Cozy Slow Cooker Beef Manhattan
A comforting slow cooker beef Manhattan recipe that is easy to prepare, perfect for cozy dinners, and features tender beef in rich gravy served over toasted bread with melted cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 to 8 hours (low) or 4 to 5 hours (high)
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes (low) or 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or cornstarch for gluten-free)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 slices thick white or rye bread
- Optional: 1 cup sliced carrots
- Optional: 1/2 cup red wine
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from beef chuck roast cubes and pat dry with paper towels (about 5 minutes).
- Optional: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of oil and brown beef cubes in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until caramelized.
- Place sliced onions and minced garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add browned beef on top of onions and garlic.
- Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Add sliced carrots and red wine if using.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours until beef is fork-tender and onions are soft.
- About 30 minutes before serving, mix softened butter and flour to form a paste (beurre manié). Stir into slow cooker and cook uncovered on high for 30 minutes to thicken gravy. Add broth if gravy is too thick.
- Toast bread slices until golden and slightly crisp.
- Spoon beef and gravy over toasted bread. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top and cover slow cooker for a few minutes to melt cheese or broil assembled sandwiches for 2-3 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Searing the beef before slow cooking adds deeper flavor but can be skipped for time. Toast bread well to prevent sogginess. Adjust gravy thickness with broth or flour as needed. Fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice brightens the dish. For gluten-free, use cornstarch instead of flour and gluten-free bread. For dairy-free, substitute plant-based cheese and olive oil for butter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 open-faced sandwic
- Calories: 450500
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 23
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, beef Manhattan, comfort food, easy dinner, beef chuck, gravy, open-faced sandwich