Cowboy Butter Flank Steak Crockpot Dinner: Set-and-Forget

This crockpot dinner is the ultimate set-and-forget meal. Tender flank steak strips, sweet baby carrots, and hearty red potatoes cook low and slow in a rich garlic-herb cowboy butter and au jus gravy. Just dump everything into the slow cooker and walk away.

After a few hours, you'll come back to a bubbling, aromatic pot of comfort food that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, this one-pot wonder delivers deep, savory flavor with minimal effort.

This recipe turns a handful of simple ingredients into a deeply satisfying dinner. The flank steak becomes meltingly tender as it simmers in the buttery, herby liquid, while the carrots and potatoes soak up all the savory goodness.

The cowboy butter adds a rich, garlicky note that elevates the whole dish. Serve it over creamy mashed potatoes to catch every drop of the delicious gravy. It's a complete meal in one pot, and cleanup is a breeze.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

The slow cooker does all the work here. Cooking the flank steak on low heat for several hours breaks down the tough connective tissues, turning a lean cut into fork-tender bites.

The low, gentle heat also allows the flavors of the garlic-herb butter and au jus to meld together and infuse every piece of meat and vegetable.

The combination of cowboy butter and au jus creates a rich, savory gravy that coats everything beautifully. The butter adds a silky mouthfeel and a punch of garlic and herbs, while the au jus provides a deep, beefy flavor.

As the ingredients cook, their juices mingle and create a sauce that's far more complex than the sum of its parts.

Notes and substitutions

Flank steak is ideal for this recipe because it becomes incredibly tender when cooked low and slow. Slice it thinly against the grain before cooking to ensure it shreds easily later. If you can't find flank steak, sirloin or round steak will also work well.

The garlic-herb cowboy butter is a key flavor driver. You can find it pre-made in many grocery stores, or you can make your own by mixing softened butter with minced garlic, parsley, chives, and a pinch of cayenne. The au jus mix adds a savory depth that complements the butter perfectly.

• flank steak: sirloin steak or round steak, thinly sliced
• baby carrots: regular carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• red bliss potatoes: Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, quartered
• garlic-herb cowboy butter: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter plus 2 cloves minced garlic and 1 teaspoon dried herbs

Equipment

• 7-quart slow cooker
• Cutting board
• Chef's knife
• Measuring spoons
• Serving spoon