When I need a dinner that feels a little special but asks almost nothing from me during the workday, this 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Patriot Day Beef is one of those dependable recipes I come back to. Using a shredded cross rib roast gives you rich, savory beef with hardly any hands-on effort, and the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while the meat turns tender enough to fall apart into its own flavorful juices.
This beef is especially good served over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or fluffy rice so none of those savory juices go to waste. If you want to round it out into a full comfort-food meal, add green beans, roasted carrots, a simple side salad, or soft sandwich rolls for piling the shredded beef into hearty sandwiches.
3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Patriot Day Beef using Shredded Cross Rib Roast
Servings: 6
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds cross rib roast
1 packet dry onion soup mix
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
Directions
1. Place the cross rib roast in the bottom of a white oval slow cooker.
2. Spread the condensed cream of mushroom soup over the top of the roast, then sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly over everything.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or until the beef is very tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
4. Shred the beef directly in the slow cooker and stir it into the juices before serving.
5. Serve hot over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice, with extra juices spooned on top.
Variations & Tips
For a richer gravy: If you want the sauce a little thicker and more spoonable, remove the lid for the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking or transfer some of the juices to a saucepan and simmer briefly before serving.
Sandwich night: Pile the shredded beef onto toasted sandwich rolls and add provolone or Swiss for an easy comfort-food sandwich dinner that feels completely different from the original plate.
Add vegetables: For a one-pot meal, tuck in carrots, mushrooms, or onion wedges around the roast before cooking. They will soften into the juices and make dinner even easier on a busy day.
Make-ahead tip: This beef reheats beautifully, so it is great for meal prep. Store leftovers with the juices to keep the meat moist, then reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.