Yes — you can drop raw beef cubes straight into the slow cooker 👍
You don’t have to brown them first, but whether you should depends on the result you want.
🥩 Basic Slow Cooker Beef Cubes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat (cubed chuck works best)
- 1 packet onion soup mix or
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup beef broth
- Optional: carrots, potatoes, onions
Instructions
1️⃣ Add beef directly to slow cooker
No need to cook it first.
2️⃣ Season
Sprinkle seasoning over meat.
3️⃣ Add liquid
Pour in beef broth (just enough to keep things moist — not fully cover).
4️⃣ Cook
- Low: 7–8 hours
- High: 4–5 hours
Beef should be fork-tender when done.
🔥 Should You Brown It First?
Browning first (in a skillet 3–4 minutes per side):
✔ Adds deeper flavor
✔ Better texture
✔ Less gray appearance
Skipping browning:
✔ Faster
✔ Fewer dishes
✔ Still tender
💡 Tips for Best Results
- Use chuck roast or stew meat (not lean cuts).
- Don’t lift the lid often — slows cooking.
- If sauce is thin at the end, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and stir in for 20 minutes on High.
If you’d like, tell me what flavor you’re going for —
• 🍲 Beef stew
• 🍜 Beef tips & gravy
• 🌮 Taco beef
• 🍖 BBQ beef
I’ll tailor it exactly to that style.
