Anna Gest, MS, RDN, LD
Manager of Nutrition Education Programs and beef producer.
Low and Slow: October Beef Favorites
ANNA GEST MS, RDN, LD | October 2026
Autumn has arrived! My absolute favorite season- the changing of leaves, wearing cozy sweaters, picking pumpkins, and making slow cooked beef dishes. Slow cookers, also known as the trademarked product Crock-Pot®, are countertop appliances used to simmer foods at a lower temperature for an extended period of time. Depending on the ingredients and seasonings used, slow cooking can create tender beef dishes with a variety of flavors.
Cuts for Slow-Cooking
Large tough cuts are usually the best for this method as the low and slow cooking allows for the fat to break down resulting in a tender meal.
Expand your slow-cooking repertoire with these proven beef cuts.
Set It and Forget It
Many slow cooker recipes allow you to toss in ingredients, set the temperature, and “forget” about your meal until its dinnertime (but often its hard to forget when the beefy aromas fill the kitchen). This makes slow cooker meals popular for busy fall days. We love these Sweet Onion and Pepper Beef Sandwiches with Au Jus made with beef stew meat and six other simple ingredients. A delicious meal that comes together after nine hours of slow cooking, with minimal prep required.
A One-Pot Way to Balanced Meals
Slow cooking also makes it simple to build a satisfying, balanced meal in one pot. Pairing beef with vegetables adds color, flavor, and important nutrients to the dish while beef provides high-quality protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. Lazy Day Beef and Vegetable Soup combines beef with chickpeas and mixed vegetables for a comforting yet nutritious meal on chilly autumn days.
Four Ways to Love Shredded Beef
Often a staple slow cooker meal, shredded beef can become four completely different meals with a simple change of flavors. This Four-Way Slow Cooker Shredded Beef cooks beef low and slow until it’s easy to shred. Then there are four recipe variations to suit a variety of meals. Whether you pick the Mexican Shredded Beef variation for taco night or try the Asian Shredded Beef in lettuce wraps, this recipe makes it easy to keep meals interesting.
Hey Slow Cookin'
Ready to make the most of slow cooker season? Visit our Hey Slow Cookin’ page for even more savory, comforting beef recipes. There’s plenty of inspiration to keep your slow cooker working all October long!
Still Hungry?
Slow Cooker Comforts
Treat yourself to an easy dinner tonight with these slow cooker recipes. A few ingredients and some patience are all you need for a delicious, comforting meal.
Pressure Cooker Recipes
Under pressure to deliver a delicious, satisfying meal? Get Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot recipe inspiration here.
One Dish Meals
Busy parents need to get meals on the table quickly. No news there. But something that makes it even better is if the quick meal is nutritious, simple and can be made using only one pot, pan or skillet.