Description
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes is a comforting, easy-to-make hearty meal featuring tender stew beef and baby potatoes cooked low and slow in a flavorful garlic butter sauce with smoky paprika and herbs. Perfect for busy days, this dish is packed with rich, savory flavors and requires minimal prep, making it an ideal family-friendly recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Potatoes
- 1.5 lbs stew beef (chuck or round)
- 1.5 lbs baby potatoes (scrubbed clean; halve larger ones)
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
- ½ cup salted butter (melted)
- 6 garlic cloves (minced, or 1.5 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or rosemary)
- 1 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Layer the Potatoes: Place the baby potatoes in the bottom of your slow cooker. Sprinkle lightly with a pinch of salt and pepper to season.
- Season the Beef: In a large bowl, toss the stew beef with smoked paprika, dried thyme, 1 tsp kosher salt, and ½ tsp black pepper until the pieces are evenly coated with the spices.
- Assemble in the Slow Cooker: Scatter the seasoned beef evenly over the potatoes. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Pour this garlic butter mixture evenly over the beef and potatoes in the slow cooker.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours. Avoid stirring during cooking to keep the potatoes intact and prevent them from becoming mushy.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked, gently stir everything to coat the beef and potatoes with the garlic butter sauce. Serve in bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Pair with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Notes
- Halve larger baby potatoes to ensure even cooking; smaller ones can be left whole.
- Worcestershire sauce adds savory depth balancing the butter’s richness.
- If the sauce is too thin after cooking, thicken by mixing 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water; stir into the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes.
- Prep ingredients the night before and refrigerate to save time on the day of cooking.
- Use thawed beef for even cooking and better sauce consistency.
- Add vegetables like carrots, green beans, or mushrooms during the last hour of cooking for variation.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently on stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7-8 hours on LOW or 4-5 hours on HIGH
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef, baby potatoes, easy dinner, slow cooker recipe, comfort food, beef stew, crockpot meals
