Here’s a simple, hearty, and budget-friendly Poor Man’s Stew — a comforting one-pot meal full of tender meat, vegetables, and rich flavor.
🥩🥕 Poor Man’s Stew
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 1 lb (450 g) beef stew meat or ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes, diced
- 2–3 carrots, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth or water
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes (optional)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional, for richer flavor)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika or dried herbs (thyme, parsley, or Italian seasoning)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or butter
- Optional: 1 cup frozen peas or green beans for extra vegetables
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Brown the Meat
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat.
- Brown beef on all sides; remove and set aside.
2️⃣ Sauté Vegetables
- In the same pot, sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and any other vegetables for 3–4 minutes until softened.
3️⃣ Add Liquids & Simmer
- Return beef to the pot.
- Add potatoes, beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and herbs.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 45–60 minutes until beef is tender and potatoes are cooked through.
4️⃣ Optional Additions
- Stir in frozen peas or green beans during the last 5–10 minutes of cooking.
- Adjust seasoning to taste.
5️⃣ Serve
- Serve hot with crusty bread, biscuits, or over rice.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Economical meat: Use stew meat, ground beef, or even inexpensive cuts like chuck.
- Thicker stew: Mash some of the potatoes into the broth or add 1–2 tsp cornstarch mixed with cold water.
- Vegetable boost: Add celery, bell peppers, or turnips for extra nutrition.
- Slow cooker option: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6–8 hours.
- Make ahead: Stew tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
If you like, I can provide a restaurant-style Poor Man’s Stew recipe with tender beef, rich savory broth, and perfectly cooked vegetables that’s hearty and comforting, perfect for cold evenings.
