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Cozy Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew: Easy Budget Meal

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A hearty, budget-friendly stew made with simple ingredients and a slow cooker. This comforting meal features tender beef, potatoes, and carrots in a rich, savory broth that tastes like it simmered all day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs (680g) stew meat or chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz / 411g) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 4 cups (960ml) beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (optional, for thickening)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Crusty bread or dinner rolls (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Brown the meat: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat stew meat dry, season lightly with salt and pepper, and brown in batches (3-4 minutes per side). Transfer to slow cooker.
  2. Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and diced onion. Cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Scrape up browned bits from pan.
  3. Layer vegetables: Add potatoes, carrots, and celery to slow cooker on top of meat. Do not stir.
  4. Build broth: In a bowl or skillet, whisk together beef broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Pour over ingredients in slow cooker.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until meat is fork-tender and potatoes are soft.
  6. Thicken stew (optional): About 20 minutes before serving, remove bay leaf. Whisk cornstarch and cold water into a slurry, stir into stew. Cook uncovered on HIGH for 15-20 minutes until thickened.
  7. Taste and adjust: Add more salt, pepper, or Worcestershire sauce if needed.
  8. Serve hot: Ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve with crusty bread.

Notes

For best flavor, brown meat in batches and don’t skip the tomato paste. Cut vegetables uniformly for even cooking. Resist lifting the lid during cooking. Season at the end to avoid over-salting. Fresh or thawed vegetables hold texture better than frozen. Stew thickens after refrigeration; add broth when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker stew, poor man's stew, budget meal, beef stew, comfort food, easy dinner, freezer-friendly

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/cozy-slow-cooker-poor-mans-stew-easy-budget-meal/