Description
Hearty Poor Man’s Stew from the slow cooker delivers comfort with humble ingredients that meld into a satisfying one-pot meal. Affordable meat, potatoes, and vegetables simmer together, creating a budget-friendly dinner that fills bellies and warms hearts without breaking the bank.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
Vegetables:
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled & diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 1 14.5 ounces can diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1 8 ounces can tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth (or water)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for extra flavor)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Sizzle ground beef and diced onions in a skillet over medium heat, breaking meat into crumbly fragments until thoroughly caramelized and richly browned.
- Meticulously drain accumulated fat, ensuring a lean mixture transfers smoothly into the slow cooker’s ceramic vessel.
- Layer cubed potatoes across the meat foundation, creating a hearty base for the rustic stew.
- Sprinkle minced garlic and fragrant herbs throughout the layers, infusing depth and aromatic complexity into the dish.
- Gently cascade diced carrots and celery around the meat and potato landscape, distributing vegetables evenly.
- Pour beef broth carefully over the assembled ingredients, allowing liquid to seep between layers and create a harmonious culinary environment.
- Season generously with salt, pepper, and optional dried thyme, ensuring balanced flavor profiles penetrate every morsel.
- Cover slow cooker and set to low temperature, allowing ingredients to meld and transform over 6-8 hours into a comforting, tender stew.
- Periodically check moisture levels during cooking, adding minimal broth if mixture appears dry.
- Once vegetables become fork-tender and meat dissolves effortlessly, the stew is ready to serve piping hot with crusty bread alongside.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a leaner, lighter version of this hearty stew.
- Use low-sodium broth and canned vegetables to control salt intake and make the dish more heart-friendly.
- Enhance the flavor profile by adding fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary during the last hour of cooking for a more aromatic experience.
- Prepare extra portions and freeze for quick, convenient meals during busy weekdays, ensuring a delicious dinner is always within reach.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg