Crockpot Beef Manhattan is a hearty slow cooker dinner perfect for chilly days! With tender beef and mashed potatoes piled onto thick slices of toasty bread, this is comfort food at its finest. And the crockpot means it’s easy as can be to get this dish on the table since the beef and potatoes cook together!
We’re about to enter the time of year when I always crave a stick-to-your-ribs kind of dinner. The grilled chicken and light salads that we eat all summer long just won’t do anymore! When it gets cold out, hearty, satisfying meals are in… which means Crockpot Beef Manhattan is on the menu!
If you’ve never heard of Beef Manhattan, it’s kind of like an open-faced beef sandwich, but between the beef and the bread is a layer of creamy mashed potatoes. It sounds like a lot, and it kind of is, but that’s what makes Beef Manhattan so darn good!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Over-the-top comfort food – We’re not holding back here! If you’re a big carb fan (and who isn’t?!), you’ll love that Beef Manhattan has both bread and mashed potatoes.
- Tender, juicy beef – Cooking Beef Manhattan in the crockpot ensures that it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Feeds a crowd – There are 8 servings here, so it’s perfect for game day get-togethers (or for having leftovers the next day!).
- Easy to make – The slow cooker does all the hard work for the chuck roast, and you’ll even cook the potatoes in there too!
What is Beef Manhattan?
Beef Manhattan is an open-faced sandwich that tops thick slices of toast with mashed potatoes and roast beef. Even though it has a New York name, it’s a Midwestern classic, and it’s especially popular in Indiana as a diner food staple.
Recipe Notes
This Crockpot Beef Manhattan recipe is as simple as promised! Just a few simple ingredients for a family friendly dinner.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Beef Manhattan to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
For the roast:
- Yukon gold potatoes – I love Yukon golds because they’re buttery and creamy when mashed.
- Chuck roast – This will become extra tender thanks to the slow cooker.
- Onion soup mix – A shortcut for big savory flavor!
- Au jus gravy mix – This makes the gravy a cinch.
- Beef broth – If you’re sensitive to sodium, use a low-sodium broth since both the soup mix and the gravy mix are seasoned with salt.
For the mashed potatoes:
- Milk – Whole milk will give you the creamiest results, but whatever you have on hand is fine.
- Butter – Unsalted is best, but if you only have salted, just add a touch less salt when seasoning.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Frozen garlic toast – Or make my BEST Ever Garlic Bread.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Bread on the side – Some versions of Beef Manhattan serve the beef and gravy over the mashed potatoes and then do the bread on the side. If mashed potatoes spread onto bread is a bridge too far for you, try it this way instead!
- Turkey Manhattan – A popular variation of this recipe is making it with turkey. My Turkey Tenderloin is also cooked in the crockpot with potatoes layered on the bottom, making it easy to adapt into Turkey Manhattan. Just use a turkey gravy packet instead of au jus gravy.
- Use brown gravy – For a thicker gravy, swap the au jus gravy packet with a brown gravy mix packet.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Crockpot Beef Manhattan.
Layer the potatoes on the bottom of the crockpot, then top with the chuck roast and seasoning mixes. Pour in the broth and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 6-7 hours.
Mash the potatoes in a separate bowl with the milk and seasonings.
Shred the chuck roast with two forks.
Return the shredded beef to the crockpot, then assemble by adding the mashed potatoes to the toast, then topping with beef and gravy.
Recipe Tips
- Low and slow is the way to go – This recipe will work either way, but for the most meltingly tender beef, go with low heat instead of high.
- Chuck roast is the move – Don’t swap in a lower fat cut of beef. The fat and connective tissue in chuck roast break down in the slow cooker, making it juicy and tender.
- Make sure the bread is nicely toasted – If it’s just very lightly toasted, it will get soggy fast.
- Don’t overwork the potatoes – Mixing too much or whipping with a hand mixer can make them gluey.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use baby Yukon potatoes – That way, you won’t need to cut any of them.
- Assemble the night before – Layer everything in the slow cooker insert and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to start cooking.
- Use store-bought mashed potatoes – Then, skip adding the potatoes to the slow cooker and omit the milk, butter, and seasonings.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this slow cooker Beef Manhattan recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Place the chuck roast in a freezer bag and add the seasoning mixes. (Raw potatoes should not be frozen, as they can discolor and get mealy.)
- Freeze, then thaw in the refrigerator before starting the recipe.
- Layer the potatoes in the crockpot, dump in the seasoned beef, and pour in the broth.
How to Freeze Beef Manhattan After Cooking
- Freeze the mashed potatoes in one container or freezer bag.
- Freeze the beef in the juices in a second container or bag.
- Thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat separately and layer onto garlic toast.
What to Serve with Beef Manhattan
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of classic comfort food, it will pair well with many of your favorite vegetable side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Sautéed Green Beans
- Steakhouse Style House Salad
- Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts – 5 Flavor Options!
- Oven Roasted Green Beans
Crockpot Beef Manhattan Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Meal bowls – Add the mashed potatoes, beef, and gravy to a meal bowl with a simple vegetable side like steamed green beans or frozen peas and carrots.
- Sandwiches – If you only have leftover beef, layer it onto buns or slider rolls.
- Comfort food meal – Serve your leftovers as a more traditional beef and mashed potato dinner instead of serving it on toast.
Recipe FAQ’s
What kind of meat do you use for Beef Manhattan?
Beef chuck roast is the best choice for Beef Manhattan. Low, slow cooking makes it juicy and tender.
What kind of gravy is on Beef Manhattan?
Beef Manhattan is served with a rich beef-based brown gravy.
Why is it called a Beef Manhattan?
Although it’s a staple in Midwestern diners, the recipe was inspired by a dish World War II factory workers enjoyed when they were in New York for training.
How do you make Beef Manhattan?
Beef Manhattan is traditionally made with 4 components: the beef, the mashed potatoes, the gravy, and the bread. My crockpot version streamlines the process by cooking the first 3 components in the slow cooker.
More EASY Slow Cooker Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy slow cooker recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Mississippi Pot Roast {Crock Pot}
- Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
- Crock Pot Pork Carnitas
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
Crockpot Beef Manhattan
Ingredients
For the roast
- 2 pounds yukon gold potatoes
- 3 pound chuck roast, (3-4 pounds)
- 1 package onion soup mix
- 1 package au jus gravy mix
- 14 ounces can beef broth
For the mashed potatoes
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 box frozen garlic toast, (8 pieces)
Instructions
- Add the potatoes to the bottom of a slow cooker. If they are larger than a golf ball, I recommend cutting them in half, or quarters.Place the chuck roast on top of the potatoes. Sprinkle onion soup mix and au jus gravy mix over the top of the roast and down into the potatoes. Pour the broth around the roast, surrounding the potatoes, at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours, or high for 6-7 hours. Once done, remove the roast and shred the meat, discarding any extra fatty areas or connective tissue.Move the potatoes into a mixing bowl, and place the shredded roast back into the juices.
- Prepare the mashed potatoes by mashing the potatoes with butter, ½ cup milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add additional milk to reach desired consistency.Note: you can also use the drippings instead of milk to give additional flavor.
- Prepare the garlic toast per package directions.
- Assemble Manhattan beef by plating a piece of garlic toast, then topping with mashed potatoes, and a generous helping of shredded roast. Spoon juices over the top right before serving.
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