Poor Man’s Stew Slow Cooker. My dad’s go-to meal in hard times. He made this yummy, filling stew with just 4 things. It tastes super good, like a big treat!
This simple stew saves the day with beef, potatoes, carrots, and onion mix. Toss in a slow cooker for hours, and it turns into thick, tasty gravy magic. Perfect for busy days or tight budgets—warm, hearty bites that fill you up like a hug from Dad.
Makes: 6 bowls
What You Need
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1 1/2 pounds ground beef (not too fatty)
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4 big potatoes, peeled and chopped into small cubes
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4 big carrots, peeled and chopped into small pieces
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2 packs (1 ounce each) onion soup mix
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1 1/2 cups water (add more if you want)
Poor Man’s Stew Slow Cooker Making Steps
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Cook the meat: Heat a big pan on medium-high. Put in the beef and break it up with a spoon. Cook until brown all over, no pink left. Takes 7-10 minutes. Spoon off extra fat if too greasy, but leave some for taste.
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Put veggies in cooker: In a 5-6 quart slow cooker, add potato cubes and carrot pieces. Spread them flat at the bottom. They soak up yummy juices.
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Add meat and mix: Spoon beef over veggies. Shake onion soup mix on top so it covers everything.
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Add water: Pour 1 1/2 cups water over it all. Stir a little to wet the mix and push some down. Don’t mix too much—the cooker does the work!
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Cook slow: Put on the lid. Cook it on LOW flame for 6-8 hours or HIGH heat for 3-4 hours. Potatoes and carrots get soft, and it bubbles. Juice turns thick like gravy from potato starch.
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Fix it up: If too thick, add water bit by bit. Taste (it’s hot!) and add salt or pepper if needed—soup mix is salty.
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Eat! Stir well so meat, carrots, and potatoes get gravy. Scoop into bowls hot from the cooker.