Slow Cooker Beef Ragu

Flavorful Italian comfort food that only takes 5 minutes to prep? Count me in! This popular Slow Cooker Beef Ragu recipe is easy to make & so scrumptious!

Simply toss everything in a Crock Pot, then let it do the work for you. Serve the ragu over creamy cheesy polenta or pappardelle pasta for a delicious dinner!

This Beef Ragu recipe has been pinned over 44,000 times and was featured at #3 on Huffington Post’s list of “The Best Recipes That Came From Food Bloggers in 2014“. Needless to say, it’s popular for a reason!

With a quick prep time, simple instructions and delicious flavor, you simply can’t go wrong with this classic recipe! If you’re in a hurry, you can also try my Instant Pot Beef Ragu, same deliciousness, made in just one hour.

This recipe has been a hit since it first appeared on the blog in 2014. While the original recipe remains the same, I’ve updated this post to include answers to frequently asked questions, new serving options and easy additions that can be made to the recipe.

This dish was originally inspired by one of my favorite menu items at the restaurant, Davanti in Little Italy, San Diego. They serve their slow cooked ragu over mascarpone polenta, so I do the same!

While sometimes I do serve the beef ragu with pappardelle pasta, serving it over creamy, cheesy polenta is definitely my favorite way to serve the dish. The rich, flavorful tomato sauce seeps into the polenta and the entire dish simply melts in your mouth. It basically tastes like an Italian version of pot roast and mashed potatoes!

The ragu itself literally only takes 5 minutes to prep. The most difficult thing about this beef ragu recipe is opening the can of tomatoes! (Seriously, why have I not upgraded to an electrical can opener at this point in my life?) And if you have an electrical can opener, then there is truly nothing difficult about this recipe whatsoever!

The slow cooker legitimately does all of the work in this recipe. Thank you to my crock pot, you’re my favorite kitchen appliance. Just don’t tell the food processor or toaster! 😉

How to make beef ragu

1. Add sliced onion, minced garlic cloves and fresh chopped rosemary to the bottom of a slow cooker.
2. Season a beef chuck roast with salt and black pepper, then add to the slow cooker.
3. In a medium bowl, stir beef broth, red wine and tomato paste together. Pour the mixture over the beef in the slow cooker.
4. Add diced tomatoes to the crock pot.
   • Note: This can be a can of diced tomatoes or fresh diced tomatoes.
5. Cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 10-12 hours.
6. After the cooking time is complete, use two forks or meat claws to shred the beef apart in the slow cooker.
7. Serve the beef ragu on top of creamy cheesy polenta or tossed with pappardelle pasta.
8. If serving with pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions, until al dente. Drain and either toss with the ragù immediately or serve with the ragu on top of the cooked pasta.
9. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Frequently asked questions

• How do you thicken the sauce?
  • The sauce can easily be thickened on the stovetop. Simply transfer the ragu from the slow cooker to a dutch oven or large pot on the stove over medium high heat. Allow the ragu to simmer and reduce, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
• Is ragu gluten free?
  • This beef ragu recipe is gluten free. Always double check that the beef broth used is gluten free.
  • The creamy cheesy polenta recipe that I recommend pairing the ragu with is also gluten free.
  • If you’d like to serve the recipe with pasta, Gluten Free Pappardelle Pasta can be found online. You can also find gluten free spaghetti in most major grocery stores.
• What is ragu?
  • Ragu is an Italian meat-based sauce, where the focus is on the meat, not the tomato sauce. Tomato sauce is simply an addition to the sauce, not the focus. If you’re looking for a meat sauce made with ground beef, try this Bolognese sauce.
• Can I add (fill in the blank) to this ragu?
  • Extra vegetables: Yes, diced carrots and celery can be added at the same time as the onion. This combination of vegetables is known as soffritto in Italian. I recommend adding 1/2 cup of each vegetable to the ragu.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Yes, for a little extra spice, add 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes with the salt and pepper.
  • Italian Seasoning: Sure thing! I would recommend 1 tsp added with the salt and pepper.
  • Thyme instead of rosemary: Yes, if you’re not a fan of rosemary, I recommend using thyme in it’s place.
• What kind of red wine should I use in this recipe?
  • I’ve used several different kinds of wine to make this recipe over the years, including cabernet, chianti, pinot noir and syrah. I would recommend any of these wines for making this recipe and pairing with the final dish.
• What can I substitute for the red wine in this recipe?
  • The red wine can simply be omitted in this recipe or replaced with white grape juice. I’ve made this ragu before without the wine and it was still totally delicious!
• Can you make this recipe in an Instant Pot?
  • Yes! I actually have an Instant Pot Beef Ragu recipe on the blog. This pressure cooker version of the recipe is just as delicious as the slow cooker version, but made in only an hour!
• Can you freeze this beef ragu?
  • Yes, this beef ragu will stay at it’s best in the freezer for up to 3 months. To defrost, I recommend placing the ragu back in the fridge overnight.
  • To reheat, you can place the ragu in a dutch oven on the stove, covered, set to low for one hour. You can also reheat the ragu in a slow cooker set to low for 1-2 hours.
• What cuts of beef can you use to make beef ragu?
  • In addition to the chuck roast used in this recipe, several other cuts of beef will work in this recipe, including:
    • Bottom Round Roast
    • Tri Tip
    • Brisket

How to serve it

• Over Creamy Cheesy Polenta – my favorite way to serve the dish!
• With Pasta – preferably pappardelle or another wide, flat pasta noodle, like fettuccine.
• In Lasagna – seriously, the best lasagna you’ll ever make in your life is with this beef ragu as the sauce!
• Over Raviolis – to keep things simple, pick up a container of pre-made fresh cheese raviolis in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. They cook up in 2-3 minutes and pair perfectly with the beef ragu sauce, cooked down to a slightly thicker consistency.
• Over Spaghetti Squash – for a low carb, healthier option, serve the ragu over roasted spaghetti squash.

What to serve with it

After deciding how to serve the ragu, it’s time to decide what to serve on the side. I usually keep it simple with a salad and bread (to soak up any extra ragu sauce left behind!).

An easy caesar salad and warm baguette are perfect, but if you want to step it up a notch, here are a few of my favorite salad, bread and veggie sides to serve with beef ragu.

• Roasted Garlic Parmesan Broccolini 
• Crispy Eggplant Caprese Salad
• Garlic Bread
• Rosemary Focaccia Bread
• Classic Panzanella Salad
• Cheesy Garlic Bread Nachos
• Italian 5 Layer Dip

More ragu recipes to try

Check out these delicious variations on this popular dish!

• Slow Cooker Chicken Ragu
• Crock Pot Mushroom Ragu
• Slow Cooker Pork Ragu

More Italian sauces to try

And don’t miss these other popular recipes for Italian pasta sauces!

• Boscaiola – Creamy Mushroom & Bacon Sauce
• Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
• Easy Bolognese Meat Sauce
• Homemade Basil Pesto

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