Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew Recipe (2024)

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Crock Pot Poor Man’s Stew is made with ground beef and other simple ingredients. This makes a delicious and budget friendly stew recipe.

Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew Recipe (1)

Crock Pot Poor Man’s Stew Recipe:

Hearty, delicious and budget friendly this Crock Pot Stew is easy to make. This stew is loaded with fresh vegetables and ground beef which makes it economical stew. All the ingredients are added to the slow cooker for an easy weeknight meal.

This is the perfect comfort meal that can be served to your family or when you are feeding a crowd. The combination of the easy ingredients makes this meal so delicious and flavorful.

This Poor Man’s Stew is filling and delicious and always a family favorite. This is the perfect stew to use your leftover ground beef. Add your favorite garlic bread or a side salad to complete the meal. See more crock pot beef stew recipes.

Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew Recipe (2)

What is Poor Man’s Stew?

Poor Man’s Stew is a name that is given because you use ground hamburger meat. Normal stew is usually made with expensive cut of beef such as roast. That is why this recipe is known as Poor Man’s Stew.

Making this stew would ground beef cuts the cost of the stew almost in half. Plus using fresh ingredients with simple seasoning helps keeps this a budget friendly stew.

This stew can be made year round. We make it during the cold winter night as well as during the summer. It comforting, hearty and flavorful with the tomato based broth.

It is a great way to stretch your food budget. But delicious enough to serve it for a crowd or meal prep for the week.

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Ingredients:

  • Ground Beef (browned and drained)
  • Russet Potatoes (peeled and diced into large pieces)
  • Carrots (peeled and cut into ½ thick slices)
  • Onion (diced)
  • Diced Tomatoes (14 oz can)
  • Beef Broth
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Onion Powder
  • Minced Garlic
Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew Recipe (4)

How to Make Poor Man’s Stew in Slow Cooker:

  • Step 1 – Add beef and vegetables to slow cooker – Add the ground beef, potatoes, carrots and onions to a crock pot.
  • Step 3 – Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl. – In a medium size mixing bowl, stir together the ingredients. Which includes diced tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, onion powder and minced garlic.
  • Step 4 – Combine in the slow cooker – Add the mixed ingredients to the slow cooker.
Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew Recipe (5)
  • Step 5 – Slow Cook Ingredients – Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours. You can also cook on high for 3-4 hours until the potatoes are tender.
  • Step 7 – Serve and enjoy – Serve warm and enjoy.
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Crockpot Poor Man’s Stew Tips:

  • Ground Beef – We recommend using 80%-85% ground beef for beef stew recipes. This keep sit from drying out while preparing but it does not have a greasy taste.
  • Potatoes – Before adding potatoes to the slow cooker wash, peel and dice in about the same size of pieces.
  • Broth – We used beef broth in this recipe, but to cut cost you can simple use 2 cups of water.
  • Organic Ingredients – You can definitely use high end meat for this recipe such as stew meat. Use organic vegetables if you prefer but this stew is delicious and flavor just as it is written.
  • Prepare Ground Beef – You can easily prepare the ground beef ahead of time. Cooking the beef and onions in a skillet the night before saves time. We recommend cooking it before adding to the slow cooker.
  • Prepare Vegetables – This is the perfect recipe to add in leftover chopped vegetables. You can also prepare the vegetables ahead of time to save time on cooking day.
  • Cooking Options – We love making this stew in the slow cooker. But you can easily make it in the Instant Pot or Dutch oven.
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Recipe Variations:

  • Broth – You can use chicken broth instead of beef broth in this recipe if you prefer.
  • Potatoes – We used russet potatoes in this recipe, but you can also use red potatoes or yellow gold potatoes.
  • Diced Tomatoes – There are many variety of diced tomatoes that you can use. They have Italian flavored diced tomatoes that can cut down on adding in additional seasoning. Tomato soup can also be added.
  • Frozen Peas – For a hint of sweetness add in a bag of frozen peas. It adds flavor and is a great way to sneak in vegetables.
  • Other Vegetables – Green beans and corn would also be a delicious addition to this recipe.
  • Change the seasoning – We used simple seasoning for this recipe. Instead of minced garlic, you can also use garlic powder.
  • Ground Meat – You can also use ground turkey instead of ground beef for this recipe. You can also use half ground turkey and ground beef.
  • Add more flavor – Add in taco seasoning or Worcestershire sauce to add more flavor to this recipe. A dash of hot sauce is always a crowd favorite.
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What to Serve with Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew:

Since this hamburger stew is heart and full of protein and vegetables you can easily serve as it. But we love to add a side of one these easy recipes to complete it.

  • Cornbread – Make this delicious cornbread recipe for a quick and easy side.
  • BreadsticksThese garlic cheese sticks are the perfect bread for dipping to getting the last drop.
  • Side Salad – You can also make a bowl of a green salad for a delicious side.
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Can Poor Man’s Stew be prepared ahead of time?

Yes, this is the perfect stew to brown your ground beef or use leftover meat. Clean and chop your vegetables prior to cooking day. This saves time and makes it easily to add everything to the slow cooker on cooking day.

If you peel and cut your potatoes the day before, place them in a bowl of water. Then place in the refrigerator. This keeps the potatoes from turning brown.

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Can I Freeze Ground Beef Stew?

Yes, this is the perfect stew to freeze. Brown your ground beef and cut and prepare your vegetables. Add all the ingredients to a freezer ziplock bag or freezer container and freeze.

It will stay fresh for up to 3 months. When you are ready to cook your place the frozen ingredients in the slow cooker to cook.

How to Store Hamburger Stew Leftovers:

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.We love to store in individual container for a quick lunch the next day.

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Review

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Crock Pot Poor Man’s Stew

5 from 533 votes

Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew is made with ground beef and other simple ingredients to make this delicious and budget friendly stew recipe.

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings 6

Cuisine American

Course stew

Calories 322

Author Carrie Barnard

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the ground beef, potatoes, carrots and onions to a crock pot.

  • In a medium size mixing bowl, stir together the diced tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, onion powder and minced garlic.

  • Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the potatoes are tender.

  • Serve warm and enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

You can use chicken broth instead of beef broth in this recipe if you prefer.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 322kcal, Carbohydrates 29g, Protein 17g, Fat 16g, Saturated Fat 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 54mg, Sodium 865mg, Potassium 993mg, Fiber 4g, Sugar 5g, Vitamin A 6886IU, Vitamin C 16mg, Calcium 86mg, Iron 4mg

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More Easy Stew Recipes:

  • Crock Pot Ground Beef Stew Recipe
  • Slow Cooker Green Chili Stew Recipe
  • Crock Pot Sweet Potato Stew Recipe
Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew Recipe (13)

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About the Author

Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew Recipe (22)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the basic stew formula? ›

The Ideal Stew Ratio: Two Parts Meat, One Part Vegetable

Most meat-based stews call for tough, inexpensive cuts of meat, while vegetarian recipes include the same onions, carrots, and celery typical of a beef stew. Two parts meat to one part vegetables is the perfect ratio for a meaty stew.

Do you have to brown stew meat before putting it in the crock pot? ›

Slow cooker recipes don't always instruct you to brown meat before adding it to the pot, but there are some advantages to doing so. If you sear meat to a crusty brown with a little oil in a hot skillet, the meat develops more complex flavors and improves the dish.

Is it better to cook stew on low or high in slow cooker? ›

While many slow cooker recipes can be made on high for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend cooking this beef stew on low for the full 7-8 hours. This will ensure that the beef gets nice and tender. Thicken your stew properly.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

The Five Most Common Beef Stew Mistakes
  1. Choosing a meat that's too lean. Stew is not meant for all cuts of meat. ...
  2. Putting too much flour on the stew meat before sautéeing them. ...
  3. Not using wine. ...
  4. Putting the meat and vegetables together in one pan. ...
  5. Not cooking it enough.
Jun 28, 2020

What gives beef stew the best flavor? ›

Getting a more beefy beef stew
  1. Mushrooms (Crimini, sh*take, Lions Mane, etc.), browned beforehand.
  2. Dried mushrooms.
  3. Caramelized onions.
  4. Roasted garlic.
  5. Deglaze your pan (since you don't use wine, deglaze with broth)
Oct 23, 2023

What are the 5 steps of stewing? ›

How to cook a basic stew
  1. Chop the ingredients. Cutting the meat and/or main vegetables to roughly the same size will help them to cook evenly.
  2. Fry your base ingredients. ...
  3. Add the remaining ingredients. ...
  4. Add your liquid of choice. ...
  5. Let it simmer. ...
  6. Season to taste.
Nov 15, 2018

Should stew be covered with liquid in a slow cooker? ›

Because your slow cooker will have a tightly sealed lid, the liquid won't evaporate so if you're adapting a standard recipe, it's best to reduce the liquid by roughly a third. It should just cover the meat and vegetables.

When to add potatoes to slow cooker on low? ›

Tender vegetables such as zucchini and beans can be added to your dish in last ¾ - 1 hour of cooking when cooking on High, or 2 hours if cooking on Low. Hard, starchy vegetables like potato and carrots are best added around 3 hours before the meal is done if cooking on High, and 4 hours on Low.

What is difference between crockpot and slow cooker? ›

However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat.

What vegetables are good in beef stew? ›

Make it your way… The ingredients for Easy Beef and Vegetable Stew can be modified to include green beans, peas, corn, and mushrooms as well. I often throw in a bag of baby carrots already peeled and prepared instead of peeling and chopping carrots.

What are the best potatoes for stew? ›

Russets are often the suggested potato for stew because their starch can help thicken the broth, but they also break down too easily, whereas Yukons have some thickening power of their own while still retaining a hearty, solid bite.

Why are my carrots still hard in the slow cooker? ›

Carrots may remain firm in a slow cooker if they're not cooked long enough or if the temperature is too low. Ensure sufficient cooking time and consider cutting carrots into smaller pieces for even cooking.

What not to put in beef stew? ›

So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.

When should celery be added to stew? ›

Once all the meat has been seared and transfered out of the pan, cook the vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium and warm another teaspoon of oil. Add the onions and celery, and cook until the onions are softened and translucent, 8-10 minutes.

Why put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

What is the traditional stew made of? ›

A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients can include any combination of vegetables and may include meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef, pork, venison, rabbit, lamb, poultry, sausages, and seafood.

What is the basis of a stew? ›

This is a slow-cooking method, similar to braising, with the key difference being the beef is covered in liquid. Stewing is best done in a heavy stockpot or Dutch oven on the stovetop or in the oven, or in a slow-cooker.

What is the basic formula for making soup? ›

The formula: broth (chicken, beef, veg - depends on your protein) + salsa (jar, can, fresh) + protein (chicken, steak, meatballs, beans) + rice (cooked or raw) + other veg + seasoning + garnish. It's great because you pretty much always have some version of these things in your fridge, pantry or freezer.

What is the rule for stewing? ›

Use Low Heat

Low heat is suggested for all stews, never a hard boil. Placing a lid, slightly ajar on the pot traps the escaping steam and allows it to condense and fall back onto the stew. You can also cook stews in a 350°F oven or on low in a slow cooker.

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