This hamburger stew recipe is wonderfully thick, hearty, and a breeze to prepare! It’s a delightful family meal that brings everyone together using budget-friendly ingredients.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20-30 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:           

1 lb ground turkey, beef, chicken, or venison, etc.

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 can chopped tomatoes (with diced chilies, fire-roasted tomatoes, or regular tomatoes)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

2 medium carrots, chopped.

2 celery ribs, chopped.

1/2 to 1 cup frozen or fresh green beans

1/2 to 1 cup frozen or fresh corn

2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

• You can also use vegetables you have on hand.

2 C. beef or vegetable stock, more if needed

Salt and pepper to taste

Flour, to thicken the stew if desired.

What to do:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the onion until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds making sure not to burn. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat, if desired. Place the meat mixture, vegetables, and seasonings in your slow cooker and stir. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or 4 hours on high.

Stove top instructions:

In a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed stockpot, do as above, simmer covered, until the potatoes and carrots are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. The longer it simmers, the better the flavor will be.

Thicken the stew:

If you would like your stew thicker, remove about half a cup of the cooking liquid and mix three tablespoons of flour into it until smooth. Then, stir half of the mixture into the pot, and add the other half if needed.