Weight Watchers Recipe of the Day: Crock Pot Stew Beef and Gravy
It's been unseasonably cold and damp here in Phoenix and I've been craving simple hearty comfort foods. So, I decided it was the perfect time to adapt Mom's stew beef and gravy for the slow cooker.
WW Friendly Crock Pot Stew Meat and Gravy
This yummy Crock Pot Stew Beef and Gravy is the result.
Stew beef with gravy showed up at our house quite often when I was growing up. My dad loved nothing better than meat and mashed potatoes.
So, Mom's simple preparation of lean chunks of lean stew beef browned with chopped onion, simmered until tender and thickened with a simple slurry of flour and water was a big hit.
She always finished her gravy with a couple drops of Gravy Master (affiliate link), her secret ingredient for stews and gravies.
If you're not familiar with Gravy Master (affiliate link), it's a liquid browning and seasoning (similar to Kitchen Bouquet) which comes in a distinctive orange-capped glass bottle.
Mom thought it tasted best and used it religiously for gravy-making. Every time I pull it out of the cupboard, I'm transported back to Mom's kitchen.
Are there any special foods and ingredients that have the same effect on you?
Stew Beef and Gravy Recipe Notes
I added a couple of drops of Gravy Master (affiliate link) Browning and Seasoning at the end, which is totally optional, since it can be hard to find outside of New England.
Don't worry, your Crock Pot Stew Beef and Gravy will still be delicious without it.
Cookin' Up This Stew Meat with Gravy
Serve over rice, noodles, mashed potatoes, or if you're taking it easy on the carbs, zucchini noodles or riced cauliflower.
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Crock Pot Stew Beef with Gravy?
According to my calculations each serving has 201 calories and:
4 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
This is the kind of Weight Watchers friendly meal that will please young and old alike. Enjoy!
Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?
If you've made this Slow Cooked Stew Beef and Gravy, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Crock Pot Stew Beef & Gravy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-½ cups chopped onion (1 large)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 pounds extra lean stew beef (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups water
- 3 beef bouillon cubes (I use 3 teaspoons jarred Better Than Bouillon Beef Base (affiliate link))
- ½ cup flour
- 1 - 2 drops of Gravy Master (affiliate link) Browning & Seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Ideal Slow Cooker Size: 4-Quart.
- Place the oil in a skillet set over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often until the onion is golden and softened, about 5 minutes. Scrape the onion into the slow cooker.
- Pat dry the beef with paper towels and then season it with the salt and pepper.
- Add it to the skillet in batches so you don't overcrowd the pan.
- Cook, just until the sides are browned, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. (The meat will still be raw in the middle.)
- Scrape the meat into the slow cooker.
- Add the water, bouillon and flour to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until thickened 2 to 3 minutes. Pour over the meat.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or until the meat is fork tender. If desired, stir in 1-2 drops of Gravy Master (affiliate link) Browning and Seasoning at the end.
- Serve over rice or mashed potatoes or noodles or zucchini noodles.
Recipe Notes
Source: adapted from Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook: 1400 Best Slow Cooker Recipes (affiliate link) by Phyllis Good
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
I used the following to make this stew meat and gravy:
If you like this slow cooker beef and gravy recipe, you might also like:
- Easy Healthy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Easy Slow Cooker Balsamic Braised Beef
- Easy Slow Cooker Asian Braised Beef
Search for More WW Friendly Crock Pot Recipes
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
Subscribe to Get: Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes
The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes (PDF) on Simple Nourished Living + Weekly Support Emails with Tips & Easy Healthy Recipes Not Found Anywhere Else!
Marge Morrison
This recipe proved to be delicious from the crockpot -- sometimes I question, as I was a long-time user of slow cooking in the oven - seemingly this was the tastiest and best way of doing things for years! However, this time we're convinced that it really is good -- much easier as well!!
For a bit of added flair, feel free to also add some fresh sliced mushrooms - something that I've come to add rather frequently in later years!
Martha McKinnon
Great, idea Mom! Next time I'll add a few mushrooms too.
Laura
Liquid smoke always brings me back to my mom's kitchen, but that's because when I was 7 or 8, she told me to get it and I didn't know what it was, so she told me to go start a fire outside and set up some tinfoil over it and catch the liquid smoke. .. lol
Martha McKinnon
Too funny, Laura!! That's something that would be hard to forget 🙂
Janet
Sounds delicious. But cold in Phoenix, Arizona?? Cold is 20 degrees here in Phoenix, Maryland.
Martha McKinnon
I know Janet, cold is definitely a relative term, lol. When you live in Phoenix, AZ, anything below 50 seems very very cold 🙂
sylvie
I add some pitted and chopped black olives and be sure it tastes great!
Any way, slow cooking means cooking with love and dishes cooked this way are always so tasteful : )
Martha McKinnon
I so agre, Sylvie!
Jennifer Taylor
Have you tried this recipe with gluten free flour?
Martha McKinnon
No, Jan, I haven't tried this with gluten free flour. If you do, please let us know how it turns out!
Chris
I would to add carrots to this recipe.
Any additional advice for me
Martha McKinnon
Hi Chris, just chop the carrots about the same size so they cook evenly is the only thing I can think of. ~Martha
Laury ivet
I used baby carrots ?