Ingredients
Beef & gravy
- 2½ lb (1.1 kg) beef chuck roast or stew meat, cut into large cubes
- ½ cup butter (1 stick)
- 1 packet Au Jus Gravy Mix
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix
- 1 packet Italian dressing & seasoning mix
- 1½ cups beef broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp black pepper
Vegetables
- 4 medium carrots, sliced
- 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
For serving
- Mashed potatoes, optional
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Cut the beef into bite-sized chunks and pat dry.
- Layer the slow cooker: Add the beef, carrots, potatoes, and onion.
- Add seasonings: Sprinkle the Au Jus mix, onion soup mix, and Italian seasoning evenly over the beef.
- Add minced garlic and black pepper.
- Add butter: Place the butter on top of the beef.
- Add broth: Pour the beef broth around the sides of the slow cooker.
- Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the beef is tender.
- Finish the gravy: Gently stir everything together. The cooking liquid should become rich and flavorful.
- Serve: Spoon the beef, carrots, and potatoes over mashed potatoes and pour the gravy over everything.
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
Quick Details
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Cook: 6–8 hours on LOW
- Total: About 6½–8½ hours
- Servings: 6–8
Approximate Nutrition
Per serving, without mashed potatoes:
- Calories: 450–550 kcal
- Protein: 40–45 g
- Carbohydrates: 20–30 g
- Fat: 25–32 g
Adding mashed potatoes will increase the calories and carbohydrates.
Nut & Allergen Information
- Peanuts: None
- Tree nuts: None
- Dairy: Yes — butter
- Eggs: Usually none
- Wheat/gluten: Possible in Au Jus, onion soup, and Italian seasoning mixes; check package labels.
- Soy: May be present in seasoning mixes; check labels.
- Mustard: Some Italian dressing mixes may contain mustard.
Q&A
Q: Can I use stew meat instead of chuck roast?
Yes. Stew meat works very well for slow cooking.
Q: Can I leave out the butter?
Yes, but the gravy will be less rich. You can reduce it or use olive oil instead.
Q: Can I make this without the seasoning packets?
Yes. Use onion powder, garlic powder, Italian herbs, paprika, salt, pepper, and a little Worcestershire sauce instead.
Q: Can I add mushrooms?
Yes. Add about 8 oz sliced mushrooms during the last 2–3 hours for a mushroom version.
Q: Can I serve it with rice instead of mashed potatoes?
Absolutely. Rice, egg noodles, or crusty bread also work well.
Q: How do I know the beef is done?
It should be very tender and easy to pull apart with a fork.