Put raw cubed beef in a slow cooker with these 3

Put Raw Cubed Beef in a Slow Cooker with These 3 Ingredients for a Delicious Meal

Cooking with a slow cooker is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to prepare tender, flavorful meals. If you’re looking for a simple yet tasty dish that requires minimal preparation and delivers satisfying results, look no further than slow-cooked cubed beef. By adding just three key ingredients, you can create a savory, melt-in-your-mouth meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights, meal prepping, or family dinners.

In this article, we’ll walk you through a simple method to make a delicious slow-cooked beef dish, with the perfect balance of flavor and tenderness. This recipe is versatile, allowing you to customize it with your favorite seasonings or vegetables, but we’ll focus on the basic three-ingredient approach that guarantees delicious results every time.

Why Use a Slow Cooker for Cubed Beef?

Before diving into the recipe, it’s worth understanding why the slow cooker is the ideal tool for cooking cubed beef. When you cook beef slowly over a long period, it allows the connective tissues in the meat to break down, resulting in incredibly tender beef that easily shreds with a fork. The slow cooking process also allows the flavors to meld together, creating a rich and savory dish without much effort.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For this basic recipe, you’ll need three main ingredients:

Raw Cubed Beef (about 1.5 to 2 pounds)
- You can use any cut of beef that’s good for slow cooking, such as chuck roast, stew meat, or brisket. Look for cuts with some fat marbling to ensure flavor and tenderness as they cook down.
Beef Broth (2 cups)
- Beef broth or stock serves as the liquid base to cook the beef in, ensuring that it stays moist and flavorful while absorbing the rich, savory taste of the broth. You can use low-sodium broth if you prefer to control the salt level.
Onion Soup Mix (1 packet)
- A packet of onion soup mix is the secret ingredient to infusing the beef with rich, savory flavors. It’s an easy way to add depth without having to chop onions or measure out individual spices. The dehydrated onion in the mix will hydrate as it cooks, infusing the beef with flavor.

Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Prepare the Cubed Beef

Trim the Beef: If needed, trim any excess fat from the cubed beef. This will prevent the dish from being overly greasy but still leave enough fat for flavor.
Season the Beef: If you like, you can season the beef cubes with a pinch of salt, pepper, and any other spices you prefer, though the onion soup mix will already provide significant flavor. Some people like to give the beef a quick sear in a hot pan for a few minutes on each side to develop a nice crust, but this step is optional. For a truly low-effort recipe, you can skip this and go straight to the slow cooker.

Step 2: Add the Ingredients to the Slow Cooker

Place the Beef in the Slow Cooker: Add the cubed beef to the base of the slow cooker. Spread it out evenly so that the pieces cook uniformly.
Pour in the Beef Broth: Add 2 cups of beef broth to the slow cooker. This will provide the moisture necessary for cooking and prevent the beef from drying out. The broth will also create a savory base for the meat to absorb while it cooks.
Add the Onion Soup Mix: Sprinkle the onion soup mix evenly over the beef and broth. The dehydrated onions and seasoning in the soup mix will dissolve into the broth and infuse the beef with incredible flavor. Stir lightly to ensure the beef is coated with the seasonings.

Step 3: Set the Slow Cooker

Choose the Cooking Time: Set the slow cooker on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or high heat for 3 to 4 hours, depending on how much time you have. The longer the beef cooks, the more tender it will become, so it’s ideal to leave it on low for a longer period if possible.
Cover and Let Cook: Cover the slow cooker and let it do its magic. Avoid opening the lid during the cooking process, as this lets out heat and can slow down the cooking time. Just let the beef cook gently until it’s fork-tender.

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