Easy Barbecued Beef Sliders

Use your slow cooker to make these tasty, shredded beef sandwiches for a satisfying summer meal.

Easy Barbecued Beef Sliders

Beef or pork that’s been smoked for several hours is one of summer’s tastiest bites. But not all of us own all the barbecue equipment that’s required for this, and have you priced a beef brisket lately? Talk about sticker shock.

This recipe for Easy Barbecued Beef Sliders uses the more economical beef chuck roast and your slow cooker to create a hearty meal adults and kids will love. The meat simmers in a juicy sauce that replicates some of the depth of flavor found in beef that’s been smoked thanks to spices and Worcestershire sauce. If you have “liquid smoke” in your pantry, a few drops will be a welcome flavor bomb.

Last year, Scott Watson—a St. Louis BBQ Society member and barbecue judge—shared his recipe for smoked pork shoulder, which takes several hours to make. I’ve yet to purchase a backyard smoker; it seems other things that are more pressing need funding.

Obviously, braised beef versus smoked pork shoulder isn’t comparing apples to apples, but these Easy Barbecued Beef Sliders are a tasty alternative when you can’t fire up a grill or smoker (or don’t own one). The beef is full of flavor and the meat cooks fork-tender, making it easy to shred for the sandwiches. Leave your oven off, get out the slow cooker, and put this recipe up in the morning for a wonderful summer dinner. A side of macaroni salad or St. Louis Style Street Corn will round out the meal. Let’s get cooking!

To make my Easy Barbecued Beef Sliders which makes 6–8 servings, you’ll need these ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 1 chuck roast (3-pound)

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 1 teaspoon pepper

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 1 ½ teaspoons granulated garlic

• ½ cup sliced onion

• 2 cups barbecue sauce

• 1 teaspoon brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 package dollar rolls

If you don’t have barbecue sauce, swap ketchup instead, but there’s a little more depth to the sauce than plain ketchup.

Directions for Easy Barbecued Beef Sliders:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 2 to 3 minutes.

2. While the pan is getting hot, combine the salt, pepper, cumin, and granulated garlic in a small bowl. Pat meat with a paper towel to facilitate browning and sprinkle spices on the roast. Rub it into the meat and place in the skillet. Lightly brown on all sides (about 3 to 4 minutes per side).

3. Spray the slow cooker with vegetable spray or lightly wipe the interior with oil using a paper towel. Place beef in the slow cooker. Slice the onion and place on top of beef.

4. Combine the remaining ingredients (except the bread) and pour sauce over the meat. Cover the cooker and set it on low. Cook the beef for 8 hours.

5. Remove the meat; cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Use two forks to shred beef. Set aside.

6. Try to skim the surface fat from barbecue sauce or use a gravy/fat separator if you have one. I didn’t replace mine, so I refrigerated the sauce overnight and reheated the beef the next day.

Easy Barbecue Beef Sliders would also make a delicious dinner for Dad this Father’s Day if he’s taking a break from the grill. I

Will barbecued beef freeze well?

Absolutely! This recipe made enough for a large family (certainly more than I can eat in a week), so I froze half the cooked beef, separate from the sauce. These can be combined when reheating or use the beef in other recipes (fajitas or tacos, loaded nachos or top a baked potato) and save the sauce for later.

I hope you'll agree that this recipe for Easy Barbecue Beef Sliders is not only delicious but versatile for any leftovers. Happy summer!

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Looking for other beefy sandwich recipes? Try Greek-inspired beef pitas or if you want to go the surf-n-turf, burgers topped with lobster are a decadent choice.

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