Step 4: Check and Serve
Once the cooking time is up, check the beef for tenderness. It should be so soft that it easily falls apart when you try to shred it with a fork. If the beef isn’t quite as tender as you’d like, simply let it cook for an additional 30 minutes to an hour on low heat.
- Taste and Adjust: If necessary, taste the broth and adjust seasoning with a pinch of salt, pepper, or any additional herbs you like. You could add a dash of garlic powder, paprika, or fresh thyme for more complexity.
- Serve the Beef: Once it’s cooked to perfection, you can serve the slow-cooked cubed beef in various ways:
- Over mashed potatoes: The tender beef pairs wonderfully with creamy mashed potatoes.
- In a sandwich: Shred the beef and serve it on a bun with your favorite sauce or cheese for a delicious beef sandwich.
- With rice or pasta: Spoon the beef and sauce over a bed of fluffy rice or pasta for a comforting meal.
- With vegetables: You can also add vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or bell peppers to the slow cooker during the last 2 hours of cooking for a complete one-pot meal.
Tips for Customizing Your Recipe
- Add Vegetables: While the basic recipe is simple with just beef, broth, and soup mix, you can enhance the dish by adding chopped vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, celery, or mushrooms during the cooking process.
- Spices and Seasonings: Experiment with spices to personalize the flavor. Adding garlic, thyme, bay leaves, or even Worcestershire sauce can deepen the richness of the dish.
- Make It a Stew: To turn this dish into a hearty beef stew, add diced potatoes, carrots, and parsnips during the last 2-3 hours of cooking. Let them absorb the flavorful broth, and you’ll have a one-pot meal that’s perfect for colder weather.
- Use Wine for Depth: If you want to take the flavor up a notch, try substituting half of the beef broth with red wine for a deeper, more robust taste.
Conclusion
Cooking raw cubed beef in a slow cooker with just three ingredients—cubed beef, beef broth, and onion soup mix—creates a rich, flavorful, and tender meal with minimal effort. The slow cooking process ensures the beef becomes fork-tender, and the simple ingredients combine to make a savory dish that’s perfect for a busy weeknight or family gathering. Whether you choose to serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, or in a sandwich, this slow-cooked beef will become a staple in your meal planning.
No Responses Yet