Description
Ultra-easy comfort food with tender beef, soft potatoes, and rich gravy — perfect for busy days. Just dump, cook, and enjoy.
🛒 Ingredients (4 Simple Items)
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1½–2 lbs beef stew meat or beef tips
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1½ lbs baby potatoes (halved if large)
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1 packet onion soup mix
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1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
Optional (not counted in 4): ½ cup beef broth for thinner gravy.
⏱ Cook Time
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Low: 7–8 hours
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High: 3–4 hours
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Add potatoes to bottom of slow cooker.
2️⃣ Place beef on top.
3️⃣ Sprinkle onion soup mix evenly.
4️⃣ Spread cream of mushroom soup over everything.
5️⃣ Cover and cook until beef is fork-tender.
6️⃣ Stir before serving to coat in gravy.
🍽 Texture Tip
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For thicker gravy → cook uncovered last 20 minutes.
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For thinner gravy → add beef broth at start.
📊 Approx Nutrition (Per Serving – 4 servings)
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Calories: 420–480
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Protein: 35–40g
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Carbs: 30–35g
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Fat: 18–22g
🔢 Estimated WW Points (Per Serving)
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Blue: 8–10 points
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Green: 9–12 points
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Purple: 7–9 points
(Using lean beef lowers points.)
💡 Variations
🥕 Add carrots (makes it 5 ingredients)
🧄 Add garlic for deeper flavor
🌿 Add thyme or rosemary
🥣 Serve over cauliflower mash (low-carb option)
🧊 Storage
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Fridge: 3–4 days
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Freezer: Up to 2 months
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Reheat gently to keep beef tender
Best Beef Cuts (Very Important)
✔ Chuck roast (cubed) → most tender & flavorful
✔ Stew meat → convenient but can vary in tenderness
✔ Sirloin tips → leaner, slightly firmer
Pro Tip:
If using stew meat, cook on LOW for best tenderness. High heat can make it tough.
🥔 Potato Options
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Baby Yukon Gold → creamy texture
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Red potatoes → hold shape well
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Russet → softer, thicker gravy
👉 Cut potatoes evenly for even cooking.
🧪 How to Thicken the Gravy (If Needed)
If gravy is too thin:
Option 1:
Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water → stir in → cook 20 mins more.
Option 2 (lower carb):
Use ½ tsp xanthan gum.
Option 3:
Remove lid last 30 minutes to reduce liquid naturally.
🧂 Flavor Boosters (Still Simple)
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1 tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp black pepper
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Fresh thyme or rosemary
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Splash Worcestershire sauce
These don’t change the simplicity but elevate flavor.
💪 Make It Healthier
✔ Use lean sirloin
✔ Use low-sodium soup & soup mix
✔ Add carrots or green beans for fiber
✔ Serve smaller portion + side salad
You can reduce calories by 60–100 per serving with leaner beef.
🩺 Is It Diabetic-Friendly?
⚠ Traditional version = moderate carbs (30–35g per serving from potatoes + soup)
To make better for blood sugar:
✔ Replace half the potatoes with cauliflower
✔ Use homemade mushroom sauce (no added sugar)
✔ Increase protein portion, reduce potatoes
Low-carb version can drop to 12–18g carbs per serving.
🔥 Common Mistakes
❌ Cooking on HIGH too long → tough beef
❌ Adding too much broth
❌ Cutting potatoes too small
❌ Not seasoning enough
🧊 Meal Prep Tips
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Tastes even better next day
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Freeze in portion containers
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Add splash of broth when reheating