🥩 Slow Cooker Beef & Gravy
Tender, juicy beef slowly cooked in a rich, savory gravy and served over creamy mashed potatoes. This easy slow-cooker dinner requires just a handful of ingredients and almost no prep!
đź›’ Ingredients
For the Beef & Gravy
- 2–3 lbs beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 packet au jus gravy mix
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted or salted butter
- ÂĽ cup water or beef broth, only if needed for your particular slow cooker
For Serving
- Mashed potatoes, homemade or prepared
- Fresh parsley, optional, for garnish
👩‍🍳 Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Slow Cooker
Place the beef stew meat in an even layer in the bottom of a slow cooker. There is no need to brown the beef first, although browning can add extra flavor if you have time.
Step 2: Add the Seasonings
Sprinkle the au jus gravy mix, onion soup mix, and ranch seasoning evenly over the beef. Try to distribute the seasonings across the entire surface so the beef becomes well coated as it cooks.
Step 3: Add the Butter
Place the stick of butter on top of the seasoned beef.
Do not add water if following the traditional version of this recipe. The beef will release liquid as it cooks, creating the gravy.
Step 4: Slow Cook
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook:
- LOW: 7–8 hours
- HIGH: 4–5 hours
The beef is ready when it is very tender and easily breaks apart with a fork.
Step 5: Stir the Gravy
Once the beef is cooked, carefully stir everything together. Break up any larger pieces of beef slightly and coat them thoroughly in the rich gravy.
If the gravy seems too thin, remove the lid and allow the mixture to cook for another 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 6: Prepare the Mashed Potatoes
While the beef finishes cooking, prepare your favorite mashed potatoes. Homemade mashed potatoes, buttery mashed potatoes, or even instant mashed potatoes all work well.
Step 7: Serve
Spoon a generous portion of creamy mashed potatoes onto each plate. Top with tender beef and plenty of the flavorful gravy.
Garnish with a little chopped fresh parsley if desired.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve this beef and gravy with:
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Steamed green beans
- Roasted carrots
- Corn
- Dinner rolls or crusty bread
- A simple green salad
đź’ˇ Tips for the Best Beef & Gravy
Choose the right beef: Beef stew meat or chuck roast cut into chunks works especially well because it becomes tender during long, slow cooking.
Don’t rush the cooking: Cooking on LOW allows the beef to become especially tender and gives the flavors time to develop.
Watch the salt: The au jus mix, onion soup mix, and ranch seasoning can all contain quite a bit of sodium, so taste the finished gravy before adding any extra salt.
Make it thicker: If the gravy is thinner than you’d like, remove the slow-cooker lid near the end of cooking and let some of the excess liquid evaporate.
⏱️ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7–8 hours on LOW or 4–5 hours on HIGH
Total Time: About 7–8 hours
Servings: 6–8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This slow cooker beef and gravy is perfect for busy days because the slow cooker does almost all the work. The beef becomes incredibly tender while the seasoning mixes and butter create a rich, savory gravy that’s perfect spooned over fluffy mashed potatoes.
It’s an easy comfort-food dinner that’s especially satisfying on a cold evening—and the leftovers can be just as delicious the next day!