4.5 from 42 votes
Poor Man's Stew (In The Slow Cooker)
Cozy and comforting, this hearty slow cooker Poor Man's Stew recipe is not only easy to make, it includes budget-friendly ingredients. Make a big pot of this stew in your slow cooker full of ingredients like tender potatoes and flavorful ground beef that both kids and adults will enjoy on a cold day.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
Total Time
6 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 408 kcal
Course:
Soup , Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef browned and drained
- 3 large Russet potatoes peeled and chopped
- 3 large carrots peeled and chopped
- 1 small onion chopped, or half of a medium onion
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes in juice canned, include tomato juice don't strain
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- parsley optional garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet brown the ground beef until cooked all the way through. Drain any excess grease well from the beef. Place the cooked ground beef in the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Chop potatoes, carrots and onions into chunks that are about an inch big, small enough to fit on a spoon.
- Add chopped potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, beef broth, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes with the juice to the slow cooker. Add sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, black pepper, and onion powder in the slow cooker.
- Stir everything in the slow cooker to combine, then cover the slow cooker.
- Turn the slow cooker to low heat and cook for 6 hours. You can also cook on high heat for 4 hours. The potatoes will be fork-tender when finished. Scoop and enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- I know to some people sugar can seem like an odd ingredient in this recipe. Sugar can help to balance the acidic taste of the tomatoes to make the overall taste more flavorful. If you prefer you can add the sugar after the dish has cooked and add just a pinch at a time stirred in to your taste.
- A pinch of baking soda can also help to balance the acidity if you prefer not to use sugar. Use the baking soda very sparingly (start with 1/8 teaspoon) or it can make the whole stew taste bitter, too salty, or both.
- If you don't have a slow cooker I've included directions further up the page for how to make this recipe on your stove top.
Nutrition Information
Calories
408kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
49g
(16%)
Protein
20g
(40%)
Fat
16g
(25%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
54mg
(18%)
Sodium
1287mg
(54%)
Potassium
1584mg
(45%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
10g
(20%)
Vitamin A
6542IU
(131%)
Vitamin C
26mg
(29%)
Calcium
104mg
(10%)
Iron
5mg
(28%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 408
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 408kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 49g | 16% |
| Protein | 20g | 40% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 54mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 1287mg | 54% |
| Potassium | 1584mg | 34% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 6542IU | 131% |
| Vitamin C | 26mg | 29% |
| Calcium | 104mg | 10% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.