Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes: Better Than Takeout
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes are tender, flavorful, and ready in 8 hours. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to preventing dry beef bites. Jump to Recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Fresh Thai Mango Green Papaya Salad with Chili Lime Dressing and Crispy Thai Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe for Dinner.
Why This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes: Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Tender beef bites in a rich garlic butter sauce
- Potatoes cooked to perfection with the beef
- Easy, hands-off cooking in the slow cooker
- Better than takeout, ready in 8 hours
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
- potatoes
- garlic
- butter
- salt
- black pepper
- thyme
- bay leaves
- beef broth
- Optional: fresh parsley
- Optional: grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- beef stew meat: Cut into bite-sized pieces if not already done.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Hands-off cooking for tender beef bites → See on Amazon
- Meat Tenderizer — Prevents tough beef bites → See on Amazon
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes: Better Than Takeout
- Prepare beef and potatoes: Cut beef stew meat into bite-sized pieces. Peel and cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Season both with salt, pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves.
- Brown beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
- Cook beef and potatoes: In the slow cooker, combine beef, potatoes, remaining garlic, butter, thyme, bay leaves, and beef broth. Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Serve: Remove bay leaves. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes: Better Than Takeout
- : For even more flavor, sear the beef in a cast-iron skillet before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Common mistake and fix: To prevent dry beef bites, don't overcook. Check the beef at 7 hours and remove from the slow cooker if it's tender.
- : For a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last hour 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 for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated.
Freezing Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes: Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked beef bites and potatoes for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the slow cooker.
- Best substitution: Substitute the beef with pork shoulder for a different flavor profile.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the beef and potatoes the night before and store in the fridge. Cook in the slow cooker the next day.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the beef is still tough after 8 hours, it may not have been cut into small enough pieces.
Want to level up this recipe?
Cast Iron Skillet — Sears beef beautifully for added flavor → Check price on Amazon
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes: Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- beef stew meat
- potatoes
- garlic
- butter
Seasonings
- salt
- black pepper
- thyme
- bay leaves
- beef broth
Optional Toppings
- fresh parsley
- grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare beef and potatoes: Cut beef stew meat into bite-sized pieces. Peel and cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Season both with salt, pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves.
- Brown beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
- Cook beef and potatoes: In the slow cooker, combine beef, potatoes, remaining garlic, butter, thyme, bay leaves, and beef broth. Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Serve: Remove bay leaves. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the slow cooker.
- Best substitution: Substitute the beef with pork shoulder for a different flavor profile.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the beef and potatoes the night before and store in the fridge. Cook in the slow cooker the next day.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the beef is still tough after 8 hours, it may not have been cut into small enough pieces.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked beef bites and potatoes for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
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 with a natural release.
The beef may have been overcooked. Check the beef at 7 hours and remove from the slow cooker if it's tender.
Yes, cook at 325°F (165°C) for 2-3 hours, checking the beef for tenderness every hour.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes for the best texture.
Yes, prepare the beef and potatoes the night before and store in the fridge. Cook in the slow cooker the next day.
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!
