Barbecue Beef Sandwiches

I am a very happy woman because this recipe turned out fantastic! The beef was really tender and so flavorful. I loved the homemade barbecue sauce, it was sweet, tangy, and so tasty. The French's fried onions made this sandwich over the top good with a great flavor and a nice crunch. My kids loved this recipe and ate every last bite. I loved, loved, loved this sandwich and my husband did too because he ate two sandwiches. I highly recommend this recipe.

Barbecue Beef Sandwiches:

Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net

• 1 tsp of olive oil
• 2 lbs lean chuck roast
• 3 pieces of lean bacon
• 1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced finely
• 1/2 tsp of dried thyme (plus some for seasoning the meat)
• 4 cloves of garlic, diced finely
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
• 2 cups of ketchup
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 2 tbsp of molasses
• 1 tbsp of red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp dried mustard
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 cup of beef broth
• Hamburger buns
• French's fried onions

Add the olive oil to a small Dutch oven and heat over medium high heat. Season the chuck roast with sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and thyme, to taste on both sides. Sear the meat on all sides for 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove the beef and place on a plate.

Cook bacon in the same Dutch oven over medium heat. Once it's finished, place on a paper towel to drain then crumble. In the same skillet, add the thyme and onion to the bacon grease and saute for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is soft. Add garlic and red pepper then cook, stirring frequently, for 30-45 seconds. Add the remaining ingredients, including the bacon crumbles, and mix thoroughly, cook for about 20 minutes so flavors combine.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a small dutch oven pan, combine the beef broth, seared chuck roast and half the barbecue sauce. Bake in the oven for 3-4 hours; make sure you check the meat every once in awhile, if the liquid is getting low add more beef broth. Remove the beef from the oven and go through the meat to remove any fat. Add the remaining barbecue sauce and mix thoroughly until the meat is shredded and evenly coated with the sauce. Taste and re-season with salt and pepper if needed.

Cook the French's Fried Onions in the oven for just a few minutes - watch them carefully because they will burn easily. Toast the buns if preferred. Pile the shredded beef on the bottom bun and top with crunchy onions and top bun. Enjoy!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe - For the Love of Cooking.net