Crock Pot Balsamic Beef Recipe

Name: Crock Pot Balsamic Beef Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 510 min
Total time: 515 min
Ingredients: 3 pounds boneless chuck roast; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 cup beef broth or stock; 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar; 2 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)

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Crock Pot Balsamic Beef recipe makes tender and juicy beef. Easy slow cooker beef recipe turns chuck roast into a delicious dinner with almost no work!

Crock pot balsamic beef on mashed potatoes next to green beans on a white plate.

I love a good crock pot recipe that doesn't take lots of prep and doesn't call for a million ingredients. Most importantly, one that ends with delicious food.

This crock pot balsamic beef, my friends, is one of those recipes.

This dish takes less than five minutes to put together, and then the slow cooker works its magic.

Don't worry that the recipe calls for a fair amount of balsamic vinegar. The vinegar helps to make the balsamic pot roast so tender, and the long cooking time and the little bit of brown sugar really mellows the vinegar out.

Ingredients for crock pot balsamic beef in dishes.

Ingredients and substitutions

Boneless chuck roast
Kosher salt - Kosher salt isn't as salty as table salt. I like to use it on roasts because it adds flavor without making the meat taste salty. Sea salt would be a good substitute. If you're using table salt, use half the amount of salt called for in the recipe.
Beef broth - Beef stock also works well. I like to use reduced-sodium beef broth.
Balsamic vinegar
Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar will work.
Worcestershire sauce
Liquid smoke - This is optional. I find that it adds a bit of depth to the flavor, but feel free to omit it if you prefer.

What cut of beef is best?

I like to use a boneless beef chuck roast in this recipe. The fat in the roast helps to keep the meat tender as it cooks.

I've also used rump roast and arm roast in this recipe, and they both work well.

How to make crock pot balsamic beef

Place roast in crockpot. I use a 5 quart slow cooker. Sprinkle roast with salt.

Balsamic vinegar sauce on a glass mixing bowl.

In a small bowl, stir together broth, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke (if using).

Roast covered in balsamic mixture in a slow cooker.

Pour the broth mixture around the roast. Cover, and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.

Two forks shredding a roast in a slow cooker.

Shred beef with two forks, and return to crockpot. Continue cooking for an additional 30-60 minutes.

White platter full of balsamic beef next to two forks.

FAQs

Do I have to brown the roast?

Not for this recipe! I've made this recipe both ways, and there was no noticeable difference between the browned and un-browned roasts.

How to make gravy from the sauce

Once the roast has finished cooking, remove the meat from the sauce. Place the sauce in a saucepan. In a small bowl, stir 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch, depending on desired thickness, together with 2-4 tablespoons of beef broth.
Stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce. Simmer, stirring regularly, until it reaches the desired thickness. The gravy is great over the meat, over rice, or on mashed potatoes.

How to freeze

The balsamic beef makes a great freezer meal! Simply add all of the ingredients to a freezer-safe container, like a gallon-sized freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible. It will keep for up to three months in the freezer.
When you're ready to use it, simply thaw in the fridge, and then cook as directed.

Serving suggestions

This juicy balsamic roast beef goes well with egg noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes or cauliflower to help sop up all of the delicious sauce. I also serve steamed green beans or broccoli on the side.

How to store

The leftover beef should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to four days when properly stored.

Crock Pot Balsamic Beef on a white platter next to a blue and yellow dish towel.

More crock pot beef recipes!

If you’ve tried this crock pot balsamic beef recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

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