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Crockpot Ground Beef Dinner: Easy Hearty Family Meal Recipe

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This ultimate hearty crockpot ground beef dinner is a comforting, family-friendly meal packed with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and a savory tomato-based sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it recipe that delivers classic flavors with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds ground beef (85% lean preferred)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced (optional)
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (with juices)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 bay leaf (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink (about 8-10 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, until fragrant and onions are translucent.
  3. Place chopped carrots, potatoes, and celery in the bottom of your crockpot. Top with the browned beef and onion mixture.
  4. Add diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, dried thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper.
  5. Gently stir everything together to combine.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are fork-tender and sauce has thickened.
  7. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in frozen peas.
  8. Taste and adjust salt or pepper as needed. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth; if too thin, leave the lid off for the last 20 minutes.
  9. Remove bay leaf and serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

For best flavor, always brown the beef before adding to the crockpot. Chop veggies evenly for consistent cooking. Add peas at the end to keep them bright and tender. To thicken the stew, mash a few potato cubes against the side of the crockpot about an hour before serving. This recipe is naturally gluten-free if you check your broth and Worcestershire sauce labels. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot, ground beef, family dinner, slow cooker, hearty, comfort food, easy, meal prep, beef stew, one-pot meal

Find it online: https://bitematrix.com/crockpot-ground-beef-dinner-easy-hearty-family-meal-recipe/