Description
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes is a comforting, hearty dish perfect for an easy weeknight meal. Tender stew beef bites are seasoned with smoky paprika and thyme, then slow-cooked alongside baby potatoes in a rich garlic butter sauce infused with beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. This no-fuss recipe yields flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth beef and perfectly cooked potatoes, ideal for serving with crusty bread to soak up every delicious drop.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Potatoes
- 1.5 lbs stew beef (chuck or round work perfectly)
- 1.5 lbs baby potatoes (scrubbed clean; halve larger ones)
Seasonings and Sauce
- 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium if preferred)
- ½ cup salted butter (melted)
- 6 garlic cloves (minced, or 1.5 tsp garlic powder as substitute)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or rosemary as an alternative)
- 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 start building the base flavor.
- 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 meat is evenly coated with the spices to enhance the flavor.
- Assemble in the Slow Cooker: Scatter the seasoned beef bites evenly over the layered potatoes. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Pour this flavorful mixture evenly over the beef and potatoes.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or 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, give everything a gentle stir to coat the beef and potatoes in the rich garlic butter sauce. Serve in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley if desired, and pair with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Notes
- Halve larger baby potatoes so they cook evenly; smaller ones can be left whole.
- Don’t skip the Worcestershire sauce – it adds savory depth that balances the richness of the butter.
- If the sauce is too thin after cooking, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water and stir it in, then cook on HIGH for 15 minutes to thicken.
- Prep ingredients the night before and store in the fridge to save time in the morning.
- Use thawed beef for best results to avoid excess liquid diluting the sauce.
- Add vegetables like carrots, green beans, or mushrooms in the last hour, but avoid watery vegetables early on to prevent sogginess.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat gently on the stove or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7-8 hours (low) or 4-5 hours (high)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker beef, garlic butter beef bites, baby potatoes, slow cooked beef recipe, easy beef dinner, one pot meal, crockpot beef and potatoes
