Description
Succulent garlic butter beef bites and potatoes create a hearty meal perfect for family dinners. Robust flavors merge with tender meat and crisp potatoes, promising a comforting dish home cooks will savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) beef chuck roast or stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 lb (454 g) baby potatoes, halved (or quartered if large)
- 4 tbsps (56 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ cup (60 ml) beef broth
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Searing: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high temperature and caramelize beef bites until golden-brown on all surfaces, creating a robust exterior and intensifying flavor profiles.
- Flavor Preparation: Craft a robust garlic butter mixture by blending melted butter with minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper into a harmonious seasoning blend.
- Slow Cooker Foundation: Layer halved baby potatoes across the slow cooker’s base, then generously drench with half of the prepared garlic butter sauce, ensuring comprehensive coating and flavor infusion.
- Layering Components: Position seared beef bites atop the potato layer, then cascade remaining garlic butter sauce, thoroughly enveloping each ingredient with the aromatic mixture.
- Liquid Integration: Gently pour beef broth around the ingredients, establishing a moisture-rich braising environment that will tenderize and enhance overall dish complexity.
- Cooking Process: Cover and simmer in the slow cooker – selecting low temperature for 6-7 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours until beef becomes fork-tender and potatoes reach optimal softness.
- Final Presentation: Gently fold ingredients to redistribute sauce, ensuring uniform flavor distribution, then garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous finish. Serve immediately while steaming hot.
Notes
- Optimize Beef Browning: Ensure beef bites are patted completely dry before searing to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust, preventing steaming and maximizing caramelization flavor development.
- Manage Moisture Levels: Avoid overcrowding the skillet during beef searing to prevent excess liquid release, which can inhibit proper browning and reduce the desired crispy exterior texture.
- Adjust Cooking Time Strategically: For leaner beef cuts, reduce slow cooking duration to prevent meat from becoming tough; check tenderness periodically and adjust heat settings accordingly to maintain optimal meat texture.
- Customize Dietary Preferences: Substitute beef broth with low-sodium vegetable stock for a lighter version, or replace beef with plant-based protein alternatives like seasoned tofu or seitan to accommodate vegetarian dietary needs while maintaining the recipe’s rich flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 80mg