Slow cooker braised steak and onions is an easy beef dinner recipe. Tender chunks of beef steak, braised in a thick rich gravy. It's an easy alternative to a Sunday roast, and it's ideal for meal prep and freezes well.
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What you'll love slow cooker braised beef
- An easy slow cooker beef dinner made with just a few everyday, budget-friendly ingredients. This slightly old-fashioned stew recipe has stood the test of time!
- Slow-cooker braised steak and onions is a comforting, hearty meal with plenty of protein to keep you feeling full.
- It's delicious enough for weekend guests (you can zhuzh it up with red wine!), but easy enough for midweek family meals
- Onions, garlic and herbs add plenty of flavour - and they are good for you!
- Slow cooker beef and onion stew is easy to batch cook and freeze. Browning the meat is optional, if you're in a rush, just dump and go!
- Allergy-friendly. Slow cooker braised beef with gravy is gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free
Ingredients
Braising steak. This economical cut of beef is one of the best for the slow cooker which makes it meltingly tender. Braising steak is widely available in butchers' and supermarkets.
If you can afford grass-fed beef, it is likely to be lower in fat and higher in healthy omega-3 oils.
You could also use stewing steak or chuck steak, which are also budget-friendly. Either use cubed beef as I've done here, or two or three large pieces of beef.
Onions. Just normal white onions are ideal for this recipe, but you could also use red onions.
Garlic adds an extra layer of flavour. You can omit it if you don't like garlic.
Herbs. I used some thyme and a couple of bay leaves. They make the recipe more flavourful, and even quite small quantities of herbs can be nutritious. You could also sprinkle a little parsley onto the finished dish.
Tomato puree or paste. A tablespoon of tomato puree adds a little extra depth to the gravy, and the slight acidity will help to tenderize the meat. However, it's not essential if you'd prefer not to use it.
Stock. This will form the basis of the delicious rich gravy which is made as the beef and onions are braised in the slow cooker. I used half of a beef stock cube as a whole cube can be a bit too strong and salty.
If you want to make slow-cooker braised steak with red wine, replace 100ml of the stock with a small glass of red wine. You might also like this slow cooker beef bourguignon.
I find there's no need for extra seasoning in the stew as stock is generally very well seasoned.
Cornflour or cornstarch. This is an easy way to thicken a beef stew in the slow cooker. Using cornflour also means that this braised steak and onions recipe is gluten-free.
How to make slow cooker braised steak and onions
This recipe is a godsend for a busy winter weeknight. Just throw the ingredients in the crockpot in the morning, and come home to delicious, tender meat with a rich onion gravy!
Browning the meat is optional, and I usually make my braised steak and onions in the slow cooker with no browning. I can't tell much difference in how the finished dish tastes, although sometimes it's nice to have a little colour on the meat.
If you have a slow cooker with a metal insert, you can brown meat in the pot on the hob. Otherwise, use a frying pan. Heat the pan, add a drizzle of oil and stir-fry the meat for a few minutes. If you are making a double batch of the recipe, brown the braising steak in two batches.
Add the beef to the slow cooker along with the sliced onions, garlic and herbs.
In a jug, stir together the cold stock, cornflour and tomato paste. Cornflour must be added to a cold liquid first so that it doesn't go lumpy.
Tip the gravy mixture over the steak and onions and mix together. Add the lid and cook in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours, or 4 hours on high.
Recipe tips
- If you want to use whole steaks and can't find braising steak in one piece, cut inch thick steaks from a joint of topside of beef. This makes the most delicious slow cooker steak and gravy.
- If you prefer, you can also add some extra vegetables to the stew. Carrots, sweet potatoes and mushrooms all go well. You might also like this slow cooker beef shin with recipe with carrots.
Serving and storage
Serve your delicious slow cooker braising steak and onions with plenty of veggies to turn it into a healthy balanced meal. Sautéed kale or leeks and peas are both good accompaniments.
Add some healthy mashed potatoes or easy dumplings without suet
For a low-carb meal, serve beef and onions with cauliflower rice.
Like many stews, easy slow cooker braised beef and onions tastes even better the next day. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days and heat it through on the hob until piping hot.
Freezer-friendly slow cooker beef
Why not cook up a double batch of this freezer-friendly slow cooker beef and onions and pop it in the freezer for dinner on a busy day? Larger packs of beef often work out cheaper, making it more budget-friendly.
Freeze meal-sized portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and heat through on the hob until piping hot.
Frequently asked questions
Braising steak needs long slow cooking in order to be tender. Cook braising steak in the slow cooker for around 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
It's not essential to brown meat before adding it to the slow cooker. It will cook through thoroughly with no browning. However, if you do have time, it will add a little extra flavour. As the meat starts to brown, it caramelises, which adds a slightly richer, meaty flavour.
Other slow cooker recipes
If you enjoyed this slow cooker braised steak and onions, you might also like these other healthy slow cooker recipes.
They are all budget-friendly and ideal for batch cooking freezer meals
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Recipe
Slow Cooker Braised Steak and Onions
Equipment
- Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 500 g braising steak or stewing steak or chuck steak
- 2 onions peeled and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and very finely chopped
- few sprigs thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree optional
- 300 ml beef stock
Instructions
- Browning the beef is optional. I often don't do it, but if you have the time it will add a little extra flavour and colour. If you do want to brown the beef, heat a frying pan and add a drizzle of oil. Fry the beef for a few minutes until it starts to brown. Don't overcrowd the pan - if necessary brown the beef in two batches.500 g braising steak
- Add the beef, sliced onions, herbs and garlic to the slow cooker.2 onions, few sprigs thyme, 2 bay leaves, 2 cloves garlic
- Stir the cornflour into the cold stock. The liquid must be cold, otherwise the mix will have lumps. Add the tomato paste, then add the mixture to the slow cooker.1 tablespoon cornflour, 300 ml beef stock, 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
Notes
- You can either use steak which is cut into cubes, or two or three large pieces of steak. If you prefer, you can use a topside joint of beef which has been cut into 3cm slices
- Tomato puree is optional but will add extra depth of flavour and help to tenderise the meat
- For a steak and red wine stew, substitute 100ml of the stock for a small glass of wine
- If you want to add vegetables to the stew, see this slow cooker beef shin recipe
- Slow-cooker braised steak and onion is ideal for freezing. Seal in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and heat through on the hob until piping hot
Nutrition
Please note nutritional information is per serving and is provided for guidance only.
Judith says
My husband and I really enjoyed this recipe, thank you.