Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Poor Man’s Stew: Hearty, Humble, and Deeply Satisfying

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) beef stew meat (or ground beef)
• 4–5 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 3–4 carrots, sliced
• 1 packet onion soup mix (about 1 oz / 28 g)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prep the ingredients
   Chop potatoes into chunks and slice the carrots. If using ground beef, brown it in a pan first and drain excess fat.
2. Layer in the slow cooker
   Add the beef, potatoes, and carrots to your slow cooker.
3. Season
   Sprinkle the onion soup mix evenly over everything.
4. Add liquid (optional but recommended)
   Pour in about 1 to 1½ cups (240–360 ml) of water or beef broth for a more stew-like consistency.
5. Cook
   • Low: 7–8 hours
   • High: 4–5 hours
     Cook until the meat is tender and vegetables are soft.
6. Stir and serve
   Mix everything well before serving. Taste and adjust salt/pepper if needed.

🍽️ Tips & Variations

• Add a handful of frozen peas or green beans in the last 30 minutes for extra veg.
• A splash of Worcestershire sauce deepens flavor.
• If you want it thicker, mash a few potatoes into the broth before serving.
• Substitute sweet potatoes for a slightly sweeter twist.

💡 Why it works

The onion soup mix acts as a seasoning shortcut, giving you a rich, slow-simmered flavor with almost no effort—perfect for a no-fuss, filling meal.