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This Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew is a cozy favorite that everyone loves. 

This Poor Man’s Stew is a delicious, comforting, hearty and budget friendly slow cooker meal.  Ground beef, potatoes and carrots slow cook in a savory tomato base.  This is always a family favorite.

I love delicious and easy dinners that I can just throw in the slow cooker and I know that everyone will love and this Poor Man’s Stew (sometimes called shipwreck stew) is one of our favorites.

I love that I can just throw everything in the slow cooker and have a delicious, flavorful comforting stew that everyone really enjoys.  Whenever I find a dinner that everyone in my house eats that is amazing because I have some picky eaters!  And for it to be in the slow cooker? That’s a double win!

I love that this hearty stew is made with simple ingredients.  This is the ultimate comfort food for those chilly evenings that the whole family will love.

This Poor Man’s Stew is full of flavor and I love to make it when the weather starts to get chilly.  This is a hearty dish that is budget-friendly.  Unlike regular stew that uses pricey cuts of beef this stew uses ground beef which is much more affordable, hence the name. 

This perfect stew also gets bulked up with carrots and potatoes which are also cheap and really help this dish go further.  

I love that you can customize this to your family’s taste, make it spicy, add your favorite veggies, add your favorite seasonings, you can totally make this recipe your own.  

This is great served with a little side salad and some french bread or crackers for dipping in the thick, rich stew. 

Everyone is feeling the pinch with the grocery bill right now and you can’t get much cheaper than ground beef and a few other ingredients.  So this is a fabulous dinner when you are trying to save a few pennies and it makes a ton!  This is a great way to have a hearty meal when you are on a food budget. The leftovers are amazing! It is my favorite budget-friendly dish.

This is one of my favorite go-tos when it is chilly outside.  It keeps everyone warm and fills all the tummies.  This is such an easy meal for those cold winter nights that is even better the next day!

Next time you want a family-friendly dinner even the pickiest kids will love throw these ingredients together and let the slow cooker take care of the rest! 

I promise your entire family will love these Slow Cooker Poor Mans Stew. 

You will want to make this dinner again and again! We do!

You will love this recipe because it is

• Easy and delicious.
• Family-friendly.
• Budget-friendly.
• Full of flavor.
• A set it-and forget-it meal.
• Perfect for weeknights.
• Picky eater approved.
• Cozy dinner.
• Hearty, comforting dish. 
• Easy dinner recipe.

My favorite slow cooker for this recipe is this Hamilton Beach one.

Can I freeze this delicious stew?

You can freeze this after cooking.  The potatoes might not be quite the same texture but it should still taste delicious!

Can I use any protein?

Yes, you can use any ground meat you like, beef, chicken, turkey, pork.  You could even use diced up chicken tenderloins. 

What should I serve this with?

This is a great dish on it’s own but it is really good with a salad or some french bread on the side for dipping.  I actually like to serve it with this Classic Corn Casserole.

Can I use different veggies?

Sure!! Add whichever veggies you have on hand.  Squash is great in this as is zucchini.  I like it with corn or lima beans.  You can also use green beans or peas in this. 

 

Ingredients used

• Ground Beef – I like to use brown ground beef for this ground beef stew. You could also use ground turkey.
• Russet Potatoes – Wash em, peel em, chop em.
• Large Carrots – Peel them with a potato peeler and chop into coins.
• Small Onion – I often take a shortcut and use chopped frozen onion. 
• Garlic – I use jarred but feel free to use fresh, or even powder if you want.
• Beef Broth – Low sodium is what I use to cut down on the sodium.
• Tomato Paste – This helps thicken the base of the stew and gives it a delicious flavor.
• Petite Diced Tomatoes – You can leave these out if you do not like chunks of tomatoes. You could also substitute tomato sauce.
• Sugar – This cuts the acidity in the sauce.
• Italian Seasoning – Just a little bit for flavor. 
• Garlic Salt – For flavor. I like to use Lawry’s. You can also use garlic powder.
• Black Pepper – Fresh ground is great but use what you have. 
• Onion Powder – You can also use dried minced if that is what you have.

 

How to make Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew

 

1. FULL RECIPE BELOW
2. Place your browned and drain ground beef in the crock pot.
3. Add your chopped potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, beef broth, tomato paste, petite tomatoes, sugar, italian seasoning, garlic salt, black pepper, and onion powder in the slow cooker.
4. Stir everything to combine. 
5. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours or until potatoes are tender.
6. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Want more Slow Cooker Dinners? Check these out!

• 25 Best Slow Cooker Soups, Stews, and Chilis
• Slow Cooker Mississippi Beef Stew

• Meatball Vegetable Soup

• Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Ham Soup
• Slow Cooker Chili Mac
• Easy 3 Ingredient Chili

Slow Cooker Poor Man's Stew

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

This Poor Man’s Stew is a delicious, comforting, hearty and budget friendly slow cooker meal.  Ground beef, potatoes and carrots slow cook in a savory tomato base.  This is always a family favorite.

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Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef, browned and drained
• 3 russet potatoes, peel and chopped
• 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes in juice
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Place your browned and drain ground beef in the slow cooker.
2. Add your chopped potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, beef broth, tomato paste, petite tomatoes, sugar, italian seasoning, garlic salt, black pepper, and onion powder in the slow cooker.
3. Stir everything to combine. 
4. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours or until potatoes are tender.

Notes

• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Add corn, peas or green beans if you like.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 344Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 906mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 6gSugar: 14gProtein: 27g