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Slow cooker BBQ pulled beef recipe with instructions on how to make it in the Instant pot aka Pressure cooker too! So tender and juicy. Easy yet so flavorful! Make them into shredded beef sandwiches which are perfect for feeding a crowd! Perfect with my popular southern coleslaw.
The best feeling of happiness is when you’re happy because you’ve made somebody else happy. ~ Unknown
Slow cooker pulled beef is one of those easy roast beef recipes that I can make all year round on the stove-top, in the slow cooker or instant pot, but I truly love to make it during the warmer months.
Warmer weather is coming soon and I don’t know about you, but I seriously do NOT want to spend hours cooking in a hot kitchen. That’s why when warm season hits, I love using my slow cooker to make shredded beef.
On busy weekdays or weekends when I know I’m going to be out and about all day, slow cooker meals are my go to.
Not only can slow cooker pulled beef be made in the slow cooker, but you can also make it in the instant pot. And I have instructions on how to make it below!
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HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER SHREDDED BEEF
Slow cooker pulled beef is easy. Simply season the roast beef, add the broth to the slow cooker then add the roast.
Slow cook for 6-8 hours on low. Carefully remove the beef. Be careful because it’s very tender and will probably fall apart. Place it into a large bowl. Shred the roast beef with a fork or an electric hand mixer (for faster results).
Next, add the barbecue sauce and mix to combine. Serve on hamburger rolls or to make them into sliders use dinner rolls. I made homemade bbq sauce that’s simmered until the sauce is nicely thick and rich in flavor.
Y’all the bbq sauce is so good you’ll want to eat it straight from the spoon. FYI, the little chunks you see in the sauce right below are onions. Simple and so good! Yassss!
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT PULLED BEEF
There’s so many instant pot beef recipes on the web but the thing I do different is that I add seasoning directly to the roast beef before I place it in the instant pot. A generous amount of seasoning too! A good generous amount of seasonings are needed for meaty flavorful roast.
Pressure cooker pulled beef is quite simple to make too. You’d follow the same steps as the slow cooker. Season the roast beef. Add the broth to the instant pot and then place the beef into the instant pot.
Close the lid and “lock” it. Set the steam release knob to the sealing position. Press the pressure cook button and set to high pressure.
Using the + button set to 60 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is done and the instant pot beeps let the pressure release naturally.
Turn the steam release knob to venting. Carefully remove the beef and place it into a large bowl and shred with two forks or an electric mixer. Lastly, add your favorite BBQ sauce or use my homemade version.
WHAT CAN I MAKE WITH PULLED BEEF?
Pulled beef can be stuffed into sandwiches, sliders, hamburger buns, quesadillas or tacos. Enchiladas or enfrijoladas are also a good way to use this pulled beef recipe. Even great in casseroles or salads!
The possibilities are endless. I love to make shredded beef sliders because that way I don’t feel guilty if I eat two, three or maybe four haha!
But on a serious note, beef sliders are a great way to feed a crowd of people fast. Perfect for picnics and BBQ’s and cookouts.
Pulled beef is also great way to feed hungry growing kids BUT if your kid loves to eat like my teen, It’s best leave them cute little slider buns alone and go ahead and grab them hamburger buns. 
WHAT KIND OF MEAT CAN I USE FOR BBQ PULLED BEEF?
Most people use beef chuck roast, chuck shoulder or you could even use brisket. Cooking times may vary though.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COOK PULLED BEEF?
Slow cooker – Expect to cook the pulled beef for at least 8 hours. If you are using any of the cuts of meat I mentioned right above, the cooking time as I mentioned above, cooking times may vary.
Instant Pot – If you don’t have time to cook beef nice and slow then use the instant pot and cook for about 60-70 minutes. FYI, this time does not include heating up and vent time.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH BBQ PULLED BEEF?
Corn on the cob, Macaroni Salad, Tortellini Pasta salad, a light salad or my favorite, homemade coleslaw or cornbread all go well with shredded beef.
For drinks: Tequila Sunrise Mocktail, Red Wine Lemonade, Lemonade or sweet iced tea.
- 2.5 lbs boneless chuck roast
- 1 tbsp garlic powder plus 1/2 tsp
- 1 tbsp onion powder plus 1/2 tsp
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/2 cup beef broth or Better than Bouillon beef base
- salt for taste
- Barbecue Sauce
- bread your choice of hamburger buns, dinner rolls etc.
Season the roast. Pour the beef broth into the slow cooker then add the beef. Slow cook for 6-8 hours on low.
Carefully remove the beef. Be careful because it's very tender and will probably fall apart. Place it into a large bowl. Shred the roast with a fork or an electric hand mixer (for faster results).Add the barbecue sauce and mix to combine.
Season the beef with the seasonings. Close the lid and "lock" it. Set the steam release knob to the sealing position. Press the pressure cook button and set to high pressure. Using the + buttons set to 60 minutes.
Once the cooking cycle is done and the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally.
- Turn the steam release knob to venting. Carefully remove the beef and place it into a large bowl and shred with two forks or an electric mixer. Lastly, add the bbq sauce or homemade.
Cook tips
Instant Pot Burn Notice -
No 1. Couple reasons for this warning. If you receive a burn notice you most likely need to add more broth or water (if you like) to the instant pot. Don't worry if you get the warning. I got the warning so of course, had to add more liquid. I initially tried to get away with 1/4 cup of but it wasn't enough. The liquid measurement in the recipe card is what you can start with.
No 2. The knob was not turned to sealing position. Make sure the knob is set to sealing.
No 3. The burn notice could be that the lid wasn't locked. Make sure the lid is locked. For more instant pot troubleshooting info you can check out the pressure cooker site.
Prep - As you season the roast beef, with your fingers press the seasoning into the steak so it can "stick" to the steak.
Coat all sides of the roast with the seasonings. Don't be afraid to press down hard enough until the seasonings stick. Just pretend you are giving the roast a nice massage. If you don't press down on the roast the seasonings may fall off.
Pulled beef - If it's not done after 60 minutes, use your instinct and cook it a bit longer. The beef may need to cook for an additional 15 - 20 minutes.
Storage - Store in air-tight container. Place in the refrigerator for up to one week. Freeze up to a month in the freezer.
Recipe has been updated 3/6/2019
Recommended tools to make this: Visit my Amazon shop to purchase the Instant Pot and Slow Cooker I use.
Check out some of my favorite and popular beef recipes:
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This slow cooker pulled beef recipe looks, boss! I was about to look for a coleslaw recipe until I looked further down. Thank you!
Haha, it’s very good! Hope you can try it. Thanks so much!
This is truly a good pulled pork! Can just see how delicious is might taste. Recipe is absolutely amazing!
Thanks but this isn’t pork. It’s beef.
I do love beef and I certainly will make this pulled beef – sounds and looks absolutely amazing. My kids will be over the moon and so will my hubby. We do love a good piece of beef cooked to perfection, just like this one. Recipe pinned!
Thanks so much Ramona!