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Home » Recipes » This Crock Pot Poor Man’s Stew is a Big Money Saver!

This Crock Pot Poor Man’s Stew is a Big Money Saver!

Filed Under: Dinner, Slow Cooker and Freezer Meals November 17, 2023

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As the air turns crisp and the desire for hearty, comforting meals grows, enter the Crock pot Poor Man’s Stew—a budget-friendly delight that warms both body and soul. This recipe not only embraces simplicity but also utilizes the convenience of a crockpot, making it a perfect set-it-and-forget-it option for busy fall and winter days.

crock pot poor man's stew in a crock pot

Affordable Ingredients

Start by making this stew your own with a pound of ground beef, or get creative with ground venison, turkey, or chicken—the choice is yours. This versatile stew adapts to what’s in your pantry, proving that a delicious, satisfying meal doesn’t have to break the bank.

Crafting a Flavorful Meal

  1. Brown and Drain: Begin by browning your chosen meat, whether it’s ground beef, venison, turkey, or chicken. Feel free to drain any excess fat if you prefer a leaner dish.
  2. Crockpot Magic: Transfer the browned meat to the welcoming embrace of your crockpot.
  3. Vegetable Symphony: Introduce the starring vegetables—sliced carrots, cubed potatoes, diced onions, and minced garlic. These simple ingredients form the heart of the stew.
  4. Sauce Alchemy: In a separate bowl, mix water with tomato paste, pepper, salt, Italian seasoning, and onion powder. This concoction becomes the soul-soothing sauce that envelops the stew in a flavorful embrace.
  5. Pour and Set: Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables in the crockpot, setting the stage for a slow-cooked symphony of flavors.
  6. Low and Slow: Let the crockpot work its magic on low heat for approximately 6 hours. During this time, the carrots and potatoes will reach the pinnacle of tenderness, and the flavors will meld into a comforting stew.
  7. Serve with a Side of Ease: This set-it-and-forget-it stew is not only delicious but also incredibly convenient. Pair it with crackers or rolls for a complete and satisfying meal.

Why This Stew Shines

crock pot poor man's stew in a bowl

The Crockpot Poor Man’s Stew is a shining example of how simplicity, affordability, and convenience can come together to create a meal that’s perfect for the season. It’s a hearty and flavorful option that won’t strain your budget or your schedule.

As you savor each spoonful of this Crockpot Poor Man’s Stew, relish in the fact that a delicious and nourishing meal doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Let this recipe become a fall and winter staple, bringing warmth and joy to your table with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

FOR MORE INEXPENSIVE FAMILY RECIPES CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS:

  • 3 Delicious Pantry Friendly Meals
  • 105 Meals for $115 – Feeding My Family For a week
  • The Top 10 Secrets to saving big on food!

MORE WEEKNIGHT RECIPES TO TRY:

  • Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
  • Cheesy Tortellini Bake(My Kids LOVE THIS!)
  • Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas! (These are SO EASY!)
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crock pot poor man's stew in the slow cooker

Crock Pot Poor Man’s Stew


  • Author: Maria Ronan
  • Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
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Description

Embrace the simplicity and warmth of the season with the crockpot Poor Man’s Stew. Whether you opt for ground beef, venison, turkey, or chicken, this budget-friendly stew combines earthy flavors of carrots, potatoes, and a savory tomato-based sauce. The slow cooker does the work for you, creating a hearty, set-it-and-forget-it meal that’s perfect for chilly fall and winter nights. Just chop, cook, and savor the rich flavors with every comforting spoonful.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (or ground venison, turkey, or chicken)
  • 3 large carrots, sliced
  • 1.5 to 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 yellow onion, diced (or 1 teaspoon onion powder)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 2 cups water
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 0.5 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef (or preferred meat) in a pan, draining excess fat if necessary.

  2. Transfer the browned meat to the bottom of a crockpot.

  3. Add sliced carrots, cubed potatoes, diced onion, and minced garlic to the crockpot.

  4. In a separate bowl, mix water with tomato paste, pepper, salt, Italian seasoning, and onion powder to create a flavorful sauce.

  5. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables in the crockpot.

  6. Cook on low for approximately 6 hours, allowing the carrots and potatoes to cook through and the flavors to meld.

  7. Serve this hearty and flavorful stew with crackers or rolls for a satisfying and budget-friendly meal.

  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 6 hours

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Maria Ronan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links on this site may include affiliate links to Amazon and its affiliate sites on which the owner of this website will make a referral commission. Thank you for supporting Meals With Maria! My videos and website are for entertainment purposes only. Any information related to food, food safety, cooking, recipes, etc. are my opinions only. Maria Ronan is not liable and/or responsible for any advice, services, or product you obtain through this video and website.

Tagged With: crock pot, crockpot, dinner, ground beef, poor man's, poor man's stew, slow cooker

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Welcome to Meals with Maria! I’m Maria, a passionate home cook and mom on a mission to help you make everyday healthy meals simple, and holiday indulgence special. As a wife and mother of three boys, I know how important it is to balance nourishing your family with meals that are easy to prepare and budget-friendly — while still savoring the joy of holiday treats and meals out. Read More…

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