil 10-20 min- keep a close eye on this since boilers vary.
- Remove & serve over rice, on a bun, in a taco, or whatever your imagination can dream up.
What slow cooker do you use?
We actually have several slow cookers that we have acquired over the years from doing this job. I have a smaller one that is great for half recipes.
But the one I use the most is this standard, no-frills slow cooker that is perfect for this particular recipe.
What to serve with this bbq beef
- Smoked Mac and Cheese
- Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Air Fryer Potato Chips
- Green Pea Salad
- Three Bean Salad
- Instant Pot Baked Beans
Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef
Do I really need to broil the beef before serving?
You don’t have to do that. If you want to skip that part, you can just toss the beef pieces in a bowl with the bbq sauce before serving. We like to get a little char on the edges and carmelize the bbq sauce before serving – so it gives that fresh off the grill flavor. But it is entirely a personal choice.
If you love this easy beef recipe, you’re going to love these other dinners too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
Other Beefy Dishes
Instant Pot Mississippi Beef Roast
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Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
Ingredients
- 4-6 lbs stew meat
- 16 oz orange soda
- 1 tbsp granulated garlic
- 1 tbsp season salt
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup bbq sauce
Instructions
- Place beef & soda in slow cooker – cover & cook on high 5-6 hrs
- Once the beef is fork-tender & falling apart, remove & place on a lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with seasonings & brush with bbq sauce.
- Broil 10-20 min- keep a close eye on this since boilers vary.
- Remove & serve over rice, on a bun, in a taco or whatever your imagination can dream up.
Notes
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin says
With orange soda, that’s so crazy cool!
Leslie says
I’ve heard of using regular soda, or even Dr. Pepper…but never orange soda! How interesting! Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Miz Helen says
Your Slow Cooker BBQ Beef looks fantastic! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Melanie says
I plan on using 2.5 lbs of beef. Should I cut all other ingredients in half? How about cook time?
Gina Kleinworth says
Yes – I would cut the ingredients and shorten the cooking time. You know it’s done when it’s fork-tender.
Sarah Goertzen says
Delicious!! I used stew meat, browned it in oil, then slow cooked. Seasoned and broiled it as recipe dictates prior to serving. Will make again!