Slow Cooker Beef, Potato & Vegetable Stew

 Ingredients

Main ingredients

• 500 g (1.1 lb) lean ground beef

• 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 2–3 cm cubes

• 1½ cups canned corn, drained

• 1½ cups canned green beans, drained

• 1 can (400 g / 14 oz) diced tomatoes

• 1 can (400 g / 14 oz) tomato sauce

• 3 cups (720 ml) beef broth

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt, or to taste

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning

• ½ tsp dried oregano

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional, for richer flavor)

• 1 bay leaf

• ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)

For serving

• Shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese

• Fresh parsley, chopped

• Crusty bread

 Full Method

1. Brown the beef

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.

Drain excess fat.

For extra flavor, sauté the diced onion with the beef for the final 3–4 minutes, then add the garlic for another 30 seconds.

2. Prepare the slow cooker

Add to your slow cooker:

1. Potatoes

2. Cooked ground beef and onion

3. Corn

4. Green beans

5. Diced tomatoes

6. Tomato sauce

7. Beef broth

Add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and all seasonings.

Stir everything together.

3. Slow cook

Cover and cook:

LOW: 6–8 hours
HIGH: 3–4 hours

The stew is ready when the potatoes are fork-tender and the flavors have melded together.

Remove the bay leaf before serving.

4. Adjust the consistency

For a thicker stew, mix:

• 1 tbsp cornstarch

• 2 tbsp cold water

Stir together until smooth, then add to the slow cooker during the last 20–30 minutes of cooking.

Alternatively, mash a few potato pieces directly into the stew to thicken it naturally.

5. Serve

Ladle into bowls and top with:

• Shredded cheddar cheese

• Fresh parsley

• Freshly cracked black pepper

Serve with warm crusty bread.

 Nut Information

Nuts: No peanuts or tree nuts in the recipe as written.

Contains: Beef and dairy if cheese is used.

Gluten: The stew itself can be gluten-free, but check the labels on beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato products and seasonings, as some brands may contain gluten-containing ingredients.

Easy substitutions

• Ground turkey: substitute 1:1 for beef.

• Fresh vegetables: use fresh corn and green beans instead of canned.

• More vegetables: add carrots, peas or celery.

• Spicy: add jalapeño or extra chili flakes.

• Dairy-free: simply omit the cheese.

• Lower-carb: replace some or all potatoes with cauliflower or additional green beans.