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This London broil crock pot recipe takes very little effort.
However, you won't believe what a tender, flavorful meat you end up with along with a delectable gravy that's great served over rice or noodles or sopped up with some homemade bread!
What You'll Need
2 pounds London broil (or other low-fat cut of meat)
2 Tbsp olive oil (or oil of choice)
2 tsp dry thyme
2 tsp dry marjoram (or oregano)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 cup French fried onions (like Durkee - I used a store brand), lightly crushed
2 cups chicken or beef broth (I used chicken because that's what I had)
So Fork-Tender and Delicious!
As you can see in the pictures, the meat is fork-tender and falls apart easily. No real need to cut with a knife.
In fact, if you wanted to you could pull it all apart (like pulled pork, except it's beef ...) and use it in soup or served mixed in with mac and cheese or mashed potatoes
(ah ... don't you know the possibilities are endless with a tender cut of meat!)
If you take a less-than-tender cut of meat like London broil and slow cook it for several hours (4 hours on high 6-7 hours on low), you will be rewarded with a very tender, flavorful meat for dinner!
London broil doesn't have much fat, so it tends to be tough unless quick broiled in the oven. Or you can make this fabulous slow-cook method.
Adding the French fried onions is the secret to ending up with an automatic gravy when your London broil is done.
A flavorful, saucy gravy to serve over the meat, over mashed potatoes, over biscuits - over veggies. Yum!
How to Cook London Broil in the Crock Pot
Prepping this London broil for the slow cooker is super easy.
First, you will turn your crock pot to high heat. You can cook on low if you prefer, especially if you will be away from home for 6-8 hours.
Next, you will just add your oil to the slow cooker and place the beef roast on top and then flip it over to get oil on both sides.
You will then add thyme, marjoram, salt, pepper, and broth and mix it all around a bit to coat the meat.
Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low 6-7 hours, checking every few hours if you're home (don't worry if you can't check - it won't burn).
Once the meat is cooked and tender, turn off the heat and let the roast sit uncovered for 5 minutes or so for gravy to thicken slightly.
Serve on a platter with the gravy, slicing portion sizes for each plate.
Great paired with the broccoli pictured or other vegetable of choice. Serve over or alongside potatoes, rice, or noodles if desired.
What to Serve with your London Broil
I served mine with my Sauteed Broccoli with red peppers (as seen in the pictures). So easy to prepare and cook the broccoli 20 minutes before the London broil crock pot recipe is done.
Also fabulous served with mashed potatoes (great for topping with the extra gravy!), mac and cheese, side salad, rice, or just about anything!
Add crusty bread like my Savory Zucchini Bread with cheddar or my homemade Southern biscuits, and you have a fabulous meal the whole family will love!
Also delicious served with my Recipe for Mushroom Risotto or my Cream of Peas.
FAQs For Tender London Broil
Do I need to brown the meat on the stove top before slow cooking?
No - not with this recipe. I like to make my recipes as simple as possible. This includes dirtying as few dishes as possible. I really don't like to have to cook anything on the stove top before slow cooking.
I realize that browning could increase the flavor of this London broil, but I don't believe you'll miss it. This recipe is very flavorful, fall-apart tender, and easy.
What if I don't have the fried onions (and can't find them)?
If you don't have fried onions, you can substitute a package of dry onion soup mix instead. Although I haven't tried using onion soup mix, I believe the results will be very tasty and similar to using fried onions.
Alternately, you could use a finely chopped fresh onion placed under the London broil before cooking and sprinkling ¼ cup of flour in with the broth.
What if I can't find London broil? What is it anyway?
London broil is a beef roast cut that is also called top round, top blade, or flank steak.
It's a cut of meat with very little fat or marbling and can be tough if not cooked properly. Many times it's broiled in the oven for a short time (while still quite red in the center) and sliced thin to serve.
I like how using a tougher, flavorful cut of meat in the slow cooker really maximizes the meat's flavor and tenderizes it along the way.
If you don't have London broil or the other cuts above, feel free to use any lower fat cut of beef that you can find.
Be sure to let me know what cut of beef you used for this recipe and how it turned out for you in the comments below!
Also, let me know your favorite sides to go with it!
Other Recipes You May Love:
Spaghetti Bolognaise (Southern Style, of course!)
Corn Potato Chowder (Easy, Hearty & Delicious!)
Baked Mahi Mahi Recipe (Simple & So Flavorful!)
Authentic Jambalaya Recipe (Lots of Spicy Flavors!)
Turkey Ala King (Using Leftover Turkey or Chicken)
London Broil Crock Pot Recipe
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 pounds London broil or other lean beef roast
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (or oil of choice)
- 2 tsp dry thyme
- 2 tsp dry marjoram
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup French fried onions (like Durkee - I used a store brand), lightly crushed
- 2 cups beef broth (or chicken)
Instructions
- Turn crock pot to high heat and add oil to bottom.
- Place London broil on top of oil move it around a bit to coat, then flip over.
- Add thyme, marjoram, salt, pepper, fried onions, and broth. Mix around a bit to coat.
- Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low 6-7 hours, checking every few hours if you're home (don't worry if you can't check - it won't burn).
- Once meat is cooked and tender, turn off heat and let sit uncovered for 5 minutes or so for gravy to thicken slightly.
- Serve on a platter with the gravy, slicing portion sizes for each plate. Serve with the broccoli pictured or other vegetable of choice. Serve over potatoes, rice, or noodles if desired.
Nutrition
Don't Forget to Pin For Later!
Hi, do you add the french fried onions to the crockpot at the start or do you add them at the end when the roast is done cooking?
Oh my! I forgot to say, didn't I? You add the fried onions at the beginning with everything else. Thanks for your question, Amanda! I'll go fix it in the recipe card right now!
That meat is so tender! I don't have a crock pot, but perhaps can make this in the Instant Pot? Love the sound of that gravy too
Yes, it is very tender, Shinta! I don't have an Instant Pot, so I wouldn't know how to tell you to cook it. Thanks for stopping by!
This was so tender and delicious! I'll definitely keep this recipe around for future dinners!
Thanks Taylor! We love it at my house!
So very tender!! Really easy to make as well. Will be having this recipe on repeat 🙂
Thanks Laura! We love it too!
I couldn't believe how tender and flavorful this meat was. The gravy was so good on the mashed potatoes I made to go with it. My husband wants me to save the recipe.
That's great, Krissy! I love to hear that!
So tender and full of flavor.
Thanks for letting me know, Stephanie!
Delicious!!! If I wanted to double the recipe would I just double all ingredients? Would it need more cooking time? Thanks!
Thanks for dropping by, Angie! Yes, you would just double the ingredients. You may want to bump the time up an hour or two in order to get a tender roast. I haven't tried it, but you wouldn't over cook it if you cooked for another hour or two. Just make sure it's tender. Let me know how it turns out!
I have everything for the recipe but the thyme and marjoram, is there something else I could use or should I just wait until I can get it?,
Thanks for your question John! If you have a poultry seasoning or Italian seasoning blend, this would also work. Otherwise, just use oregano or wait till you can get the thyme and marjoram. Let me know!
Does this come out as well done, or no pink in the center? Do you have a suggestion for reduced cooking time/temperature if one is going for medium rare or medium?
Thanks for your question, Joe. It does come out well done, but not lacking in flavor like a steak would be. The goal with this recipe is tenderness and fuss-free cooking. If you cooked it less, it might be less tender - I'm not sure, though. Not sure you would get the red center anyway, since the heat is surrounding the meat instead of cooking one side at a time. Instead of this being steak-like, it's more of a roast when cooked. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out.
Wow This is a keeper !
Thanks Richard - glad you liked it!
I subbed dry onion soup mix and chicken stock since that's what I had on hand. Turned out great! Will definitely make this again.
Perfect Heather! Great substitutions!
What if you do not have marjoram?
Thanks for your question, Chastity. Oregano is a good substitute for marjoram.
Classic! My mom always does the halved onion under roast method, but I didn’t want our small house to smell like onion for 3 days, so i used the mckormick montreal steak rub which has dried onion in it & the end result was the same as if I had used the raw onion. I found that I needed to cook this on high for around 7-8 hours to get the fork tender (my london broil was almost 4lbs lol). Yum!
Fabulous Jamie!
I've got a 2 1/4 lb London broil I want to cook in crockpot. Can't I cook small potatoes & mushrooms and vegetables in with it?
You absolutely can! Sounds delicious! Let me know how yours turns out, Teresa!
I made this tonight. Absolutely delicious! I cooked on low for 7 hours. At the 3 hour mark I added baby carrots and Yukon gold potatoes to the pot. The meat just fell apart. There was so much flavor in the carrots and potatoes. My London broil must have had a little fat because there was a layer in the pot and the gravy never really thickened. I made a slurry and tried to thicken it some to have that delicious flavor from that gravy. Definitely a keeper recipe!
Awesome Linda! Thanks for letting me know!