Slow Cooker Shipwreck Stew
52 Comments Jun 23, 2024
Updated Mar 23, 2025
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This flavorful Slow Cooker Shipwreck Stew is a hearty, one-pot meal loaded with ground beef, tender potatoes, and kidney beans. Easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser—perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a hungry family.
Table of Contents
Shipwreck Stew is a vintage comfort food classic made with ground beef, potatoes, beans, and veggies—all seasoned and slow-cooked to perfection in the crockpot. It’s easy to prep and lets the flavors come together beautifully as it simmers. This recipe has a unique flavor, tastes like soup, stew and chili combined, — it’s good!
Despite the name, there’s nothing disastrous about this dish! Everything blends into a hearty, satisfying meal the whole family will love. If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to check out my Hobo Soup—it has a similar flavor and just as much cozy appeal.
Key Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients to make this shipwreck casserole, see the recipe card below the images for the full recipe.
- Ground Beef: I use 10% fat for this recipe, which yields less grease when cooking.
- Veggies: Russet potatoes, white onion, celery, and mushrooms.
- Dark Red Kidney Beans: such a unique recipe for a stew, but really fits with the other ingredients.
- Tomato Soup: I like to use Campbell’s brand. Some readers use spicy tomato soup.
- Taco Seasoning Packet: Adds delicious Tex-Mex flavor without being overbearing.
Variations
You can change this recipe up! Here are my approved changes:
- You can add diced tomatoes, green beans or a can of corn.
- You can use pinto beans or black beans instead of kidney.
- Of course, you can use ground turkey or chicken, but the flavor will defer.
How to make Shipwreck Stew
Step One – Brown the ground beef in a skillet and add to the slow cooker with the remaining ingredients, stir.
Step Two – Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
My Serving Suggestions
Here is how my family eats this shipwreck stew
- Great as is or topped with cheese, sour cream, freshly chopped cilantro, and/or a dash of hot sauce.
- Serve over rice for an even heartier meal.
- Make it a complete meal by pairing it with a light side salad, cornbread, garlic bread, or a roasted veggie like Brussels sprouts.
Recipe FAQs
Place any remaining stew in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Or in the freezer for up to three months. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed throughout.
Yes. Leave out the ground beef and add other vegetables if desired such as green beans and carrots!
Try another stew recipe:
If you’re looking for a hearty and comforting meal, there are plenty of crockpot stews to choose from.
- Witches Brew Stew has a fun name but is a simple, flavorful mix of beef, vegetables, and broth. If you’re in the mood for something different, Slow Cooker Split Pea Stew is a creamy and comforting option made with peas, ham, and simple seasonings.
- Poor Man’s Stew is a budget-friendly option made with ground beef, potatoes, and carrots in a tomato-based sauce. Sweet Potato Beef Stew adds a touch of sweetness with tender beef and soft sweet potatoes in a well-seasoned broth.
- For a classic choice, Slow Cooker Beef Stew combines chunks of beef, potatoes, and carrots in a rich, savory sauce. Slow Cooker Camp Stew is a hearty mix of shredded meat, tomatoes, and beans with a smoky, barbecue-style flavor.
Reader Reviews
“Finally made the shipwreck stew! The wife and I loved it. It was something different for a change. Thanks Sarah…” – Dave
“Great stew! Textures are great! A real comfort food!” – Anonymous
Slow Cooker Shipwreck Stew Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef, (I used 10% fat)
- 3 medium russet potatoes, sliced
- 1 white onion, diced
- 2 celery ribs, sliced
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 15 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 21 oz. Campbell’s tomato soup, (two 10.5 oz. cans)
- 1 oz. packet taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups water
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet on the stovetop until cooked through, drain. Add to the slow cooker
- Add the remaining ingredients, stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Stir, and serve! Great as is or topped with cheese.
Sarah’s Notes
- You can add diced tomatoes, green beans or a can of corn.
- You can use pinto beans or black beans instead of kidney.
- Of course, you can use ground turkey or chicken, but the flavor will defer.
- Great as is or topped with cheese, sour cream, freshly chopped cilantro, and/or a dash of hot sauce.
- Serve over rice for an even heartier meal.
- Make it a complete meal by pairing it with a light side salad, cornbread, garlic bread, or a roasted veggie like Brussels sprouts.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Are you meant ti add some gravy or anything in when you add it all to the slow cooker??
Wont it just burn i cant say anything that says to add any kind of liquid other than the soup???
See the recipe card, there is water to be added to the recipe.
So happy to see this recipe again. My mother had that cookbook now I have it from the 1050s. It’s is a family favorite and I am now 80 years old.love your recipes.
I don’t like mushrooms. What can I substitute for them?
You can leave them out, you can also add corn or fresh green beans to this if you want more veggies.
I made this with Spicy Campbell’s Soup because we like spicy food, it came out awesome! Thank you for this recipe, everyone loved it.
I didn’t know spicy was an option! I will try!
I’m using 2 lbs. ground meat — use 2 taco seasoning packets too? Afraid it will be bland if I don’t.
I would. Or at least one and a half.
I’m interested in making this anyone make it with chicken?
My mom made it with chicken before, not bad!
Hi Sarah! I’m making the ship wreck stew tomorrow I only have gold potatoes because we like those best will those work?!
Those potatoes will work great!
All in slow cooker ready for this evening I didn’t put the kidney beans in as I’m the only one that likes them so fingers crossed everyone enjoys it.
I’ve made this via the original recipe (no taco seasoning or water) in the oven and I want to do the same in the slowcooker. Do you think I need to add any water? I don’t want it like a stew, but like the original casserole.
You can, just add a touch of water and cut the potatoes very thin.