Description
Tender beef bites cooked slowly in a rich garlic butter sauce with perfectly cooked baby potatoes, making a comforting and easy slow cooker dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1.5 pounds baby potatoes, halved
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Cut beef chuck roast into 1-inch cubes if not pre-cut. Rinse baby potatoes and halve them. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown beef cubes in batches, about 3-4 minutes per batch, until crust forms. Transfer browned beef to slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic. Stir occasionally until butter melts and garlic is fragrant and slightly golden, about 2 minutes. Avoid burning garlic.
- Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up browned bits from skillet. Stir in fresh thyme and bring to a gentle simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour garlic butter sauce over beef in slow cooker. Add halved potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (start with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper).
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until beef is fork-tender and potatoes are soft but intact.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. For thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir into slow cooker. Cook on high for 15 more minutes.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and sauce to thicken slightly.
Notes
Do not burn the garlic when making the sauce; keep heat medium or lower and stir often. Browning the beef before slow cooking adds significant flavor. Use fresh garlic for best taste. Let the dish rest 10 minutes before serving. For thicker sauce, use cornstarch slurry and cook on high for 15 minutes. Adjust seasoning as you go.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6th of recipe
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker, beef bites, garlic butter, potatoes, easy dinner, comfort food, crockpot recipe