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Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew Recipe

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3.8 from 8 reviews

Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew is a hearty, budget-friendly American dish featuring browned ground beef, potatoes, carrots, and a flavorful tomato-based sauce. Cooked slowly in a crockpot, this comforting stew is perfect for easy family dinners that require minimal preparation but deliver maximum taste.

Ingredients

Meat and Vegetables

  • 1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
  • 1 ½ lbs russet or gold potatoes, peeled and diced large
  • 3 carrots, sliced thick
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced (or ½ teaspoon garlic powder)

Seasonings and Sauce

  • 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning (or oregano)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Brown 1 lb. of ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, then drain the excess fat. Peel and dice the potatoes into large chunks, slice the carrots thick, dice the onion, and mince the garlic clove.
  2. Combine in Slow Cooker: Add the browned ground beef, diced potatoes, sliced carrots, diced onion, and minced garlic to a 5-quart or larger slow cooker.
  3. Mix Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning until well combined.
  4. Add Sauce and Stir: Pour the tomato sauce mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker and stir gently to combine all components evenly.
  5. Cook Stew: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours without lifting the lid during cooking to retain heat and moisture.
  6. Serve: Once cooked, serve the stew hot with buttered sandwich bread or rolls for a full, comforting meal. Enjoy!

Notes

  • You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or sausage. Alternatively, use beef stew meat for a chunkier texture.
  • Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or can be frozen for several months.
  • To add variety, include vegetables like sweet potatoes, frozen peas, or canned green beans.
  • Use condensed tomato soup instead of tomato paste and water for richer tomato flavor.
  • Enhance flavor with Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, or taco seasoning in place of the Italian seasoning.
  • Optional toppings include shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions, or crushed saltine crackers for added texture and taste.

Find it online: https://cookedbysarah.com/slow-cooker-poor-mans-stew-recipe/