Skip to main content

Hobo Chuck

There’s nothing wrong with pot roast, but the beef chuck shoulder roast needs a break from the potatoes and carrots and soupy broth treatment. Beef chuck makes excellent barbecue, full of rich beefy flavor. Like brisket, its connective tissue requires slow barbecue-style cooking. Chuck isn’t as long and stringy as brisket, but it can pretty much do anything a brisket can do and in less time. Also, a good chuck roast on special is an easier find than a brisket with a good fat cap. It’s about choices and good substitutes, and a chuck roast is one of them.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

One 3-to 4-pound boneless chuck shoulder roast, trimmed of excess fat and cut into big chunks
3 tablespoons Cheater Basic Dry Rub (page 45)
1/4 cup bottled smoke

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    PUT the roast in a medium to large slow cooker (at least 4 quarts).

    Step 2

    SPREAD the dry rub over the meat. Add the bottled smoke.

    Step 3

    COVER and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours, until the meat shreds easily.

    Step 4

    REMOVE the meat from the slow cooker and shred or chop.

Cheater BBQ
Read More
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like miso-peanut hibachi chicken and spring orzotto.
Like “phenomenal” whole lemon bars and grilled salmon with dill chimichurri.
This chicken salad nails it—creamy, herby, and endlessly riffable.
This sauce is slightly magical. The texture cloaks pasta much like a traditional meat sauce does, and the flavors are deep and rich, but it’s actually vegan!
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
A flurry of fresh tarragon makes this speedy weeknight dish of seared cod and luscious, sun-colored pan sauce feel restaurant worthy.