Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Noodles Recipe (2024)

Slow cooker beef stew with noodles recipe. Beef stew with noodles is a hearty and comforting dish that is perfect for those chilly nights. This recipe is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make. The beef stew is made with a flavorful beef broth base, tender chunks of boneless beef chuck roast, and a medley of vegetables. The addition of egg noodles adds a satisfying texture to the stew.

How to Make Beef Stew with Noodles

To make this beef stew, start by browning the beef chuck roast in a hot skillet until it is nicely seared on all sides. This step helps to lock in the flavors and adds a rich depth of flavor to the stew. Once the beef is browned, transfer it to a slow cooker and add in the beef broth, beefy onion soup mix, and cream of mushroom soup. These ingredients work together to create a savory and robust broth for the stew.

Next, add in your favorite vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and onions. These vegetables not only add flavor but also provide a nice contrast in texture to the tender beef. Let the stew cook on low heat for several hours, allowing the flavors to meld together and the beef to become tender and juicy.

Towards the end of the cooking time, add in the egg noodles and let them cook until they are tender. The noodles will absorb the delicious flavors of the stew and add a satisfying element to each bite.

Serve the slow cooker beef stew with noodles hot and garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color. This dish is perfect for a cozy family dinner or entertaining guests. Enjoy the rich and comforting flavors of this delicious beef stew with noodles.

Will Noodles Overcook in a Slow Cooker?

When making slow cooker beef stew with noodles, one common concern is whether the noodles will overcook in the slow cooker. However, with the right technique, you can ensure that your noodles turn out perfectly cooked and not mushy.

To prevent the noodles from overcooking, it’s important to add them towards the end of the cooking time. This allows them to cook just enough to become tender without becoming overly soft. Adding the noodles too early can result in them becoming mushy and losing their texture.

Another tip is to slightly undercook the noodles before adding them to the slow cooker. This way, they will continue to cook and absorb the flavors of the stew without becoming overcooked. You can achieve this by boiling the noodles for a couple of minutes less than the recommended cooking time on the package.

If you prefer your noodles to have a firmer texture, you can also cook them separately and add them to the individual bowls when serving the stew. This way, you have more control over the doneness of the noodles and can ensure they are cooked to your liking.

By following these tips, you can enjoy a delicious slow cooker beef stew recipe with perfectly cooked noodles. The noodles will complement the tender beef and flavorful broth, creating a comforting and satisfying meal.

How to Store Leftovers

Storing leftovers properly is essential to maintain their freshness and flavor. When it comes to slow cooker beef stew with noodles, here are some tips on how to store the leftovers.

First, make sure to let the stew cool down before storing it. Leaving it at room temperature for too long can promote bacterial growth. Once cooled, transfer the stew to airtight containers or resealable bags. Divide it into individual portions if desired, so you can easily grab a serving when needed.

Label the containers with the date and contents to keep track of freshness. Place them in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days. If you won’t be able to finish the leftovers within this timeframe, consider freezing them.

To freeze the stew, transfer it to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. The stew can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

When reheating the stew, add a splash of water or broth to prevent it from drying out. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Check the temperature to make sure it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Noodles Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds (960 g-1.44 kg) boneless beef chuck roast
  • 14 oz (420 ml) can beef broth
  • 1 envelope beefy onion soup mix
  • 10 ¾ oz (325 ml) can cream of mushroom soup
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 6-8 cups (1.5-2 L) beef broth
  • 24 oz (720 g) package frozen home-style noodles
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper ,to taste

Method

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine canned beef broth, beefy onion soup mix, canned mushroom soup, and minced garlic.Mix well and set aside.

Step 2

Place boneless beef roast in a 6-quart (6 L) slow cooker.Pour over the soup mixture.Cover slow cooker and cook on low-heat setting for 8 hours, or until beef is tender and shreds easily.

Step 3

Remove cooked beef from the slow cooker and cube or shred it.Return to slow cooker and add 6-8 cups (1.5-2 l) beef broth.Cover the cooker and cook on a low-heat setting for a further 8 hours.Serve over cooked noodles.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Noodles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

When to add pasta to a slow cooker? ›

Broth-based slow cooker dinners need their dry pasta added at just the right moment — add the pasta too early and your noodles will be mushy before they get to the table. Adding dry pasta 30 to 4o minutes before serving means you'll have perfectly cooked pasta in your soup.

Why did my noodles turn to mush in the crockpot? ›

Why did my noodles turn to mush in the crockpot? One of the most common reasons for mushy noodles is overcooking. Pasta, including noodles, has a relatively short cooking time compared to other ingredients typically prepared in a crockpot.

Is it better to cook stew on low or high in slow cooker? ›

Tips for making the best beef stew

Browning the beef in a skillet beforehand will bring out even more flavor. Cook it on low. While many slow cooker recipes can be made on high for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend cooking this beef stew on low for the full 7-8 hours. This will ensure that the beef gets nice and tender.

Why is my beef stew tough in slow cooker? ›

“Beef may be tough in the slow cooker if you haven't added enough liquid, or haven't cooked it for long enough,” Kristen Carli, M.S., R.D., owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness, tells SELF. “For cuts of meat, the fattier cuts are often the ones that get juicy and tender.

How to stop pasta from going soggy in a slow cooker? ›

You can use slow cookers to make pasta as long as you don't mix the pasta in with the sauce and leave it sitting in the slow cooker for an extended period of time. Doing so will result in pasta that is mushy, soggy and unappetizing. For best results, keep the pasta separate until serving.

How long does dry pasta take to cook in crockpot? ›

To keep pasta from becoming mushy in the crock pot, be sure to check for doneness periodically and serve once they are tender. It takes slow cooker pasta 3 to 4 hours on low or 1 to 2 hours on high. Check pasta doneness sooner than later, especially as some slow cookers are more powerful than others.

What gives beef stew the best flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›

A general rule of thumb from Luis Sanchez, senior category manager for the appliance manufacturer Breville: To go from "High" to "Low" (or vice versa), multiply (or divide) the original time by 1.5 to 2.5 hours. And as with the cooking times for specific ingredients, these times are approximate.

Can you overcook beef stew in a slow cooker? ›

Can you overcook beef stew in a slow cooker? Yes, you can overcook the beef. You're looking for fork-tender meat, not dry and tough. You can always use the machine's warming setting if needed to avoid overcooking the meat.

What vegetables should not be added to a slow cooker? ›

Tender vegetables

Vegetables such as peas, asparagus and peppers can become a flavorless, mushy mess in a slow cooker.

When to add carrots to stew? ›

Your onions will be fine, but mushy potatoes and carrots are a no-no. Instead, add them about 20 minutes before the end of cooking. When they're tender, the stew is done.

Why are my carrots still hard in the slow cooker? ›

Carrots may remain firm in a slow cooker if they're not cooked long enough or if the temperature is too low. Ensure sufficient cooking time and consider cutting carrots into smaller pieces for even cooking.

Can I put raw pasta in a slow cooker? ›

Can you put raw pasta in a slow cooker? Absolutely! When making crock pot baked ziti, there is no need to cook the noodles first. All you need to do is arrange the layers of noodles, sauce, and ricotta mixture and it's time to start cooking!

When should I add the pasta? ›

Cover your pan with a lid to help bring the water up to the boil more quickly, then remove the lid once the water is boiling or reduce the temperature slightly to stop it bubbling over. Add the pasta to the water once it's boiling, never before, and cook without the lid.

Does pasta take longer to cook in sauce? ›

Cooking pasta in the sauce instead of in boiling water will increase the amount of time it takes to cook through. It's a good technique to use if you want to delay serving your pasta for a few minutes. Make sure to keep the sauce thinned out with pasta water as the pasta finishes cooking if you use this method.

Will spaghetti get mushy in crockpot? ›

The heat causes the protein to set, constraining the expansion of the starch and resulting in pasta with the proper texture. When pasta is cooked in the slow cooker, however, the liquid heats up slowly, so the starch has more time to swell before being checked by the protein, resulting in soggy, mushy pasta.

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