When cold weather arrives, nothing hits the spot more than warm and hearty comfort foods—and beef Manhattan is a new addition to my meal plan this winter. This beef slow-cooker recipe piles tender and juicy roast beef atop a dollop of creamy mashed potatoes and a savory slice of thick garlic bread. What’s not to love about that?

What’s even better is that this recipe calls for only a few simple ingredients, and your slow cooker does most of the work. This dish is also a tasty way to use up any leftover pot roast or mashed potatoes. Simply stack the reheated leftovers on a freshly baked slice of Texas toast and dinner is ready to be served!

What is beef Manhattan?

This open-faced sandwich owes its name to workers at the Naval Ordnance Plant in Indianapolis, Indiana, who enjoyed a similar dish while training in Manhattan during World War II. It quickly became a diner favorite in Indiana, and the recipe spread throughout the Midwest from there. It’s also known as a Manhattan hotshot or hot beef sandwich. A popular variation uses turkey in place of the roast beef to make a turkey Manhattan.

Ingredients for Beef Manhattan

• Olive oil: Olive oil is used to sear the beef, adding flavor and a caramelized crust to the meat.
• Salt and pepper: The chuck roast is seasoned simply yet generously with salt and pepper.
• Beef chuck roast: The heart of this slow-cooker beef Manhattan recipe is a 3-pound beef chuck roast.
• Low-sodium beef broth: A splash of low-sodium beef broth is used to deglaze the pan after searing the meat.
• Brown gravy mix: A packet of brown gravy mix adds a savory flavor to the beef and contributes to a flavorful au jus. If you don’t have any brown gravy packets on hand, you can make homemade brown gravy mix with bouillon granules, flour, pepper and butter.
• Onion soup mix: A packet of onion soup mix adds more savory flavor to the beef. You can easily make onion soup mix from scratch with simple ingredients from your pantry. If you have leftover mix, put it to use in other recipes with onion soup mix.
• Red wine vinegar: The sharp flavor and fruity aroma of red wine vinegar add complexity to this dish’s flavors.
• Mashed potatoes: Beef Manhattan is served atop mashed potatoes. Use your favorite mashed potato recipe or try our top-rated creamy mashed potatoes if you can’t decide. You can even use instant mashed potatoes if you prefer. Level them up with a few of our tips for making instant mashed potatoes taste better, such as mixing in a handful of herbs or some garlic.
• Garlic toast: Thick-cut Texas toast-style garlic bread provides a hearty base for an open-faced beef Manhattan sandwich. Frozen Texas toast keeps this recipe as easy as can be.
• Fresh chopped parsley: For a pop of color and fresh herb flavor, top each serving of beef Manhattan with fresh chopped parsley.

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