Slow Cooker Beef & Butter Beans
Description
This Slow Cooker Beef & Butter Beans is a hearty, comforting meal made with tender, browned beef chunks and creamy butter beans simmered in a rich, savory gravy. The slow cooker does all the work, turning simple ingredients into a cozy dinner with melt-in-your-mouth beef and perfectly seasoned beans.
🥩 Ingredients
2½ lbs beef chuck roast or stew meat, cut into large chunks
2 cans (15 oz each) butter beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
👩🍳 Instructions
Season the beef:
Pat the beef pieces dry. Season with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and rosemary.
Brown the beef:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches for 2–3 minutes per side. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker.
Sauté the onions:
Add butter to the same skillet. Add sliced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Build the sauce:
Stir tomato paste into the onions. Slowly add beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up the browned bits from the skillet.
Combine:
Pour the onion and broth mixture over the beef in the slow cooker.
Slow cook:
Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the beef is very tender.
Add the beans:
Stir in the drained butter beans during the final 30–45 minutes of cooking so they warm through without becoming overly soft.
Finish:
Taste and adjust the seasoning. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
Serve this hearty beef and beans with:
Creamy mashed potatoes
Steamed rice
Buttered egg noodles
Cornbread
Crusty bread
Green beans or roasted vegetables
💡 Tips
Chuck roast gives the most tender, flavorful results.
Browning the beef first adds a delicious caramelized flavor.
Add the butter beans near the end to help them keep their shape.
For thicker gravy, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir it into the slow cooker during the final 15–20 minutes.
For extra richness, add another tablespoon of butter just before serving.
❓ Q&A
Q: Can I use canned butter beans?
Yes. Canned butter beans are convenient and work perfectly. Drain and rinse them before adding.
Q: Can I use dried beans?
Yes, but dried beans need to be properly soaked and cooked before being added. Canned beans are much easier for this recipe.
Q: Can I add potatoes?
Absolutely. Add 3–4 chopped potatoes at the beginning with the beef for a complete one-pot meal.
Q: Can I use ground beef?
You can, but the texture will be different. Beef chuck or stew meat gives the tender chunks shown in the photo.
Q: How long do leftovers last?
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3–4 days in an airtight container. Reheat thoroughly before serving.