Description
Hearty Poor Man’s Stew brings comfort and nostalgia to dinner tables with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor. Budget-friendly ground beef, potatoes, and carrots simmer slowly, creating a satisfying meal that warms souls and stretches dollars.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 lbs (907 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 2 medium carrots (diced)
- 4 medium russet potatoes (peeled and diced)
Seasonings and Liquid:
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) hot water
- 4 drops Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and thoroughly brown the ground beef, ensuring no pink remains visible.
- Drain excess fat from the meat using a colander, then carefully transfer the cooked ground beef into the slow cooker.
- Peel and dice potatoes into uniform 1-inch (2.5 centimeters) cubes, creating consistent cooking time for each piece.
- Slice carrots and finely chop onions into similar-sized pieces to promote even cooking and balanced flavor distribution.
- Layer the diced potatoes, carrots, and onions directly over the browned ground beef in the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle dried oregano, onion powder, and garlic powder evenly across the vegetable and meat mixture, ensuring thorough seasoning.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together tomato paste, water, beef bouillon granules, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and well-combined.
- Gently pour the liquid mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker, making sure all components are partially submerged.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low temperature for 6 to 7 hours, or on high temperature for 3 to 4 hours, until vegetables are tender.
- Thirty minutes before serving, create a cornstarch slurry by whisking cornstarch with cold water until completely smooth.
- Stir the cornstarch mixture into the stew, allowing it to thicken and develop a rich, hearty consistency.
- Serve piping hot, accompanied by crusty bread or spooned over steamed white rice for a complete, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Wallet-friendly comfort food that transforms simple ingredients into a hearty, satisfying meal.
- Perfectly designed for busy home cooks who crave delicious, budget-conscious dinners with minimal prep time.
- Slow cooking method ensures tender meat and deeply melded flavors without constant monitoring.
- Adaptable recipe welcomes kitchen creativity by allowing vegetable swaps or protein variations.
- Freezer-friendly option makes meal planning easier, with leftovers storing beautifully for future quick reheats.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking, Steaming, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg