If you’re craving an absolutely irresistible comfort meal that fills your kitchen with mouthwatering aromas, look no further than Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes. This recipe is the ultimate fix-it-and-forget-it dinner, loaded with tender beef, buttery potatoes, and a luscious garlic butter sauce. Every bite is pure cozy magic, perfect for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays when you want big flavor with minimal effort. Whether you’re serving the whole family or looking for a crowd-pleaser for your next potluck, this dish is guaranteed to disappear fast!
Ingredients You’ll Need
What makes Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes shine is how a handful of simple, power-packed ingredients come together. Each one brings something special — from richness, to sharp flavor, to gorgeous color. Here’s what you’ll need and why every component matters:
- Beef stew meat: Opt for well-marbled pieces; they turn meltingly tender in the slow cooker.
- Baby potatoes: Halved to soak up all the buttery juices and cook evenly alongside the beef.
- Butter: Melted for that classic garlic butter flavor that brings everything together.
- Fresh garlic: The star aromatic — minced for maximum punch and mellowed as it cooks.
- Worcestershire sauce: Deepens the beefy flavor and adds a subtle tang that wakes up the whole dish.
- Onion powder: Rounds out the flavors with gentle sweetness and depth.
- Italian seasoning: A blend of dried herbs that brings a fresh, herby note to every bite.
- Paprika: Adds a lovely warmth and enhances the color of the beef bites.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential for seasoning, allowing all the flavors to pop.
- Fresh parsley: Chopped and sprinkled over the top for a burst of color and a little fresh flavor right before serving.
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes
Step 1: Prep the Beef and Potatoes
First off, grab your beef stew meat and baby potatoes. Cut the beef into bite-size pieces for maximum tenderness and easy eating, and halve the baby potatoes so they’ll cook at the same pace as the beef. Layer them together in the bottom of your slow cooker — this helps everything cook evenly and soak up all those savory juices.
Step 2: Whip Up the Garlic Butter Sauce
In a small bowl, combine your melted butter, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Give it a good mix to turn it into one powerhouse of a sauce. This beautiful golden mixture is the flavor backbone of your Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes, letting every ingredient shine.
Step 3: Toss and Coat
Pour the garlic butter mixture right over your beef and potatoes in the slow cooker. Use a big spoon or your clean hands to gently toss everything, making sure each piece gets coated. The goal is even coverage so that every bite is bursting with garlicky, buttery deliciousness.
Step 4: Slow Cook Until Tender
Put the lid on and set your slow cooker to low for 6–7 hours, or high for 3–4 hours. This gentle cooking time makes the beef perfectly tender and lets the potatoes soak up all that savory goodness. Don’t lift the lid too often — keeping the steam inside makes the magic happen!
Step 5: Finishing Touches
Once everything is fork-tender and your kitchen smells insanely good, gently stir to combine all the flavors. Right before serving, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top. This final flourish adds freshness, color, and a little lift to your Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes
Garnishes
Fresh parsley is a classic, adding brightness and a bit of crunch. For an even bigger flavor boost, you can add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving. A twist of cracked black pepper also looks and tastes wonderful atop this dish.
Side Dishes
This dish is hearty enough to stand alone, but pairing it with a crisp green salad, steamed green beans, or roasted carrots makes for a beautifully balanced meal. If you want to double down on comfort, some crusty bread is perfect for sopping up every last drop of that garlic butter sauce!
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving your Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes in individual bowls with a swirl of the buttery sauce. For a cozy, rustic vibe, pile everything onto a large platter and place it in the centre of the table for family-style serving. You could even tuck the beef and potatoes into crusty rolls with some of the sauce for a hearty sandwich twist that’s great for leftovers.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Let everything cool before transferring to an airtight container. Store Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavors deepen as they sit, making leftovers taste even more delectable the next day.
Freezing
Yes, you can freeze this meal! Place cooled beef and potatoes in a freezer-safe container, ensuring you include plenty of the sauce to keep things moist. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating for best results.
Reheating
To reheat, simply microwave individual portions, or gently warm in a covered skillet on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth or water if needed. Aim to heat through without overcooking, keeping the beef tender and the potatoes soft but not mushy.
FAQs
Can I use a different cut of beef for this recipe?
Absolutely! While stew meat is convenient and gets wonderfully tender, you can use chuck roast or even sirloin cut into chunks. Just be aware that leaner cuts might not turn out quite as meltingly tender as traditional stew meat.
Can I swap out the baby potatoes?
You sure can! If you have Yukon Gold or red potatoes, simply cut them into big chunks. The key is choosing a potato that holds its shape well during long, slow cooking, so avoid Russets if you want nice, intact potato bites.
Is there a way to make the sauce richer?
Definitely. For a deeper, even more luxurious sauce, stir in a splash of beef broth or toss in a beef bouillon cube with the garlic butter mixture. This works wonders for adding richness and extra oomph!
Can I make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes dairy free?
Yes! Swap the butter for a dairy-free or plant-based alternative. Try using vegan butter, olive oil, or even margarine. Just keep in mind the flavor and color might change a bit, but it will still be absolutely tasty.
How can I prevent the potatoes from getting mushy?
To avoid overly soft potatoes, be sure to use waxy or all-purpose varieties and keep them cut in larger chunks. Avoid stirring too much during cooking and only stir gently at the end when everything is done. This helps preserve those beautiful potato bites in the finished dish.
Final Thoughts
There’s a reason why Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes is a go-to in so many kitchens. It brings comfort, ease, and an explosion of savory flavors straight to your table, no matter your schedule. Give it a try and let it become a comfort food staple for your family, just as it has in mine!
Print
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
Tender and flavorful, these Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites & Potatoes are a comforting meal that practically cooks itself. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, this dish is a crowd-pleaser with its succulent beef, tender potatoes, and aromatic garlic butter sauce.
Ingredients
Beef Bites:
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
Potatoes:
- 1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes, halved
Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Place the beef bites and halved baby potatoes into the slow cooker.
- Mix Sauce: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Coat Ingredients: Pour the garlic butter mixture over the beef and potatoes, tossing to coat evenly.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3–4 hours until beef is tender and potatoes are cooked.
- Serve: Before serving, gently stir everything, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
- For extra richness, consider adding a splash of beef broth or a cube of beef bouillon during cooking.
- You can swap baby potatoes with Yukon gold or red potatoes cut into chunks for a variation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
