Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew Recipe
This Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew is a hearty and budget-friendly comfort meal featuring tender browned ground beef, russet potatoes, carrots, and a rich tomato-based broth infused with Italian seasoning and paprika. Slow-cooked to perfection, it delivers melt-in-your-mouth textures and deep, savory flavors, perfect for cozy family dinners or busy days when you want a satisfying meal with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7-8 hours on LOW or 4-5 hours on HIGH
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Stew
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef (lean, browned and drained)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 3 carrots, sliced into rounds
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen corn
Tomato and Broth Base
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Optional
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (adds depth)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease to keep the stew from becoming too oily.
- Layer the Ingredients: Transfer the browned beef into the slow cooker. Add the diced onion, chopped potatoes, sliced carrots, minced garlic, diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, frozen corn, and all seasonings evenly on top.
- Add Liquid: Pour the beef broth over the layered ingredients in the slow cooker. If using, add Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor. Stir gently to combine everything uniformly.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook the stew on LOW for 7–8 hours or on HIGH for 4–5 hours until the potatoes and carrots are tender when pierced with a fork and the beef is fully cooked.
- Taste & Adjust: About 30 minutes before serving, taste the stew and adjust salt and pepper as needed. For a thicker consistency, mash a few potato chunks directly in the slow cooker to naturally thicken the broth.
- Serve: Remove the bay leaf if used, ladle the stew into bowls, and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm with crusty bread or your preferred side for a hearty meal.
Notes
- Optional browning of the beef enhances flavor but is not necessary for this dump-and-go recipe.
- For thicker stew, mashing some potatoes inside the slow cooker works well without extra thickening agents.
- Substitute russet potatoes with Yukon Golds for firmer texture or use cauliflower for a low-carb variation.
- This stew freezes well; cool completely before freezing in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Variations include adding mushrooms, roasted vegetables, or turning leftovers into baked casseroles with cheese.
Keywords: slow cooker stew, poor man's stew, ground beef stew, budget-friendly dinner, hearty beef stew, easy crockpot recipe, comfort food, slow cooked beef, family dinner
Find it online: https://tastybella.com/slow-cooker-poor-mans-stew-recipe/
