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If there’s one recipe that defines comfort food, it’s this Slow Cooker Italian Beef Ragu.
Slow-cooked beef, rich tomatoes, garlic and Italian herbs come together to create a deeply flavourful sauce that’s rich, comforting and completely irresistible. The beef becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender after hours in the slow cooker, making this the perfect recipe for cosy evenings, family dinners or weekend cooking.
Serve it over fresh pappardelle, creamy mash or even polenta and you’ve got a restaurant-worthy meal with very little effort.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Slow cooker does all the hard work
- Rich, comforting Italian flavours
- Melt-in-your-mouth tender beef
- High-protein and satisfying
- Perfect for batch cooking and freezing
- Ideal for cosy family dinners
This is the type of recipe that fills your kitchen with incredible aromas all day long. As the beef slowly cooks, it becomes beautifully tender and absorbs all the flavours from the tomatoes, garlic, herbs and red wine. The result is a rich, luxurious ragu that feels indulgent whilst still being made from simple, wholesome ingredients. It's the ultimate comfort food recipe for colder evenings and special family meals alike.
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Ragu
15 minutes
8 hours
4
Slow Cooker
Italian
Delicious Slow Cooker Italian Beef Ragu Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 3 celery sticks, diced
- 600g beef skirt or flank steak
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
- 100ml red wine
- 50ml beef stock
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tsp olive oil
Instructions
1. Brown the beef
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Toss the beef with cornflour, then sear on all sides until lightly browned.
2. Add to the slow cooker
Transfer the beef to the slow cooker along with the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, tomato purée, chopped tomatoes, red wine, beef stock, Italian seasoning and bay leaves.
3. Slow cook
Season generously with salt and pepper, then cook on low for 8 hours until the beef is tender and falling apart.
4. Shred the beef
Around 10 minutes before serving, remove the beef and shred using two forks before stirring it back into the sauce.
5. Serve and enjoy
Garnish with freshly grated parmesan and serve over pappardelle pasta, creamy mashed potatoes or soft polenta.
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THE FULL MACROS READY FOR YOU
CALORIES | 489
UNDER 500 CALORIES PER SERVING
PROTEIN | 32.6G
OVER 30G PROTEIN PER SERVING
CARBS | 14G
UNDER 15G CARBS PER SERVING
FAT | 31G
UNDER 31G FAT PER SERVING
FIBRE | 3G
OVER 3G FIBRE PER SERVING
A rich, high-protein comfort food dish that's perfect for satisfying family dinners.
Why choose this Slow Cooker Italian Beef Ragu Recipe?
HIGH PROTEIN RECIPE
EASY TO COOK IN THE SLOW COOKER
THE PERFECT COMFORT FOOD AFTER A LONG DAY
UNDER 500 CALORIES
Swaps & Upgrades
- Use beef chuck instead of skirt or flank
- Add mushrooms for extra richness
- Swap red wine for additional beef stock
- Add fresh rosemary or thyme
- Serve with pappardelle, mash or polenta
- Finish with fresh basil and parmesan
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this without red wine?
Yes, simply replace the wine with additional beef stock.
Does it freeze well?
Absolutely — freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight and reheat gently.
Can I cook it overnight?
Yes — use low for 8 hours. The flavours develop beautifully.
What's the best cut of beef for ragu?
Beef skirt, flank, chuck or braising steak all work brilliantly.
What should I serve it with?
Pappardelle is traditional, but mashed potatoes, gnocchi or polenta all work beautifully.
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More Recipes at Archer Kitchen
Thanks for stopping by Archer Kitchen by Rebecca Archer. Whether you’re here for quick weekday fixes, indulgent weekend treats, or to explore new flavours, we’ve got your back. Hungry for more inspiration? Dive into my collection of recipes and check out my cookbooks for exclusive tips, tricks, and flavour-packed dishes that’ll take your cooking game to the next level. Bookmark us, come back often, and let’s keep cooking up a storm together!
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