Slow Cooker “Poor Man’s Stew” is a simple, budget-friendly comfort meal made with ground beef, potatoes, and vegetables. It’s hearty, filling, and very easy to prepare in a slow cooker. 🍲
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 4–5 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
- 1 can (14–15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional, for richer flavor)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp flour or cornstarch (optional, to thicken)
Instructions
- Brown the beef (recommended):
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat. - Add ingredients to slow cooker:
Put the diced potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, and cooked beef into the slow cooker. - Add liquids and seasoning:
Pour in the diced tomatoes and beef broth. Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. - Cook:
- Low: 7–8 hours
- High: 4–5 hours
- Add peas:
Stir in frozen peas during the last 20–30 minutes of cooking. - Thicken (optional):
Mix flour or cornstarch with a little cold water, stir into the stew, and cook another 10–15 minutes until thickened.
Tips
- Add corn, green beans, or celery if you like more vegetables.
- For extra flavor, add a bay leaf while cooking.
- Serve with bread or rice to stretch the meal further. 🥖
If you’d like, I can also show:
- A 5-ingredient ultra-cheap version
- A dump-and-go slow cooker version (no browning)
- A bigger batch meal-prep version for the whole week.
