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Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef

Featured in Good Beef Meals.

This slow cooker beef recipe is all about maximum flavor with minimal effort. Bite-sized pieces of beef are quickly seared to lock in their juices, then slow cooked with baby potatoes in a rich garlic butter sauce until melt-in-your-mouth tender. The sauce is loaded with herbs and spices like thyme, rosemary, and smoked paprika that infuse everything with amazing flavor. As it cooks low and slow, the beef becomes incredibly tender while the potatoes soak up all that delicious sauce. It's the kind of meal that makes your whole house smell amazing and has everyone asking when dinner will be ready. Perfect for busy days since the slow cooker does all the work - just take 15 minutes to prep in the morning and come home to a hot, comforting dinner.
Soo Ben
Updated on Sat, 18 Jan 2025 03:42:15 GMT
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Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes | mamamiakitchen.com

A luxurious, slow-cooked meal that combines tender, juicy beef bites with perfectly seasoned potatoes, all swimming in a rich garlic butter sauce. This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dish while your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting. The gentle cooking process allows the beef to become incredibly tender while the potatoes soak up all those wonderful garlicky, buttery flavors.

I made this last Sunday when my in-laws came over unexpectedly. The slow cooker saved the day, and my father-in-law actually asked for the recipe - a rare compliment from a man who usually sticks to his own cooking!

Essential Ingredients Guide

  • Beef Chuck: Choose well-marbled pieces for the most tender result. Look for deep red color and white marbling throughout
  • Baby Potatoes: Select firm potatoes of similar size for even cooking. Their waxy texture helps them hold shape during long cooking
  • Butter: Real butter is essential - no substitutes! Use unsalted to control the seasoning
  • Fresh Garlic: Fresh cloves provide superior flavor to pre-minced versions. Choose firm, heavy heads
  • Fresh Herbs: They add brightness and color to the finished dish. Choose vibrant, crisp leaves

Detailed Instructions

Beef Preparation Magic
Pat meat completely dry with paper towels
Cut into uniform 1.5-inch pieces for even cooking
Season generously with salt and pepper
If time permits, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes
Optional: sear in batches until golden brown
Creating the Perfect Base
Layer potatoes at the bottom of your slow cooker
Arrange them in an even layer to promote uniform cooking
Season this layer with salt and pepper
Create small spaces between potatoes for sauce to flow
Garlic Butter Symphony
Slowly melt butter to prevent separation
Sauté garlic in butter until just fragrant
Add a pinch of salt to help release garlic oils
Let cool slightly before pouring over ingredients
The Long, Slow Cook
Cover and resist the urge to peek
Let cook undisturbed for optimal results
Check only in final hour for doneness
Look for fork-tender beef and soft potatoes
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Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes Recipe | mamamiakitchen.com

My grandmother always said that patience is the secret ingredient in slow cooking. She was right - I've learned that resisting the urge to lift the lid really does make a difference in the final texture of the meat.

The Power of Layering

Placing potatoes on the bottom serves two purposes: they become infused with the meat juices that drip down, and they help prevent the beef from sticking to the bottom of the cooker.

Mastering the Garlic Butter

The key to perfect garlic butter lies in not burning the garlic. I've found that melting the butter first, then adding the garlic off heat creates the perfect infusion without any bitterness.

The Art of Seasoning

Building flavor in layers makes all the difference. I've learned through many iterations that seasoning both the meat and potatoes separately ensures every bite is perfectly flavored.

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Easy Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes | mamamiakitchen.com

My final thoughts? This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes recipe proves that comfort food doesn't have to be complicated to be incredible. The combination of tender beef, creamy potatoes, and rich garlic butter creates a meal that feels special while being wonderfully simple to prepare.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I prepare this the night before?
Yes! Brown the meat and prep the sauce, then store separately in the fridge overnight. In the morning, add everything to your slow cooker and start cooking.
→ What's the best cut of beef to use?
Chuck roast or stew meat work great since they become tender with slow cooking. Just cut into even, bite-sized pieces for consistent cooking.
→ Can I add other vegetables?
Sure! Carrots, mushrooms, or pearl onions work great. Add them at the start with the potatoes for tender, flavorful veggies.
→ My sauce seems too thin - help!
Remove the lid for the last 30 minutes of cooking to help thicken the sauce. You can also stir in a splash of cream at the end.
→ What sides go well with this?
Try crusty bread for soaking up the sauce, a green salad, or steamed vegetables. The potatoes are already included so it's nearly a complete meal.

Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef

Juicy beef bites and potatoes slow cooked in garlic butter sauce - the perfect hands-off meal for busy weeknights or Sunday dinner.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
360 Minutes
Total Time
375 Minutes
By: Sou

Category: Beef

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings

Dietary: Gluten-Free

Ingredients

→ For the Meat & Potatoes

01 1½ pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized chunks
02 1 pound baby potatoes, cut in half
03 1 tablespoon olive oil for searing

→ For the Garlic Butter Sauce

04 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 3 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
06 1 teaspoon onion powder
07 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 ½ teaspoon dried thyme
09 ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
10 ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
11 ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
12 ¼ cup beef broth

Instructions

Step 01

Get your skillet nice and hot over medium-high heat with the olive oil. Brown those beef chunks until they're golden on all sides - about 2-3 minutes each side. This step adds tons of flavor! Transfer the meat to your slow cooker.

Step 02

Toss those halved baby potatoes right into the slow cooker with your browned beef.

Step 03

Mix up your sauce in a bowl - combine the melted butter, minced garlic, onion powder, that smoky paprika, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper until it's all well blended. Pour this beautiful mixture all over your beef and potatoes.

Step 04

Pour in the beef broth - this will help create that rich sauce as everything cooks.

Step 05

Cover your slow cooker and let everything cook on low for 6-8 hours (or 3-4 hours on high) until those beef bites are super tender and your potatoes are perfectly cooked through.

Notes

  1. For an extra rich sauce, stir in a splash of heavy cream during the last 30 minutes
  2. You can swap in sweet potatoes or carrots for regular potatoes if you like
  3. The meat should be fall-apart tender when done - if it's not, let it cook a bit longer

Tools You'll Need

  • Slow cooker or crockpot
  • Large skillet for searing
  • Mixing bowl
  • Measuring spoons and cups

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy (butter)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 430
  • Total Fat: 22 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 24 g
  • Protein: 34 g