Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles meets your comfort-food cravings effortlessly! With fall-apart-tender beef, rich, savory gravy, and thick egg noodles, this hearty slow cooker recipe checks all the boxes for a warm, satisfying family meal everyone will enjoy.

dinner plate of beef and noodles with another in background along with black slow cooker

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What’s To Love About This Recipe

Beef and noodles are a classic comfort-food combination with a rich, hearty flavor that only comes from simmering all day in the slow cooker.
It’s easy to prep this meal with this simple slow-cooker method that requires very little hands-on time. Cooking on low lets you set it and forget it until near the end, when it’s time to add the frozen egg noodles.
The tender chuck roast, simple seasoning, and broth develop a flavorful base for the noodles. You won’t need more than a handful of ingredients to make a perfectly flavored, savory sauce.
Fork-tender beef and noodles also make a filling, family-friendly meal with plenty of leftovers to enjoy throughout the week!

Ingredients Needed

Chuck roast – Chuck roast is the ideal choice for this recipe because it has just enough fat to deliver excellent flavor without making the dish too greasy. Chuck roast also turns out perfectly tender and is easy to shred. If you prefer to use a different cut, leaner roasts like round or rump can also work.
Herb and garlic seasoning – This homemade blend is an ideal all-in-one seasoning that adds a subtle herbal flavor along with salt and pepper. If you prefer to use another premade blend, you may wish to adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Beef Broth – Beef broth is essential for the savory, richly flavored sauce base that cooks the noodles at the end.
Cornstarch slurry – This simple slurry mix (equal parts cornstarch whisked with an equal amount of water) is the easiest way to thicken just about any sauce. It helps control the overall thickness of the sauce base, without making it too heavy, such as with condensed soups or added flour.
Reames frozen egg noodles – Frozen egg noodles, such as the Reames brand, hold up well during slow cooking and maintain their texture. I prefer using frozen egg noodles in this recipe for a firmer texture and more consistent cooking. You can usually find these in the freezer section at most grocery stores.
Heavy cream – Add the heavy cream at the end of cooking for a richer, smoother sauce. It is an essential final ingredient for that homestyle, comfort-food goodness!

containers of ingredients to include chuck roast, her and garlic seasoning, beef broth, cornstarch and water, Reames noodles, and heavy cream

How To Make Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles

Season the roast and place it in the slow cooker.

overhead view of white bowl with seasoned roast and container of seasonings on side

overhead view of seasoned roast in black slow cooker

Add the broth, cover, and cook on low for at least 8 hours, or until the roast is fall-apart, fork-tender.

overhead view of seasoned roast in black slow cooker with beef broth being poured into slow cooker

Shred the beef and add the cornstarch slurry, noodles, and cream to the slow cooker.

white bowl of shredded roast with 2 forks

overhead view of black slow cooker of roast with container of cornstarch slurry being poured into slow cooker

Turn the slow cooker to high heat, cover, and allow to cook for another 30-40 minutes, stirring a few times, until the noodles are cooked and the sauce is thick.

overhead view of cooked beef and noodles with parsley sprinkled on top with salt and pepper shakers and slices of bread on side

Pro Tips

I don’t recommend cooking this recipe on high heat, except for the final portion to cook the noodles. Low heat will produce the best shreddable texture, and high heat can make the beef tougher.
Be sure to save the noodles until the end so they don’t overcook.
If noodles are not done or the sauce ends up too thick, you can add more broth, a half-cup at a time.
To thicken the sauce, add more cornstarch slurry, about 1 tablespoon at a time.
Frozen noodles are the best choice for this recipe (instead of dry egg noodles) because they cook along with the beef in the final 30-40 minutes without overcooking or turning mushy.
Shred the beef well so it distributes evenly throughout the noodles.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

If you need to use other cuts of beef, try round or rump roast, or a top round roast. Stew meat is another option, although the end result may vary slightly in texture.
For a similar variation on this old-fashioned recipe, try Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles.
Frozen egg noodles are the best for consistency, but dried wide egg noodles can work with adjustments. You may need to add more cream or broth at the end. Also, stay near the slow cooker to stir and check doneness every 10-15 minutes.
To boost this recipe with veggie additions, try adding sliced mushrooms, diced carrots, peas, or sliced onions.

closeup view of wooden spoon of beef and noodles with black slow cooker of beef and noodles in background

Instant Pot Beef and Noodles

Add beef, seasoning, and broth to the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 75 minutes.
Allow the pressure to release naturally, then stir in the cornstarch slurry and cream, and allow to thicken.
Cook the noodles separately, then add them to the beef and stir well to combine.

How To Serve Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles

Beef and noodles make the easiest one-pot comfort meal that leaves you with complete satisfaction! Serve the dish as is for a complete dinner, or with a slice of crusty bread and butter to soak up the flavorful sauce.

This tasty dinner also works with other delicious carbs such as fluffy rice, Mashed Potatoes, or Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Each of these is delicious when paired with the rich, creamy sauce, and you can omit the noodles or leave them as is to get the most enjoyment out of your meal.

Pair your old-fashioned beef and noodle dinner with simple sides like Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic or a fresh garden salad for variety!

overhead view of two dinner plates of beef and noodles surrounded by larger bowl of beef and noodles, salt and pepper shakers, forks and sliced bread on side

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Leftover beef and noodles store well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store in individual servings in air-tight containers for easy reheating in the microwave.

Freezer

You can freeze the leftovers, too! The noodles may soften slightly, but the leftovers will store well in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

(To prepare this recipe as a freezer meal, simply season the beef, place it in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw before cooking as directed and add the beef broth when ready to cook.)

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat leftover beef and noodles over low to medium heat on the stove or in short bursts in the microwave, and add broth or milk to loosen if needed.