Go Back
+ servings
Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Beef Stew Noodles

Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Beef Stew Noodles

This ultimate comfort food dinner requires only three ingredients and five minutes of prep! Tender chunks of beef and soft vegetables are slow-cooked in a rich gravy, then tossed with chewy egg noodles for a hearty, family-friendly meal.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 5 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch chunks
  • 2 20- to 24-ounce cans condensed beef stew (with potatoes and carrots)
  • 12 ounces wide egg noodles dried, wavy-style if available

Instructions
 

  • Layer Ingredients: Add the beef stew meat to the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the canned condensed beef stew (including all liquid, potatoes, and carrots) over the meat. Use a spoon to spread the stew so the meat is mostly submerged in the gravy.
  • Stir Lightly: Gently stir just enough to tuck most of the beef pieces down into the stew so they cook evenly. You do not need to fully mix—this is a very forgiving, low-effort recipe.
  • Cook Beef: Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is very tender and the potatoes and carrots are soft. The gravy will darken and thicken slightly as it cooks.
  • Adjust Consistency: If the mixture looks too thick to coat noodles, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup hot water to loosen it slightly. If it looks a bit thin, leave the lid off for the last 20 to 30 minutes on HIGH to let some liquid evaporate and concentrate.
  • Cook Noodles: About 20 minutes before serving, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on the stove. Add the egg noodles and cook according to package directions until just tender (usually 6 to 8 minutes). Drain well, shaking off excess water.
  • Combine: Turn the slow cooker to WARM or LOW if it was on HIGH. Add the drained egg noodles directly into the slow cooker. Gently fold the noodles into the beef stew mixture until every strand is coated in the dark, rich gravy and the beef, potatoes, and carrots are evenly distributed.
  • Rest & Serve: Let the combined beef stew noodles sit in the slow cooker for 5 to 10 minutes with the lid on; this helps the noodles absorb some of the gravy and thicken the sauce further. Spoon the hot beef stew noodles into bowls or divide into two foil trays for serving or storing. Serve steaming, with extra gravy ladled over the top.

Notes

Pro-Tip: If you are preparing this for a potluck or meal train, you can transfer the finished mixture directly into disposable aluminum foil trays for incredibly easy transport and cleanup!
Did You Make This Recipe?Let us know how it was!