A hearty beef stew simmering away in a slow cooker is a classic comfort food that warms you up on a cold day. But when cooking small batches for just one or two people, a full recipe can lead to a ton of leftovers Mini slow cooker recipes are the perfect solution for making petite portions of favorite dishes like beef stew With a few simple adjustments, you can scale down the ingredients to create individualized stews cooked right in cute little mini crockpots.
Benefits of Mini Crockpot Beef Stew
Making mini crockpot beef stew has several advantages:
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Perfect single servings – No more giant pots of leftovers when cooking for yourself or one other person Mini crocks allow for properly portioned meals
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Customizable – Each mini crock can feature unique add-ins tailored to each person’s tastes. Add different veggies, seasonings, etc.
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Fun presentation – Individual stews in mini crocks look adorable and feel special served right at the table.
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Portable – Mini crocks keep stews hot for potlucks, parties, workplace lunches and other transporting.
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Cook evenly – With smaller crocks, the contents heat through properly without edges overcooking.
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Minimal clean-up – Only one or two small crocks to wash instead of a large stew pot.
Tips for Making Mini Beef Stews
Here are some helpful tips for achieving delicious results when adapting standard beef stew recipes for mini slow cookers:
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Cut ingredients into small pieces for even cooking. Chop veggies and meat into petite pieces that will fully cook through in less time.
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Reduce cook time since most mini crockpots only take 2-4 hours on high vs. 6-8 for full size. Check manufacturer guidance.
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Decrease liquids slightly to limit added broth or water since less evaporation occurs. Flavor concentrates in less time.
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Use small lean cuts like stew meat, beef tips or shredded beef rather than large chunks of meat.
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Season assertively with bold spices and herbs to prevent blandness. Go a touch heavier handed than with full batches.
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Finish with a slurry by mixing cornstarch with water to help thicken smaller amounts of liquid.
Easy Mini Beef Stew Recipe
This simple recipe makes two individual ~1 cup servings. Double it to make two mini crocks.
Ingredients:
- 3⁄4 pound beef stew meat, cubed
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 small potatoes, chopped
- 1⁄2 cup beef broth
- 1⁄4 cup red wine (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1⁄2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1⁄2 teaspoon thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Toss beef cubes with flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat and brown beef on all sides.
- Place onions in crockpot. Top with browned beef.
- Add carrots, potatoes, broth, wine, bay leaf, Worcestershire and thyme to crockpot.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours until beef and veggies are tender.
- Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- If needed, mix cornstarch with tablespoon of water. Stir into stew to thicken and cook 5 more minutes.
The small crocks concentrate flavor well in the reduced cook time. For variety, try swapping in different herbs, adding mushrooms, using red or sweet potatoes, or topping with biscuit dough the last 30 minutes.
More Mini Stew Recipe Ideas
The mini crockpot method works wonderfully with all kinds of stews beyond just beef. Consider these flavorful combinations:
- Chicken Stew – Diced chicken, peas, carrots, celery, pearl onions, thyme
- Pork Stew – Pork shoulder, parsnips, tomato, kale, oregano
- Lamb Stew – Lamb pieces, sweet potato, red onion, rosemary
- Vegetable Stew – Mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes, chickpeas, smoked paprika
Get creative with ingredients and seasonings. The mini crockpot makes whipping up personalized stews for one or two so fast and easy.
Tips for Cooking in Mini Crockpots
To get the most out of mini slow cookers for individual soups, stews, dips and more, keep these general guidelines in mind:
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Cut all ingredients into small, uniform pieces for even cooking.
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Limit added liquid to prevent spilling or boiling over.
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Cook on high heat for best results in 2-4 hours.
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Stir occasionally to distribute ingredients and prevent scorching on edges.
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Use metal utensils to cause less damage if scratching occurs.
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Allow proper ventilation and leave uncovered during cooking.
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Clean thoroughly after each use to prevent buildup.
Making diminutive dishes in mini crockpots allows you to enjoy short prep, hands-off cooking and perfect portions. Follow the easy mini beef stew recipe to enjoy this cozy classic without a week of leftovers. Your own personal hearty stew awaits!
Can I Freeze Beef Stew?
Yes, you can also freeze your leftovers in a freezer safe container. I try to plan for extras as the beef stew makes for a great lunch for my husband. It will last about 4 months in the freezer so I know that I can plan on him having a great lunch. See Crockpot Freezer Meals for all the tips.
The meat does not need to be browned before it’s added to the slow cooker. Some people think that coating the stew meat in a flour mixture and browning it (and deglazing the pan) before adding it to the crock pot adds a flavor to the stew and the flour thickens the sauce. I have tried it both ways and I don’t think it’s worth the time and dishes that it takes to brown the meat before adding it to the crock pot, so I skip this step. If you have a multi-cooker slow cooker that works as a stove top and crock pot than it would be easy to brown the meat on the sauté setting, then add in the other ingredients after you have browned the beef and switch it to the slow cooker setting.
I use 2 cups of water in the slow cooker for this easy beef stew recipe. I don’t like my stews to be soupy but I do want some liquid in the meal so through trial and error I have found that this is the just the right amount of liquid for the stews I’ve made. This recipe is packed with flavor so I generally just use water for this recipe. However, its a great idea to add in beef broth, beef bouillon, or red wine to add more flavor to this stew recipe.
We like to cook on low because we think it helps to tenderize the meat. But if you are short on time, cooking on high works great too.
Once the stew is done, if the gravy is too watery, add a cornstarch slurry to the crock pot to thicken beef stew. To make the corn starch slurry, I combine approximately ¼ cup of cold water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Then stir this mixture into the beef stew, cover and cook on high for 30 minutes to thicken the stew. Then serve the thickened beef stew over your favorite corn bread and enjoy!
This recipe can be made in an electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe is perfect for when you forget to throw the ingredients in the crock pot that morning. We have even made it in a dutch oven over medium-high heat.
What’s in this post: Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe
Making easy beef stew recipe in the crock pot is one my favorite meals. It is so filling that you really don’t have to plan on sides when you make this meal. The stew is filled with fork tender stew meat, potatoes, carrots and green beans. It is the best comfort food on a cold, fall day that taste amazing with the savory flavors.
The best part is that the crock pot does all the work for you. This easy beef stew in the slow cooker is on my meal rotation in the fall. Try one of our other Beef Stew Meat Recipes.
- Stew Meat – The best meat for this stew is chuck steak. I like finding the stew meat that is already cut up, and it will specifically say on the package stew meat.
- Frozen Green Beans – You can also use frozen peas.
- Whole Carrots – Chopped in bite size pieces. You can also use the baby carrots.
- Russet Potatoes – Cut in small pieces. You can also use red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes. But we think the best potatoes are Russet.
- Onion, chopped – You can chop these onions in smaller pieces or larger slices. It is up to you. My kids prefer that they are cut in smaller pieces.
- Crushed Tomatoes – You can also stew tomatoes as well. Use what you have.
- Worcestershire Sauce – This adds a some extra flavor. You can always omit this ingredient if you don’t have any.
That is all you need to make this delicious and easy crock pot beef stew. Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
~ beef stew in the mini crock-pot: a viewer request ~
FAQ
How to make the best beef stew in a slow cooker?
Cook the stew in the slow cooker: In a large slow cooker, add the celery, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, garlic, bay leaves, and beef stock. Add the browned beef and the onions and red wine from the skillet. Cover and cook on high for 5 to 6 hours or on low for 8 hours.
How long does a small joint of beef take to cook in slow cooker?
Heat on high for 4 hrs or low for 6 hrs until the beef is cooked and tender. Remove from the liquor, cover and leave to rest for 30 mins.
What can you use a mini slow cooker for?
- Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup For One.
- Slow Cooker Chickpeas For One.
- Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja For One.
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast.
- Mini Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl.
- Slow Cooker Ribs For One.
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili For One.
- Mini Slow Cooker Orange Chicken For One.
Is it better to cook stew on low or high in a slow cooker?
Cook it on low.
While many slow cooker recipes can be made on high for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend cooking this beef stew on low for the full 7-8 hours.
Can you cook stew meat in a crock pot?
Add the beef to the base of a Crock-Pot, top it with the cooking liquid, then other vegetables. The beef sits closest to the heating element at the base of the slow cooker, while the vegetables cook gently at the top. This yields meltingly tender beef and soft, not mushy vegetables. Do I have to brown stew meat before slow cooking?
How to make beef stew in a slow cooker?
The essential ingredients for a perfect beef stew in a slow cooker include tender chunks of beef, such as chuck or round, and a variety of vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and onions. You will also need some broth, preferably beef broth, and some seasonings like thyme and rosemary.
How much beef should I Cook in a slow cooker?
Size: Select a cut of beef that is the right size for your slow cooker. A good rule of thumb is to choose a cut of beef that is about 1-2 pounds. Some popular cuts of beef for stew include: Chuck: This cut of beef is perfect for stew, as it is tender and flavorful. Round: This cut of beef is leaner than chuck, but still packed with flavor.
Can you cook stew meat before slow cooking?
You can brown the stew meat before slow cooking, but it is not necessary. Searing meat caramelizes the surface, which contributes a savory element to a stew. In the absence of browning the meat in this recipe, the flavor is boosted by ingredients such as tomato paste, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, mushrooms and fresh thyme.
How do you cook beef in a slow cooker?
Here are the steps to follow: Add the Beef: Add the prepared beef to the slow cooker. Add the Aromatics and Vegetables: Add the aromatics and vegetables to the slow cooker. Add the Liquid and Seasonings: Add the liquid and seasonings to the slow cooker. Stir to Combine: Stir all the ingredients together to combine.
How long do you cook beef stew on low?
Cook on Low: Cook the stew on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6 hours. If you prefer a thicker stew, you can thicken it with a little cornstarch or flour. Here’s how: Mix the Cornstarch or Flour: Mix 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch or flour with a little water until smooth.