Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites – Tender, juicy beef bites cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce with potatoes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to making it better than takeout every time. The golden, crispy beef bites and creamy potatoes will make your family beg for this 20-minute restaurant version. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry and Easy Cheesy Baked Halibut.
Why This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Tender, flavorful beef bites in a rich garlic butter sauce
- Creamy potatoes cooked to perfection
- Ready in just 4 hours with minimal effort
- Better than takeout, perfect for busy weeknights
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.
- 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 lbs baby potatoes, halved
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup butter
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Beef stew meat: You can also use beef chuck or beef round, cut into bite-sized pieces.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Cooks meat to tender perfection while you're away → See on Amazon
- Meat Tenderizer — Breaks down tough meat fibers for extra tender beef bites → See on Amazon
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
- Step 1: Season beef bites with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then brown beef bites on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Transfer beef, potatoes, and garlic broth to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Step 3: If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir it into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15-30 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the slow cooker. If needed, cook beef and potatoes in separate slow cookers or in batches.
- Tip: For even more flavor, sear the beef bites in batches before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Tip: To make ahead, prepare the beef and potatoes in the slow cooker, then refrigerate overnight. Reheat in the slow cooker on low for 2-3 hours before serving.
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 in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare beef and potatoes in the slow cooker up to 1 day ahead. Reheat on low for 2-3 hours before serving.
Freezing Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked beef bites and potatoes for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an even richer sauce, stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream at the end of cooking.
- Best substitution: Substitute the beef with chicken thighs for a delicious alternative.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the beef and potatoes in the slow cooker, then refrigerate overnight. Reheat on low for 2-3 hours before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir it into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15-30 minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant Read Meat Thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked, tender beef bites every time → Check price on Amazon
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 lbs baby potatoes, halved
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup butter
Seasonings
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Season beef bites with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then brown beef bites on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Transfer beef, potatoes, and garlic broth to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Step 3: If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir it into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15-30 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an even richer sauce, stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream at the end of cooking.
- Best substitution: Substitute the beef with chicken thighs for a delicious alternative.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the beef and potatoes in the slow cooker, then refrigerate overnight. Reheat on low for 2-3 hours before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir it into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15-30 minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked beef bites and potatoes for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: Prepare beef and potatoes in the slow cooker up to 1 day ahead. Reheat on low for 2-3 hours before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 570
- Protein: 42g
- Fat: 27g
- Carbs: 42g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Cholesterol: 155mg
- Sat. Fat: 16g
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 25 minutes, then release pressure naturally for 15 minutes before quick-releasing any remaining pressure.
Overcooking is the most common reason for tough beef bites. Make sure to cook on low for no more than 4 hours.
Yes, brown the beef bites in a Dutch oven on the stovetop, then transfer to a 325°F oven and cook for 2-3 hours or until tender.
Yes, cook beef bites at 375°F for 10-15 minutes or until cooked through. Finish cooking the potatoes in the air fryer at 375°F for 15-20 minutes.
Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
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!
