Slow Cooker Make Ahead Beef Recipes

Steps:

• Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add roast; turn to coat.
• Heat 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add beef roast; cook 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until browned on both sides.
• Transfer to slow cooker; pour 1/4 cup water over roast. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours or until beef is tender and easy to shred.
• Transfer beef to cutting board; cool slightly. Shred beef, discarding any pieces of fat. Toss beef with 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Discard remaining liquid.
• To Freeze: Divide beef into 2 portions (about 2 cups each). Place each portion in freezer container or resealable freezer plastic bag. Label with date. Cover and refrigerate until completely cooled, at least 1 hour. Transfer to freezer; freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight or until completely thawed. Use in recipes calling for cooked shredded beef.
• To Make in Oven: Heat oven to 325°F. In large bowl, mix oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add roast; turn to coat. Heat 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add beef roast; cook 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until browned on both sides. Pour 1 cup water over roast. Cover and roast 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours, or until meat thermometer inserted in center of roast reads 190°F and beef is tender enough to shred easily. Remove from oven; let rest until cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes. Shred meat with 2 forks, discarding fat and cartilage as you go. Toss shredded beef in 1/2 cup of the pan liquid to coat. Discard remaining pan liquid. Freeze and thaw as directed above.

Steps:

• Combine the flour, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, seasoned salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a large, resealable plastic bag. Add the beef, and seal the bag. Shake the bag thoroughly to coat the beef with seasoned flour.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Shake the excess seasoning off the beef, then stir the beef into the hot skillet with the onion and mushrooms. Cook and stir until the beef is evenly browned and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.
• Place the beef mixture into a slow cooker. Place the potatoes, carrots, celery, garlic, Marsala wine, and Worcestershire sauce into the cooker with the beef mixture. Pour the beef broth and tomatoes into the cooker, and stir in the onion soup mix and 1 more teaspoon of smoked paprika. Cook on High for 4 to 6 hours, or on Low for 10 to 12 hours. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
• For a thicker stew, combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Gradually stir the mixture into the stew until thickened.

Steps:

• Heat sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot.
• Sauté half of the beef in 1 Tbsp of butter briefly to brown.
• Remove beef and any juices from pan into a bowl.
• Repeat with second half of beef.
• In same pan, without washing out, add 1 more Tbsp of butter and sauté the onions and mushrooms until soft.
• Remove to bowl with beef.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and cook noodles per the package directions while finishing the sauce. (Skip this step if you are making ahead.).
• Melt remaining 3 Tbsp of butter.
• Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
• Whisk the broth into butter-flour mixture, slowly to prevent lumping.
• Add ketchup, paprika, basil, and nutmeg.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until sauce has thickened.
• Add meat, mushrooms, and onions to sauce and continue to simmer for 5- 10 minutes more.
• Remove from heat and stir in sherry.
• Stir in sour cream, and serve immediately over the drained egg noodles.
• MAKE AHEAD: Complete the sauce up through adding the sherry. Cool completely, and freeze.
• Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
• Prepare noodles according to package directions.
• While noodles cook, reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat until hot.
• Off the heat, stir in the sour cream, and serve as above.

Steps:

• Cut chuck roast into 5 pieces and place in a 1-gallon, resealable freezer bag.
• Drain pepperoncinis and reserve 1/4 cup of the liquid. Add peppers to the freezer bag.
• Whisk reserved liquid with Italian dressing mix and olive oil. Pour mixture over the beef and peppers. Tightly seal the bag and mix the contents until well combined. Lay flat in the freezer and freeze for up to one month.
• When ready to cook, remove bag from the freezer and allow contents to partially thaw until they can be broken apart, about 1 hour.
• Empty bag into a slow cooker. Cook until meat is tender and shreds easily with a fork, on Low for 8 to 10 hours or on High for 4 to 6 hours.
• Remove meat and shred with a fork. Return meat to the pot and serve immediately.