Crock Pot Beef and Noodles is the ultimate comfort dish, made easy in the slow cooker. A classic comfort food recipe using mainly pantry ingredients.
This beef and noodles recipe is one of the best dishes to come home to at the end of a busy day. It’s a classic recipe with multiple variations that always gives instant cozy feels. Slow-simmered beef that’s incredibly tender and flavorful paired with perfectly cooked noodles is a meal that the family will be asking for on repeat!
When you become a fan of this old fashioned beef and noodles recipe, make my Texas Two Step Crock Pot Chicken and Noodles you’re next one to try! It’ll be a guaranteed hit!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Beyond Simple to Make: With a mere quick sear and mix of ingredients, it’s an excellent set-it-and-forget-it that will leave you only needing to add the noodles!
- Make It Your Own: Beef and noodles can easily be adapted to your palates preference by switching up the seasonings and vegetables.
- Leftovers to Look Forward To: This dish is so delicious that you’ll be anxiously awaiting to reheat them for lunch or another dinner!
- Comfort Food Classic: Fall-apart beef with tender noodles wrapped in a savory rich broth has all the qualities of a cozy meal!
What is Chuck Roast?
Chuck roast is a cut of beef that comes from the shoulder area of a cow. It is known for its rich flavor and tenderness, especially when cooked slowly. It’s a popular choice for pot roasts, stews, and braised dishes because it contains a good amount of marbling, which adds moisture and flavor during cooking.
Ingredients for Crock Pot Beef and Noodles
- Chuck Roast: Known for its rich, beefy flavor, this roast absorbs all the yummy flavors and becomes incredibly tender.
- Olive Oil: Contributes to the rich and savory flavors of caramelizing the beef.
- Chopped Veggies (mushrooms, carrots, onions): These add lots of nutrients and a layers of flavor and texture.
- Regular or Low-Sodium Beef Broth: Adds moisture and richness to the dish and helps tenderize the beef.
- Regular or Low-Sodium Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup: Convenient, quick and adds incredible flavors and creaminess.
- Regular or Low-Sodium Tony Chachere’s Seasoning: Adds excitement and a depth of bold flavor with it’s perfect blend of spices.
- Italian Seasoning: Adds harmonious blend of herbs and spices.
- Garlic Powder: This adds a nuanced savoriness and flavor.
- Cornstarch: Creates a smooth paste that creates the perfect thickness in this dish.
- Milk: Along with the cornstarch, it creates the slurry thicken the dish perfectly.
- Pasta or Noodles: Beef and noodles is the perfect pairing! The noodles soak up the flavors of the dish as well as help thicken the broth. I use Al Dente Carba Nada Noodles.
Equipment for Old Fashioned Beef and Noodles Recipe
How to Make Beef and Noodles Recipe
- Heat oil in a large skillet on high heat. Season roast on both sides with salt and pepper and sear 2-3 minutes on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
- If using veggies, sauté in the skillet until caramelized, about 2-3 minutes.
- To a 6qt or larger Crockpot, whisk together broth, cream of mushroom, Tony Chachere’s seasoning, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and cooked veggies. Once combined, submerge the beef. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.
- Transfer the cooked beef from the Crockpot to a cutting board, shred with 2 forks.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and milk. Once combined, whisk into the Crockpot and add the shredded beef and noodles. Cook on high for 25 minutes or until the noodles are al dente and liquid slightly thickens.
- Ladle and enjoy!
Tips for Easy Beef and Noodles
- You can also use ground beef for this recipe, by simply browning and seasoning the beef before putting in the Crockpot. The mixture will need 30 minutes to an hour less cook time on both high and low settings.
- The pasta soaks up the flavors of the dish as well as helps to thicken the broth. If the pasta you choose isn’t al dente after cooking 25 minutes on high, recover and cook an additional 10-15 minutes.
Substitutions
When substituting for chuck roast in recipes, you'll want to choose cuts of meat that have similar characteristics in terms of flavor, marbling, and tenderness. Some other cuts that can be suitable alternatives for chuck roast are bottom round roast, top sirloin roast or chuck eye roast.
If you’d prefer a homemade cream of mushroom soup, I’ve got you covered! My homemade version is simple, rich and delicious!
Storage
After the mixture has cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days.
You can freeze leftover in an airtight, freezer safe containers up to 3 months. Thaw over night in the refrigerator before reheating.
FAQs
Other cuts that can be suitable alternatives for chuck roast are bottom round roast, top sirloin roast or chuck eye roast. Stew meat can also be used.
Yes! Depending on the type of noodles and the temperature setting of your slow cooker, adding noodles to the during the last 30 minutes to an hour will yield a perfectly cooked, al dente noodle.
One of the most common reasons for mushy noodles is overcooking. Pasta, including noodles, has a relatively short cooking time compared to other ingredients typically prepared in a crockpot. If you leave the noodles in the slow cooker for too long, they will absorb too much liquid and become soft and mushy.
This easy beef and noodles recipe works great on the stovetop. Brown the beef in oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining ingredients (minus the pasta), and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to simmer, cover and cook 1-1.5 hours or until the beef easily shreds apart with a fork. Cook the noodles separately. Either fold the drained noodles into the beef mixture or serve the noodles and ladle the beef mixture on top.
No, you can simply omit them or substitute to your vegetable preference.
Cream of mushroom can be substituted with cream of chicken or cream of celery. It can also, instead, be substituted with 8 ounces softened cream cheese or 8 ounces heavy cream. These would be added when the cornstarch slurry are added. The cream cheese will soften while the noodles are cooking and then blend once stirred well.
Other Beef Recipes
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Crock Pot Chicken and Noodles
Crock Pot BBQ Beef
Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
Crock Pot Beef and Noodles
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds chuck roast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt/Black Pepper
- 2 cups chopped veggies (mushrooms, carrots, onions)
- 2 32 ounce boxes regular or low-sodium beef broth
- 2 10.5 ounce cans regular or low-sodium condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 2 teaspoons regular or low-sodium Tony Chachere seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 10 ounces pasta or noodles
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet on high heat. Season roast on both sides with salt and pepper and sear 2-3 minutes on all sides. Transfer to a plate.
- If using veggies, sauté in the skillet until caramelized, about 2-3 minutes.
- To a 6qt or larger Crockpot, whisk together broth, cream of mushroom, Tony Chachere seasoning, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and cooked veggies. Once combined, submerge the beef. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.
- Transfer the cooked beef from the Crockpot to a cutting board, shred with 2 forks.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and milk. Once combined, whisk into the Crockpot and add the shredded beef and noodles. Cook on high for 25 minutes or until the noodles are al dente and liquid slightly thickens.
- Ladle and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- You can also use ground beef for this recipe. Simply brown and season the beef before putting in the Crockpot. The mixture will need 30 minutes to an hour less cook time on both high and low settings.
- The pasta soaks up the flavors of the dish as well as helps to thicken the broth. If the pasta you choose isn’t al dente after cooking 25 minutes on high, recover and cook an additional 10-15 minutes.
- The vegetables can be omitted or substituted to your vegetable preference.
LaJuana
Could this be done with ground beef since roasts are so expensive now?
Laura Ashley
You could adapt this recipe on the stove top ground beef for sure!
Sally Whittenburg
What kind of low carb pasta do you refer?
Thank you
Laura Ashley
I linked them in the Ingredients list. They are super yummy!
Kristi
My husband found this recipe on Instagram and we had to make it. 100% delicious and perfect!!!! Thanks for sharing. We both said this is going to be in the rotation for sure moving forward.
Laura Ashley
That is FANTASTIC!! I love that he shared it with you and that y’all made it and liked it so much! THANK YOU so so much!!