Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes are tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfect beef bites every time. The crispy, golden bites and creamy potatoes will make your family beg for this better-than-takeout dinner. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Croissant Grilled Cheese Recipe for Easy Dinner and Easy Jamaican Cabbage Stir-Fry Side Dish Recipe.
Why This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Tender, juicy beef bites in a rich garlic butter sauce
- Creamy, flavorful potatoes cooked to perfection
- Easy, hands-off cooking in the slow cooker
- Better than takeout and perfect for meal prepping
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.
- beef stew meat
- potatoes
- garlic
- butter
- beef broth
- salt
- black pepper
- thyme
- bay leaves
- garlic powder
- Optional: fresh parsley
- Optional: grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- beef stew meat: Cut into bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Hands-off cooking for tender, juicy beef bites → See on Amazon
- Meat Tenderizer — Breaks down tough meat fibers for tender beef bites → See on Amazon
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
- Step 1: Cut beef stew meat into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Step 2: Place beef bites in the slow cooker. Add potatoes, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and beef broth. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 3: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add cooked beef bites and cook until browned and crispy. Remove from heat and stir in remaining butter and seasonings.
- Step 4: Serve beef bites with potatoes and garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Overcooking can make beef bites tough. To prevent this, cook on low for no more than 8 hours or high for no more than 4 hours.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, sear the beef bites in a hot skillet before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Pro tip: Add a splash of heavy cream to the slow cooker for creamier potatoes.
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 bites and potatoes in the slow cooker up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Freezing Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked beef bites and potatoes separately for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Best substitution: Substitute beef stew meat with chicken thighs for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare beef bites and potatoes in the slow cooker up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If beef bites are not tender, cook for an additional 1-2 hours on low or 30-60 minutes on high.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant Pot — Save time by cooking beef bites and potatoes together in the Instant Pot → Check price on Amazon
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- beef stew meat
- potatoes
- garlic
- butter
- beef broth
Seasonings
- salt
- black pepper
- thyme
- bay leaves
- garlic powder
Optional Toppings
- fresh parsley
- grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut beef stew meat into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Step 2: Place beef bites in the slow cooker. Add potatoes, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and beef broth. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 3: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add cooked beef bites and cook until browned and crispy. Remove from heat and stir in remaining butter and seasonings.
- Step 4: Serve beef bites with potatoes and garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Best substitution: Substitute beef stew meat with chicken thighs for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare beef bites and potatoes in the slow cooker up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If beef bites are not tender, cook for an additional 1-2 hours on low or 30-60 minutes on high.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked beef bites and potatoes separately for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare beef bites and potatoes in the slow cooker up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 480
- Protein: 36g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
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, prepare beef bites and potatoes in the slow cooker up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Overcooking can make beef bites tough. To prevent this, cook on low for no more than 8 hours or high for no more than 4 hours.
Yes, cook beef bites and potatoes together in the Instant Pot for 15-20 minutes at high pressure.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes for the best texture.
Yes, freeze cooked beef bites and potatoes separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
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!
