Here’s a hearty, budget-friendly recipe for Poor Man’s Stew — a simple, comforting dish made with inexpensive ingredients that still packs plenty of flavor.
🥘 Poor Man’s Stew
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef or inexpensive stew beef, cubed
- 2–3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 410g) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or butter
- Optional: 1 cup frozen peas or green beans
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Brown the Meat
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat.
- Add beef and cook until browned on all sides.
- Remove meat and set aside.
2️⃣ Sauté Vegetables
- In the same pot, add onion, carrots, and garlic. Sauté 3–4 minutes until softened.
3️⃣ Build the Stew
- Return meat to the pot.
- Add diced potatoes, canned tomatoes (with juice), broth, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Stir to combine.
4️⃣ Simmer
- Cover and simmer over low heat 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes and carrots are tender.
- Optional: add peas or green beans in the last 5–10 minutes of cooking.
5️⃣ Serve
- Ladle into bowls and serve hot with bread, rice, or biscuits.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Thicker stew: Mash a few potatoes in the pot or stir in 1–2 tbsp flour or cornstarch mixed with water.
- Extra flavor: Add 1–2 tsp Worcestershire sauce or a splash of soy sauce.
- Vegetarian version: Substitute meat with lentils, chickpeas, or extra vegetables.
- Make-ahead: Stew tastes even better the next day — store in the fridge and reheat gently.
If you want, I can provide a crockpot Poor Man’s Stew recipe that cooks all day for tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat and vegetables with minimal effort.
Do you want me to do that?
