Slow Cooked Beef Dinner (Printable Format)

Juicy beef chunks slow-cooked in a rich savory sauce until melt-in-your-mouth tender. A hands-off dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights.

# What You'll Gather:

→ For the Meat

01 - 2 pounds beef sirloin, chuck roast, or stew meat, cut into bite-sized chunks
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1-2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning, if you have time)

→ For the Sauce

05 - 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium works best)
06 - 1/4 cup soy sauce
07 - 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
08 - 3 tablespoons brown sugar
09 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
10 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
13 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (skip if you don't like heat)

→ Optional Add-ins

14 - 1 pound baby potatoes, cut in half
15 - 1 cup baby carrots
16 - 1 cup sliced mushrooms
17 - 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
18 - 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (to thicken sauce at the end)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Pat your beef chunks dry with paper towels (this helps them brown better). Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat all pieces evenly.
02 - Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches so you don't crowd the pan, quickly brown the meat on all sides. No need to cook it through - just get some color on it. This adds tons of flavor but honestly, if you're in a rush, you can skip this step.
03 - In a bowl, stir together the beef broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, tomato paste, minced garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, and red pepper flakes until well combined. Give it a taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
04 - Transfer the meat to your slow cooker. If you're adding vegetables, scatter them around and on top of the meat. Pour the sauce over everything, making sure all the meat gets coated.
05 - Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The meat is ready when it's fork-tender and practically melts in your mouth when you test a piece.
06 - About 20 minutes before serving, if you'd like a thicker gravy-like sauce, mix cornstarch with cold water until smooth, then stir this mixture into the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 15-20 more minutes until the sauce thickens up nicely.
07 - Spoon these tender beef bites and the rich sauce over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley if you're feeling fancy, then dig in while it's hot!

# Important Tips:

01 - This recipe is perfect for meal prep - it actually tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to meld.
02 - You can freeze portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months for quick weeknight dinners.
03 - For a complete one-pot meal, add your favorite vegetables directly to the crockpot with the meat.

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