Hearty Crockpot Beef and Noodles: An Effortless Comfort Food Classic
Discover the ultimate in comfort food with this incredibly easy crockpot beef and noodles recipe. Featuring tender beef stew meat, aromatic onion, and savory garlic simmered in a rich, creamy brown gravy, this dish is guaranteed to become a family favorite. The minimal effort required makes it perfect for busy weeknights, culminating in a mouth-watering meal when tossed with hearty egg noodles. Prepare to indulge in a dish that delivers deep flavor and satisfying warmth with every spoonful.
Why This Easy Crockpot Beef and Noodles Recipe Will Become Your Go-To
This crockpot beef and noodles recipe stands out for its simplicity, incredible flavor, and the sheer comfort it brings. It shares the comforting qualities of a classic beef stew, but with a unique twist: we omit the typical medley of vegetables and instead embrace the delightful addition of tender egg noodles. This strategic shift transforms it into a hearty, deeply satisfying meal that truly hits the spot, especially on a chilly evening. The magic happens in your slow cooker, where the beef stew meat cooks low and slow for hours. This method effortlessly breaks down tough cuts, resulting in incredibly tender, fall-apart beef infused with rich flavor. Meanwhile, the gravy develops into a super simple yet wonderfully creamy concoction, making the entire dish a dream to prepare with minimal hands-on time. It’s the perfect solution for a mouthwatering meal without the fuss, allowing you to come home to a delicious dinner that practically made itself.
Key Ingredients for Your Delicious Beef and Noodles
Gathering your ingredients is the first step towards this delightful meal. All precise measurements, a complete list of ingredients, and detailed instructions can be found in the printable recipe card located at the end of this post. For now, let’s dive into the core components that make this dish so special.
Ingredient Spotlight & Expert Substitution Tips
Let’s take a closer look at the stars of this recipe and discuss how you can adapt it to your preferences or what you have on hand.
BEEF: The foundation of this hearty dish is beef stew meat, often composed of cubed chuck roast or round roast. These cuts are ideal for the slow cooking method because they are inherently tough, but with prolonged, gentle heat, their connective tissues break down, transforming them into incredibly tender, juicy morsels. If you can’t find pre-cut stew meat, you can easily purchase a round steak, round roast, or chuck roast and cut it into 1-inch cubes yourself. A crucial step for enhancing flavor and texture is coating the cubed beef in all-purpose flour and browning it in a skillet before adding it to the crockpot. This process, known as the Maillard reaction, creates a delicious caramelized crust on the outside of the meat and also helps to thicken the gravy later, giving it a richer consistency and deeper color.
NOODLES: For this recipe, classic egg noodles are our top choice. Their broad, flat shape and slightly chewy texture are perfect for soaking up the rich, creamy gravy, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor. However, feel free to substitute with your favorite pasta if egg noodles aren’t available or to your taste. Wide egg noodles are recommended for their ability to cradle the sauce, but other robust pasta shapes like tagliatelle, pappardelle, or even penne could work in a pinch. Just be sure to cook them al dente according to package directions, as they will continue to soften slightly when mixed with the hot gravy.
GRAVY: The luscious, savory gravy is the heart of this dish. It’s crafted from a combination of robust beef broth and a can of cream of mushroom soup. The beef broth provides a deep, umami-rich foundation, while the cream of mushroom soup adds a delightful creaminess and a subtle, earthy mushroom flavor that complements the beef beautifully. This combination results in a velvety smooth sauce that clings perfectly to both the beef and the noodles. For a richer flavor, consider using a low-sodium beef broth to control the overall saltiness, allowing you to adjust seasoning to your liking.
VEGETABLES: Unlike a traditional beef stew, this beef and noodles recipe intentionally keeps the vegetable component minimal. Aside from the foundational onion and garlic, you won’t find a medley of carrots, potatoes, or celery here. This simplicity allows the rich beef and creamy gravy to truly shine. Both yellow and white onions work wonderfully, providing essential aromatic depth and a subtle sweetness when sautéed. Minced garlic further enhances the savory profile, contributing to the overall complexity of the dish without overpowering it. The combination of these aromatics with the seasonings and cream of mushroom soup ensures plenty of flavor in every bite.
Step-by-Step: Crafting Your Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles
These step-by-step photos and detailed instructions are provided to help you visualize each stage of making this incredibly comforting recipe. For the printable version, complete with precise measurements and comprehensive instructions, simply Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this post.
Making delicious beef and noodles in the crockpot is surprisingly straightforward, turning simple ingredients into a deeply satisfying meal. Follow these steps for perfect results every time:
- **Prepare the Beef:** Begin by placing your beef stew meat into a large bowl or a sturdy Ziploc bag. Add the all-purpose flour, then toss or shake vigorously until each piece of beef is completely and evenly coated. This flour coating is essential; it not only helps to create a beautiful crust during browning but also acts as a natural thickener for the rich gravy that will form in the slow cooker.
- **Brown the Beef for Flavor:** Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches is key here to avoid overcrowding the pan, which would steam the meat instead of browning it. Add half of the floured beef to the hot skillet and brown on all sides until a rich, golden-brown crust forms. This browning step is critical for developing deep, complex flavors in your dish – don’t skip it! Once browned, transfer the meat to your crockpot. Add 2 more tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet and repeat the browning process with the remaining beef.
- **Sauté Aromatics:** Into the same skillet (no need to clean it – those browned bits, or ‘fond’, are packed with flavor!), pour the final tablespoon of olive oil. Add the finely chopped onions and minced garlic. Sauté them over medium heat until they become soft and translucent, releasing their fragrant aromas. These aromatics will infuse the entire dish with a foundational layer of flavor.
- **Season and Combine:** Once the onions and garlic are tender, season them directly in the skillet with sea salt, dried thyme, and ground pepper. Stir well to distribute the seasonings evenly. This step allows the aromatics to absorb the spices before joining the beef. Carefully transfer the seasoned onion and garlic mixture into the crockpot with the browned beef.
- **Create the Creamy Gravy Base:** Now, it’s time to add the liquid components that will transform into your rich gravy. Pour the low-sodium beef broth and the can of cream of mushroom soup into the crockpot. Stir all the ingredients together thoroughly until everything is well incorporated and the soup is evenly distributed. This mixture will slowly meld into a flavorful, creamy sauce as it cooks.
- **Slow Cook to Perfection & Add Noodles:** Secure the lid on your crockpot. Set it to cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours. The longer, slower cooking time on low often yields slightly more tender beef. About 30 minutes before the beef is completely tender and ready to serve, cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions. You want them perfectly al dente. Once cooked, drain the noodles and add them directly into the crockpot with the beef and gravy. Stir gently to ensure the noodles are fully coated in the creamy sauce. Plate your delicious beef and noodles, and for a touch of freshness and color, garnish with freshly chopped parsley just before serving. Enjoy this comforting, homemade meal!
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Success
Storing your delicious leftovers correctly ensures you can enjoy them for days. Once your beef and noodles have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to reheat, the microwave is your best friend. A key expert tip: the longer the mixture sits in the refrigerator, the more the egg noodles will absorb the surrounding gravy, potentially making the dish a bit drier. To combat this and restore moisture, add a splash of beef broth or even a little water before reheating. Stir it in well, and heat until warmed through.
Yes, you can certainly freeze components of this comforting dish, but with a strategic approach! The beef and gravy mixture freezes beautifully. Simply allow it to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight, freezer-safe container, leaving minimal headspace at the top to prevent freezer burn. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. However, we highly recommend holding off on adding the noodles until you are ready to serve the thawed beef and gravy. Freshly cooked noodles offer the best texture and taste, whereas frozen and reheated noodles can become mushy. To thaw, move the container from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, reheat the beef and gravy mixture gently over medium-low heat on the stovetop, then cook fresh egg noodles and combine.
While beef stroganoff and beef and noodles may appear similar at first glance, they have distinct characteristics. Both are creamy beef and noodle dishes, but stroganoff typically calls for a higher quality, more tender cut of beef like sirloin or tenderloin, though stew meat can also be used. A defining feature of classic beef stroganoff is the inclusion of fresh mushrooms and a rich, often homemade, gravy built with sour cream, a touch of Worcestershire sauce for savory depth, and sometimes Dijon mustard for a subtle tang. Our beef and noodles recipe, on the other hand, is generally a more simplified, approachable version. It relies on the convenience and creamy texture of canned cream of mushroom soup and makes excellent use of economical beef stew meat. Essentially, you could consider our beef and noodles a hearty, fuss-free cousin to the more elaborate beef stroganoff, perfect for when you crave that comforting flavor without the extra steps.
Delightful Serving Suggestions for Beef and Noodles
This hearty crockpot beef and noodles dish is a meal in itself, but a few complementary sides can elevate the experience even further. It pairs wonderfully with virtually any kind of bread that can soak up the rich, creamy gravy – think thick slices of crusty artisan bread, warm garlic bread, or soft dinner rolls. For a balanced meal, consider adding a vibrant side salad with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness, or serve alongside a medley of roasted vegetables such as green beans, asparagus, or broccoli. Enjoy it warm, straight from the crockpot, for the ultimate comforting experience. This dish is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or simply a cozy night in.
Explore More Easy & Delicious Crockpot Beef Recipes
If you loved the ease and flavor of this beef and noodles recipe, you’re in for a treat! The slow cooker is a fantastic tool for transforming beef into tender, flavorful meals with minimal effort. Here are some more of our favorite crockpot beef recipes that are perfect for busy schedules and satisfying appetites:
- Crockpot Beef Stew: A classic, wholesome meal packed with vegetables and tender beef.
- Crockpot Beef Burgundy: An elegant yet simple dish, rich with red wine and savory flavors.
- Crockpot Beef Stroganoff: Another creamy, comforting beef and noodle delight, with a slightly different flavor profile.
- Crockpot Roast Beef: Perfect for a Sunday dinner or impressive holiday meal with minimal fuss.
- Crockpot Ground Beef Casserole: A hearty, family-friendly casserole that’s incredibly versatile.
Embrace the convenience and delicious results that slow cooking brings to beef dishes. These recipes are sure to expand your weeknight dinner rotation!
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Beef and Noodles
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- 5 Tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 4-5 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 ½ cups low sodium beef broth
- 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup 1 can
- 12 ounces egg noodles
Things You’ll Need
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Large skillet
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6 qt Crockpot
Before You Begin
- Stewing beef, also known as beef stew meat, typically consists of cubed chuck roast or round roast. This type of beef is perfectly suited for crockpot cooking as its tough nature allows it to tenderize beautifully when cooked slowly over time. You have the option to use round steak, round roast, or chuck roast and simply cut it into cubes yourself. Coating the cubed beef in flour and browning it in a skillet before it goes into the crockpot is a fantastic step that adds a lovely, flavorful crust and contributes to the richness of the gravy.
- Egg noodles are our go-to choice for this dish due to their excellent texture and ability to absorb the rich sauce. However, feel free to use your preferred pasta if you like!
- To store leftovers, ensure the beef and noodles have cooled completely, then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. When reheating in the microwave, you might notice the noodles have soaked up much of the gravy. A helpful tip is to add a splash of beef broth before reheating to help restore moisture and maintain a delightful consistency.
- For freezing, the beef and gravy mixture (without the noodles) can be placed in an airtight container, leaving a little space at the top, and frozen for up to 2 months. We advise adding freshly cooked noodles only when you are ready to serve, as they are best when made fresh. Thaw the beef and gravy mixture in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it gently over medium-low heat on the stovetop.
Instructions
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Place beef in a bowl or a bag with all-purpose flour and cover completely.
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Working in batches, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and brown the meat, half at a time, add 2 more tablespoons of oil and complete the other half. Place browned meat into the crockpot when complete.
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Pour final tablespoon of olive oil into the pan and add in onions and garlic, cook until soft (note: you do not need to clean the pan in between).
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Season the onions and garlic with the salt, dried thyme, and ground pepper, then transfer to the crockpot.
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Add the beef broth and canned cream of mushroom soup to the crockpot and mix to incorporate.
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Set on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-8. Just before the beef is complete cook the egg noodles following the instructions on the bag. When ready to serve, mix them in the crockpot to incorporate with beef and plate with freshly chopped parsley.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.