Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Make these Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites for a hearty, comforting meal that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping the beef tender and the potatoes creamy. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets Ready in 20 Minutes and Easy Mediterranean Tuna Salad Recipe for Quick Dinner.
Why This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Tender beef bites with a crispy garlic butter crust
- Creamy potatoes that soak up all the flavors
- Easy, hands-off cooking in the slow cooker
- Better than takeout, perfect for busy weeknights
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.
- 1.5 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
- 2 lbs baby potatoes, halved
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: Crusty bread, for serving
📝 Ingredient Notes
- beef stew meat: You can also use chuck roast or beef brisket, cut into bite-sized pieces.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Hands-off cooking for tender beef and creamy potatoes → See on Amazon
- Meat Tenderizer — Breaks down tough cuts for tender beef bites → 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, paprika, and thyme. Melt butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Return beef to skillet and stir to combine.
- Step 3: Transfer beef and potatoes to slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours, until beef is tender and potatoes are creamy.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
- : For even more flavor, sear the beef and garlic in a cast iron skillet before transferring to the slow cooker.
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the slow cooker. If you have a smaller slow cooker, cook the beef and potatoes in batches.
- : To make this recipe even more family-friendly, add some baby carrots or green beans to the slow cooker for the last 2 hours of cooking.
- : For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
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: This recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months.
Freezing Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked beef and potatoes for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 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 flavor, add a bay leaf to the slow cooker.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the baby potatoes for diced sweet potatoes or butternut squash.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the beef is still tough after 8 hours, cook for an additional 1-2 hours, or until tender.
Want to level up this recipe?
Cast Iron Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing and crispy edges → Check price on Amazon
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
- 2 lbs baby potatoes, halved
Seasonings
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Crusty bread, for serving
Instructions
- Step 1: Season beef bites with salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme. Melt butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Return beef to skillet and stir to combine.
- Step 3: Transfer beef and potatoes to slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours, until beef is tender and potatoes are creamy.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra flavor, add a bay leaf to the slow cooker.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the baby potatoes for diced sweet potatoes or butternut squash.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the beef is still tough after 8 hours, cook for an additional 1-2 hours, or until tender.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked beef and potatoes for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 520
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- 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, cook on high pressure for 30 minutes, then quick release.
The beef may not have cooked long enough. Try cooking for an additional 1-2 hours, or until tender.
Yes, cook at 325°F for 2-3 hours, or until beef is tender and potatoes are creamy.
Yes, freeze cooked beef and potatoes for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
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!
