Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef

This juicy shredded beef is so popular at summer gatherings. The tender meat is slow-cooked in a savory sauce that includes tomato paste, brown sugar, molasses and chili powder. It makes a big batch...enough for seconds!

-Colleen Nelson, Mandan, North Dakota

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This has too much sodium, nearly 50% of the RDA for one day. I'd cut the salt way down - with the other seasonings, there's no need for so much salt. I'd also eliminate most of the brown sugar, or replace it with Splenda Brown Sugar.

I agree with Marge. Wow, no salt needed at all. There's so much salt in ketchup,also in the Worcestershire sauce and I'm sure salt in the tomato paste as well.Oh well, to each their own I guess.

Sounds good - I would lower the salt also. I would add some liquid smoke for a real BBQ touch. Wow - nothing like picking apart a recipe, huh?

Thanks for the recipe!!

The idea of using Splenda brown sugar in this is absolutely revolting. Make the recipe the way it is  and stop complaining about the sugar and sodium. Make something else, grilled chicken perhaps! Beef sandwiches aren't know for being healthy.....they taste good!

Well, badkitty, some of us at least are trying to eat healthier, since the avg US diet contains over 5,000 mg sodium, or about 2.5 times what is needed. I've been on a low salt diet for years. The added salt is not necesssary, esp. since this is "slow cookered," which all mfr's say use half normal amount of seasonings because this type of cooking intensifies flavors by itself. That brings the salt down about 40%. For those wanting to cut more salt, use 14 oz lower sodium tomato sauce for ketchup/paste but realize the tomato flavor won't be quite as intense. The other major source is the bread; can't suggest anything there (unless you want to eat this on Matzo crackers). BTW, Worchestershire sauce has 150 mg sodium per TBSP, which is about 25% the amount in an equal amount of low sodium soy sauce. The amount in this recipe is trivial in comparison to the two major sources.

This recipe is amazing! Before an active summer day outside, it is good to know that something this tasty and simple will be ready when we are ending our daily outings.

Great for Pot Luck

My point is if you want to eat healthier, make a different recipe!

Very tasty beef! I was worried about adding all that chili powder but it came out great. I love the subtle hint of the molasses.