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Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew

This Crock Pot Poor Man's Stew is loaded with ground beef, potatoes, carrots, and vegetables in a rich savory broth. An easy budget-friendly slow cooker dinner.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 385
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 medium russet potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
  • 3 large carrots sliced
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen green beans cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch optional, for thickening
  • 2 tablespoons water optional

Method
 

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess grease.
  2. Add the diced onion and garlic to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
  3. Transfer the beef mixture to the slow cooker.
  4. Add the potatoes, carrots, green beans, diced tomatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  5. Stir everything together until well combined.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the vegetables are fork tender.
  7. For a thicker stew, whisk the cornstarch and water together, stir into the slow cooker during the last 20 minutes of cooking, and cook until thickened.
  8. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.

Notes

  • Browning the beef first adds more flavor and removes excess grease.
  • Cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
  • Yukon Gold potatoes also work well if you prefer a creamier texture.
  • Add frozen peas during the last 15 minutes if you'd like extra vegetables.