Healthy Slow Cooker Beef Ragu (Easy Weeknight Meal)
A healthy and comforting Italian-style slow cooker beef ragu made with lean beef, vegetables, and herbs, served over your favorite pasta or veggie noodles.Perfect for meal prep or a cozy family dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean beef chuck or top sirloin trimmed and cut into large chunks
- 1 tbsp olive oil for searing, optional
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes (no added sugar)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary finely chopped (or ½ tsp dried)
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves or ½ tsp dried
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced (optional)
- 2 cups baby spinach optional, stirred in at end
Instructions
Step 1 – Sear the Beef (Optional but recommended):
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef chunks on all sides until browned (about 2–3 minutes per side). Transfer to slow cooker.
Step 2 – Sauté Aromatics:
- In the same skillet, add a bit more oil if needed and sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add to the slow cooker.
Step 3 – Add Remaining Ingredients:
- To the slow cooker, add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, and mushrooms (if using). Stir gently to combine.
Step 4 – Slow Cook:
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4–5 hours, until beef is very tender and pulls apart easily.
Step 5 – Shred Beef:
- Remove the bay leaves. Transfer the beef to a plate and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker and stir well to coat in the sauce.
Step 6 – Final Simmer and Add Spinach (Optional):
- If the sauce is too thin, cook uncovered on high for 20–30 minutes. Stir in spinach during the last 5 minutes if using, until wilted.
Step 7 – Serve:
- Serve hot over whole wheat pasta, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or your choice of grain or veggie base.