Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew is made from scratch with ground beef to save money. A very hearty meal with very little effort or money.
We love easy stew recipes like this one, Shipwreck Stew or A-1 Beef Stew for an easy hearty dinner.
Looking for a budget meal this week? I made this Poor Man’s Stew for $6.24 and it feeds 5 people! I put ground beef, russet potatoes, carrots, onions, a garlic clove (not pictured, I had this on hand), tomato paste, water and seasoning in my slow cooker simmered it all day to make this Hearty Poor Man’s Stew.
The inspiration for this meal came from my favorite old movie The Princess Bride. I made a stew similar to the one seen in the movie where Fezzic (Andre the Giant)
What makes this meal budget friendly ?
- Fresh vegetables – I bought just what I needed for this recipe though you can buy large bags of potatoes and carrots and your price will go down.
- Look for ground beef a roll, it’s almost always cheaper than beef in trays.
- Dried spices are alway cheaper than fresh and last for years for other recipes as well.
- I use water instead of broth in this recipe to cut down on the cost, though broth can be used if desired.
How to make Poor Man’s Stew:
You will need these ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef browned and drained
- 1.5 lbs potatoes, diced large
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove minced (I had this on hand already)
- 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
Directions:
- Brown the beef in a skillet on the stove-top, drain fat.
- Add the beef to the slow cooker along with the potatoes, onions, carrots, and garlic.
- In a small bowl whisk together the tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, onion powder, and oregano. Pour this mixture over everything in the slow cooker. Stir.
How long do I cook poor man’s stew?
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until the potatoes are tender.
- Serve in bowls and enjoy!
More stew recipes you’ll want to try!
Slow Cooker Classical Beef Stew - Slow Cooker A.1. Beef Stew
- Witches Brew Stew
- Slow Cooker Beefy Bacon Man Stew
- Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew
- Slow Cooker Shipwreck Stew
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Stew
- Slow Cooker Farmers Market Beef Stew
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Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker – 5 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef browned and drained
- 1 1/2 lbs potatoes diced large
- 3 carrots sliced
- 1 onion diced
- 1 garlic clove minced (I had this on hand already)
- 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
Instructions:
- Add the cooked ground beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic to a 5-quart or larger slow cooker.
- In a small bowl whisk together the tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, onion powder and oregano. Pour this mixture over everything in the slow cooker. Stir.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve with buttered sandwich bread. Enjoy!
I have been making this for 40+ years as did my MIL before that!! We use tomato sauce instead of soup and add a little chili powder to the mix…Not enough to make it tastes like chili but just enough to give it some flavor! We have always called it Irish Stew!!
Can this be made in the oven at low temperature if I don’t have a slow cooker? Can you recommend a temperature and cooking time? Thanks
Hi! I can’t say without testing it I apolgize.
Can u cook on high setting for 4 hours
Yes, that should work fine.
Love this recipe! I just substitute a can of diced tomatoes with chilis and a can of beef broth for the tomato paste and water. I also do the corn starch slurry at the end.
What if you don’t have a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker? I have a 3 quart slow cooker and i’m looking for ideas to cook more things in it
Hi! You may need to scale back the recipes to make them fit.
Looking at other’s comments about quality and price, this is still a very economical recipe even if you use organic ingredients. I’ve been trying to buy higher quality ingredients lately as it’s healthier for us all and when I broke down this recipe I’m still only spending $12.50 for dinner to feed my family of 6. That’s $2 per person!! Incredible!! It’s Whole30 approved also! I used ButcherBox grass fed beef, organic onion, carrots and potatoes. Also used organic beef bone broth instead of water. Dried herbs. Any fast food around us is going to cost my family of 6 $50 or more, easily. Thanks for sharing better options that are easy on the wallet.
what variety of potatoes are recommended? I ask because there is a huge difference in potato starch and sugars which can make or break a slow cooker recipe. thanks!!
I used russet for this, but any will work. Though russets seem to break apart more easily.
If you add 1 TBSP of vinegar to the pot it will help keep the potatoes for turning to mush but they will still be soft and edible. Apple Cider Vinegar is a good one for stews.
That is why I add the potatoes 1 1/2 HR before it is done so they don’t fall apart.
I have been making this for a few years now. It is definitely a go-to in our family. It’s my daughter’s favorite dish. I have adapted it to our taste over time. I used it as a base and have done a few variations over the years. If you don’t like something, or allergic, or whatever the case may be, just tweak it to your liking. That’s the beauty of being able to adapt things. Thank you so much for a wonderful recipe that we love very much.