Description
A cozy and budget-friendly slow cooker stew packed with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for chilly evenings, this hearty and flavorful Poor Man’s Stew requires minimal prep and delivers rich, comforting flavors with effortless slow cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1.5 to 2 lbs beef chuck or stew meat, cut into chunks
Vegetables
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Start by chopping your potatoes, carrots, and onions into bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic to get it ready for adding that punch of flavor.
- Brown the Meat (Optional): For extra richness, quickly brown the beef chunks in a hot skillet before adding to the slow cooker. This step adds a beautiful caramelized flavor but can be skipped if you’re short on time.
- Layer in the Slow Cooker: Place the vegetables at the bottom of the slow cooker, then add the browned (or raw) meat on top. This layering helps the flavors mingle and ensures the meat stays tender.
- Add the Liquids and Seasonings: Pour in the beef broth and stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Give it a gentle stir to distribute the seasonings evenly.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours, or high for 3 to 4 hours until the meat is fork-tender and vegetables are soft but not mushy. The slow cooking process allows all the flavors to meld perfectly.
- Final Adjustments: Before serving, taste the stew and adjust salt, pepper, or herbs as needed. Remove bay leaves and serve warm.
Notes
- Don’t skip browning the meat for added depth of flavor.
- Cut vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and perfect texture.
- Use beef chuck or stew beef for a tender, rich stew without high cost.
- Cook on low for the best tenderness and flavor development.
- If stew is too thin, thicken with a cornstarch and water slurry during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: slow cooker stew, budget-friendly stew, beef stew, easy slow cooker recipe, hearty dinner, comfort food