Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Tender, juicy beef bites simmered in a rich garlic butter sauce with potatoes. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly tender beef every time. The golden, crispy edges and the cozy, comforting aroma will make your home feel like a warm hug. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card below. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup for Cozy Weeknight Dinner and Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe.
Why This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Tender, flavorful beef bites in a rich garlic butter sauce
- Easy, hands-off cooking in the slow cooker
- Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping
- Better than takeout and way more affordable
What You'll Need for Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Beef stew meat
- Baby potatoes
- Garlic
- Butter
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dried thyme
- Dried rosemary
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Beef stew meat: Cut into bite-sized pieces if large
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow cooker — Cooks meat to perfection with minimal effort → See on Amazon
- Meat tenderizer — Helps break down tougher cuts for extra tender beef → See on Amazon
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
- Step 1: Season beef bites with salt, pepper, onion powder, and paprika. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned on all sides. Transfer beef to slow cooker.
- Step 2: Add potatoes, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and 1/2 cup water to slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Step 3: Once done, stir beef and potatoes to combine with the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Overcrowding the slow cooker can lead to uneven cooking. Make sure to cut your beef into bite-sized pieces and layer them with the potatoes for even cooking.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, deglaze the skillet used for browning the beef with a little white wine or chicken broth before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe even more flavorful, add a bay leaf to the slow cooker and remove it before serving.
Storing & Reheating Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the beef and potatoes ahead of time and store them in the fridge overnight. Add them to the slow cooker in the morning and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Freezing Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked beef and potatoes separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For extra tender beef, marinate the beef bites in buttermilk for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the baby potatoes with diced sweet potatoes or carrots for a different flavor profile.
- Make-ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. Cook a large batch and portion it out for easy grab-and-go lunches.
- Troubleshooting: If your beef is still tough after cooking, try adding a little more water to the slow cooker and cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
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Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Beef stew meat
- Baby potatoes
- Garlic
- Butter
Seasonings
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dried thyme
- Dried rosemary
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Season beef bites with salt, pepper, onion powder, and paprika. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned on all sides. Transfer beef to slow cooker.
- Step 2: Add potatoes, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and 1/2 cup water to slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Step 3: Once done, stir beef and potatoes to combine with the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra tender beef, marinate the beef bites in buttermilk for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the baby potatoes with diced sweet potatoes or carrots for a different flavor profile.
- Make-ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. Cook a large batch and portion it out for easy grab-and-go lunches.
- Troubleshooting: If your beef is still tough after cooking, try adding a little more water to the slow cooker and cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked beef and potatoes separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the beef and potatoes ahead of time and store them in the fridge overnight. Add them to the slow cooker in the morning and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 100mg
- Sat. Fat: 10g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, you can! Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
Overcooking or not using a tender cut of beef can lead to tough beef. Make sure to use beef stew meat and adjust the cooking time if needed.
Yes, you can! Cook at 325°F (165°C) for 2-3 hours or until the beef is tender.
Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free. Just make sure to use gluten-free seasonings and check that your beef is not processed with any gluten-containing agents.
Simply double or triple the ingredients and cook in a larger slow cooker or in multiple slow cookers. You can also prepare the beef and potatoes ahead of time and cook them in the slow cooker when needed.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
