Slow Cooker Beef and Oat Mash

Slow Cooker Beef and Oat Mash: Some nights call for a dinner that’s easy, filling, and made from things you already have at home. That’s exactly what this slow cooker beef and oat mash gives you. Mixing rolled oats into ground beef might seem like an old trick, but here in the Midwest, using oats to stretch out meat has always been a smart, everyday habit. It makes the meal feel bigger, softer, and more comforting. This is a simple dish you can toss together in just a few minutes, then let the slow cooker handle the rest while your kitchen fills up with a warm, homey smell.

This hearty beef mash tastes great served in bowls next to buttered green beans, sweet corn, or soft cooked carrots. If you want to make the meal even more filling, try adding toasted bread, a light cucumber salad, or a spoonful of sour cream with a sprinkle of black pepper on top. On cold days, it also goes really well with mashed potatoes or a batch of plain baked biscuits.

This easy slow cooker beef and oat mash turns simple pantry items into a warm, filling dinner with almost no effort. Ground beef, oats, onion, and broth cook together into a soft, savory mash that feels like old-fashioned comfort food. It’s a budget-friendly meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or chilly evenings at home.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 cups beef broth

Slow Cooker Beef and Oat Mash: Directions

1. Get the slow cooker ready. Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with a little cooking spray or oil so nothing sticks. Add the raw ground beef, rolled oats, chopped onion, and beef broth right into the pot.
2. Mix it all together. Using a spoon or clean hands, stir and break up the ground beef so it’s spread out evenly. Make sure the oats and chopped onion get mixed in well too, so every bite has a good balance of beef, oats, and onion.
3. Cook it low and slow. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours. If you’re home, give it a stir once or twice during cooking to help everything blend evenly. You’ll know it’s done when the beef is fully cooked through, the onions have turned soft, and the oats have thickened into a warm, savory mash.
4. Taste and finish. Give the mash one more good stir. Taste it, then add a little salt and pepper if you think it needs more flavor. Spoon the hot beef and oat mash into bowls and serve right away while it’s warm and comforting.

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