Easy Slow Cooker Braised Beef with Onions & Mushrooms is a restaurant-quality, budget-friendly meal for midweek or entertaining!
If you can’t cook, have no time or are too tired this new recipe is for you!
My husband (who had a big hand in developing this recipe) likens it to eating fillet steak but at a fraction of the price!
Slow cooking turns braising steak into velvety tender beef. Beef, onions, and mushrooms simmer with garlic, bay leaves, beef stock cubes, and Worcestershire Sauce to make the most tasty meal.
Table of contents
- Why you should make Easy Slow Cooker Braised Beef
- What is the difference between braising and stewing?
- Tips for making Easy Braised Steak
- How to make Easy Slow Cooker Braised Beef with Onions & Mushrooms
- How Many Servings Does This Recipe Make?
- How Should You Treat Leftover Braised Beef?
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Variations
- More Budget-Friendly Beef Recipes
- Conclusion
Why you should make Easy Slow Cooker Braised Beef
- Unlike most braised beef or braised steak recipes, there is no frying of any ingredients beforehand. Braising steak does not need to be seared and the onions and mushroom don’t need to be fried.
- This is a dump-and-go recipe. The only prep you need to do is to quarter the onions, halve the mushrooms, and mince or slice the garlic.
- Then you layer the ingredients into your slow cooker (Crock Pot).
- You don’t need to wait half an hour for your steak to come to room temperature as it will slowly warm up in the slow cooker. Just unwrap it when you start cooking.
- Braising beef in a slow cooker is more economical than using the oven.
- This is the quickest and easiest-to-prepare recipe for braised beef!
What is the difference between braising and stewing?
Braising and stewing are both slow-cooking methods using moist heat, but they differ primarily in the amount of liquid and size of the ingredients.
In braising, larger cuts of meat are partially submerged in liquid, allowing the top portion to steam, while stewing fully submerges smaller, bite-sized pieces in liquid.
Braising typically results in a thicker sauce and more structured meat, while stewing creates a more broth-like consistency.
In this recipe, the liquid is provided by the onions, mushrooms, and steaks themselves so no additional liquid is required. This also makes for a super intense flavour.
Both braising and stewing, break down the connective tissue (over a long time) in cheaper tough meat resulting in beautifully tender meat.
My son thought this was a beef stew as a fair amount of beef broth is created during cooking.
Tips for making Easy Braised Steak
1. Start by unwrapping the steaks and allowing them to rest while you prepare the vegetables. There is no need to pat the steaks dry as any meat juices will add to the flavour.
2. To prevent the mushrooms from sticking to the side of the slow cooker grease with a little oil (or push them down towards the end of cooking).
3. To test if the meat is ready, insert a fork into one of the steaks. It should glide in easily.
4. If you’re not ready to serve use the “keep warm” function on your slow cooker while you cook your vegetables.
5. If you want to serve with peas, stir them in half an hour before the end.
How to make Easy Slow Cooker Braised Beef with Onions & Mushrooms
The full recipe can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Ingredients
- Stewing Steak – may also be labelled as braising steak, chuck steak or casserole beef.
- Chestnut Mushrooms – for their flavour plus keep their shape better than Closed Cup Mushrooms.
- Red or Brown Onions – red onions are sweeter and more nutritious than brown onions.
- Garlic – I crushed it in the photos but prefer it crushed with the side of a knife and then sliced.
- Worcestershire Sauce – acts as a flavour enhancer.
- Bay Leaves – for depth of flavour.
- Beef Stock Cubes – good quality (not Oxo).
- Butter – salted or unsalted, whatever you have.
- Seasoning – sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Method
- Grease the sides of a slow cooker pot with a little olive and then place onions, bay leaves, stewing steaks, salt, pepper, garlic, stock cubes (one on each steak), Worcestershire Sauce, mushrooms and knobs of butter into slow cooker in this order.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours or until the beef is tender (test with a fork).
- For 2 servings you can keep the steaks whole or break them into chunks if serving 3 people. Serve with mashed potatoes or creamy polenta and vegetables.
How Many Servings Does This Recipe Make?
This recipe serves 2 – 3 adults (my husband and I shared this dish once and were very full so usually this serves 3 in our household).
If you need to serve 4 – 6 people I suggest doubling up on the steak and onions but you could leave the mushroom quantity the same. You’d also need a bigger slow cooker.
How Should You Treat Leftover Braised Beef?
Leftover braised beef tastes even better the next day and can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat the leftovers (covered) in a microwave or oven until an internal temperature of 74C or 105F is reached.
Serving Suggestions
- Depending on how many people you’re serving, you can leave the steaks whole or break them up with a spoon.
- Slow Cooker Braised Beef pairs well with mashed potatoes or creamy polenta which mop up the flavoursome braising liquid.
- Carrots, peas, beans or courgettes also make great sides as do Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables.
- If you have some leftover shortcrust or puff pastry you could bake and serve as a cheat’s pie lid.
Recipe Variations
An easy way to ring the changes would be to substitute the bay leaves for Italian seasoning or some sprigs of fresh rosemary etc.
You could also add chopped root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, potatoes, etc (a larger slow cooker would be needed).
If making for a special occasion you could swap the onions for shallots.
More Budget-Friendly Beef Recipes
If you need more beef recipe inspiration using affordable cuts of beef then check out the following recipes:
- Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with Onion Gravy
- Easy Slow Cooker Beef Curry
- Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Slow Cooked Beef & Butternut Squash
- Slow Cooked Beef & Vegetable Casserole
- Beef in Beer
- Crock Pot Corned Beef with Irish Whiskey Glaze
- Scottish Steak Pie with Puff Pastry Topping
Conclusion
My Easy Slow Cooker Braised Beef with Onions & Mushrooms is a great meal that has become a family favourite.
It turns tough cuts of beef into melt-in-the-mouth deliciousness.
Not only is it a super affordable and quick-to-prepare midweek meal but it’s also a great recipe for a special occasion.
Pin Easy Slow Cooker Braised Beef with Onions & Mushrooms for later!
Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.
Easy Slow Cooker Braised Beef with Onions & Mushrooms
Equipment
- 3.5 L slow cooker
- Chopping Board
- cook’s knife
- Measuring spoons
- Digital scales
Ingredients
- 4 red or brown onions quartered (medium sized)
- 2 bay leaves
- 400 g stewing steak
- 2 beef stock cubes good quality
- 4 garlic cloves crushed with side of knife and sliced
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 250 g chestnut mushrooms halved
- 15 g butter diced
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Grease the sides of a slow cooker pot with a little olive oil (not vital but stops mushrooms sticking) and then place onions, bay leaves, stewing steaks, salt, pepper, garlic, stock cubes (one on each steak), Worcestershire Sauce, mushrooms and knobs of butter into a slow cooker in this order.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours or until a fork will easily glide through the steak.
- Once tender serve the steaks whole (if serving 2) or break up and serve with onions, mushrooms and cooking juices. Serve with mashed potatoes/creamy polenta and vegetables.
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