This Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles Recipe makes a delicious comforting meal with just a little advance preparation. Stew meat is combined with French Onion Soup, savory beef broth, and tender egg noodles for the best beef and noodles recipe.
Place all the ingredients in the Crock Pot before you head out the door in the morning and come home to the aroma of a deliciously tender, home-cooked meal. A perfect cozy, comfort food recipe for busy weeknights.
What to Know About the Recipe?
Wide, buttery egg noodles go great with the savory, tender beef in this Crock Pot beef recipe. They taste delicious covered in the rich, hearty sauce. It’s simple comfort food, easily prepared for any night of the week.
It’s like a cross between a rich, creamy, flavorful, stew and a soft pot roast—heaven in a slow cooker! To complete the dinner, serve with some steamed vegetables and crusty bread.
Plus, putting all of your ingredients in early in the day and walking away while they work their magic is simply so rewarding. Crock Pot Beef and Noodles is incredibly easy to cook, and an ideal comfort food to have waiting for you when you get home.
Crowd & Leftover Friendly Recipe
This recipe works well for feeding a crowd and yields fantastic leftovers. As the dish sets overnight, the flavors meld together, making it even more delicious! You can also make this meal ahead, and store it in the fridge overnight or freeze up to 1 month.
Meat & Noodles in the Crockpot is one of those warm meals that has stood the test of time. It features soft, buttery noodles and chunks of beef that have been slowly cooked until they just fall apart. It only needs a short amount of prep time and gently cooks to the ideal tenderness in your Crock Pot.
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles Recipe
You will love today’s recipe to help with your Back to School routine. This Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles Recipe has only 4 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to toss together in the Slow Cooker. After cooking, it will take about 10 minutes to boil the noodles if you cook them separately. If you prefer, you can add them to the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
How to Make This Recipe Gluten Free
This original recipe is not gluten-free. It utilizes wheat noodles and packaged French Onion Soup, which also contains wheat. Since we now keep a gluten-free kitchen at home, I’ve adapted the recipe to be GF and I think it has an even better, cleaner flavor.
To make it Gluten Free, omit the French Onion Soup Mix (most contain wheat) and use the homemade version on the recipe card. Use any GF egg noodles that you like. These are my favorite GF egg noodles, unless I make my own. I recommend that you add the noodles during the last 20 minutes of cooking. They thicken the sauce and soak up any excess liquid beautifully, making them more flavorful, too!
How to Thicken the Sauce in the Slow Cooker
The sauce for this recipe tastes amazing, but is on the thinner side. If you like a thicker sauce for your noodles, you have a few options to thicken it, even at the end of cooking.
- Make a slurry of cornstarch or arrowroot powder and water using 1/4 cup water and 2 Tablespoons cornstarch. Stir it until smooth, then add to the stew. Stir the stew and a few minutes before adding more as it takes a moment to thicken.
- Add dried potato flakes. This is a gluten-free cooking secret! it easily thickens soups, stews, and sauces. Start with 1-2 Tablespoons to the pot, stir it in and add more until you reach the desired consistency. This method thickens the sauce more quickly than the slurry method.
- Prop the lid of the crockpot open to let excess water evaporate. This essentially reduces the sauce and thickens it naturally.
Other Delicious Variations of Beef and Noodles in the Slow Cooker
- Rather than steaming the veggies on the side, add 4 sliced carrots or 1 cup frozen peas to the pot to incorporate vegetables into the dish. A bag of frozen mixed veggies works great for this..
- Add 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger (or 1-inch fresh grated), 3 garlic cloves to the mix and serve over rice or rice noodles for an Asian-inspired twist. Serve with rice noodles rather than egg noodles.
- Add 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and a bay leaf to the broth to add more depth of flavor.
- If you are a fan of beef stroganoff, add 1 cup sliced mushrooms and substitute a can of Cream of Mushroom Soup for one of the cups of broth for a creamy, earthy variation. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.
Creamy Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles Recipe
- Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 6-8
Description
This easy, 4-ingredient slow-cooker recipe takes moments to prepare and is a delicious, nutritious meal to come home to at the end of your day.
Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
2 cups beef broth*
1 package French Onion Soup Mix *
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
16-oz. pkg. extra wide egg noodles
salt and pepper to taste (I prefer 1/2 teaspoon salt and generous pepper in this recipe)
*Beef bouillon + water can be used as a substitute.
*If you don’t have French Onion Soup Mix, you can substitute 1 cup onion (chopped), 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 Tablespoon dried parsley, 2 Tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt.
Instructions
1. Place stew meat in a slow cooker on low setting for 6-8 hours.
2. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of the broth, and onion soup mix and stir to combine; pour over meat.
3. Add remaining broth to slow-cooker.
4. Cover and cook on low setting for 6 to 8 hours.
5. Cook egg noodles according to package directions or add them to the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes of cooking, stirring occasionally. Check after 20 minutes and add 1/4-1/2 cup more broth if needed as the noodles will absorb much of the liquid.
6. If cooking the noodles separately, ladle meat and sauce over drained noodles and enjoy! Serves 6 to 8.
Notes
As a variation, add 4 sliced carrots or 1 cup frozen peas to the pot to incorporate vegetables into the dish (or steam your favorite to serve on the side).
Or, add 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger (or 1-inch fresh grated), 3 garlic cloves to the mix and serve over rice or rice noodles for an Asian-inspired twist.
For a deeper flavor, add 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce to the broth.
Or, if you are a fan of stroganoff, add 1 cup sliced mushrooms and substitute a can of Cream of Mushroom Soup for one of the cups of broth for a creamy, earthy variation. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: comfort foods
- Method: slow-cooker
Slow Cooker Recipes We Love
Here are a few of our other favorite slow cooker recipes. They all come together quickly and provide your family with delicious, nutritious meals.
- Slow Cooker Jambalaya
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider Beef Stew
- Slow Cooker Pulled Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches.
- Check out other Back to School Recipes to make your life easier!
How to Make Creamy Slow-Cooker Beef and Noodles
The tender, slow-cooked Beef can be served with egg noodles, rice, polenta, or mashed potatoes if you prefer. Toss a bag of vegetables in the microwave while the noodles are cooking and you have dinner on the table in about 15 minutes. It is that simple and easy!
We simply love Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks, and this recipe comes from one of our favorites – Simple Shortcut Recipes.
What will you love about the Recipe?
- It’s a delicious comfort food recipe that everyone in the family will enjoy.
- You can make this flavorful dish of egg noodles and tender beef in a single pot, requiring little cleanup.
- Soon after you go home from work, this hearty and home-cooked dinner will be ready.
- Low preparation time and Budget-friendly
- The meal comes together with easily accessible ingredients.
Health Benefits
Muscle Growth:
Beef is naturally filled with protein, which supports and promotes muscle development. Niacin, riboflavin, vitamins B6 and B12, as well as iron, are four vital vitamins found in beef that help fight tiredness. Other vital vitamins and minerals are present in beef, supporting overall health and well-being. Protein supplies the amino acids required for muscle building, muscle growth, and the repair of tissue.
Essential Minerals:
Beef contains iron, which helps your red blood cells transfer oxygen to the cells throughout your body. Iron is necessary for energy, cognitive function, and normal development and growth.
Boost Immunity:
The body can more readily absorb zinc from red meat than it does from plant-based diets. Your body’s cellular metabolism depends heavily on zinc, which also supports a robust immune system that is essential for warding off infections. Additionally, zinc supports your hormonal and cognitive processes and promotes healthy skin and hair.
How to Store?
Store: Creamy Beef and Noodles can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days after it has cooled.
Freeze: Cooled leftovers can be frozen for up to 6 months in an airtight plastic bag or freezer-safe container. To prevent the noodles from falling apart when defrosting, you can alternatively skip the noodles and freeze the other ingredients.
Reheat: Reheat beef and noodles that have been frozen or thawed in the microwave or a pot over the stove until thoroughly heated and simmering.
Nutrition Information
Per serving:
| Calories | 547 kcal | Carbohydrates | 57 g |
| Calcium | 72 mg | Fat | 24 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g | Cholesterol | 143 mg |
| Sugar | 2 g | Potassium | 502 mg |
| Vitamin A | 368IU | Protein | 26 g |
| Iron | 3 mg | Sodium | 113 mg |
63 Comments
This looks great! So simple and delicious.
Is there a substitute I could use for the French onion soup? The hubby and I dislike onion in any form.
Beef consume by Campbell’s will work!
Beef broth or preferably beef consomme will work.
This recipe is delicious – I’m making it for Christmas Day!
So glad you liked it Ellen! Thanks for stopping by and letting us know.
~Liz
Could I use hamburger meat?
Hi,
Good question. The recipe is written for a different cut of meat that needs to braise in liquid to become nice and tender at the end of cooking. I haven’t tried the recipe with ground beef, but I’d imagine you might need to reduce the cooking liquid a bit or the sauce may be too thin. If you cook the noodles in the slow cooker, they will absorb a lot of the liquid and the starch they release will help thicken the sauce. Let me know how it turns out if you try it with ground beef!
I hope you enjoy the recipe either way.
Sincerely,
Colleen
Don’t like cream of celery soup . Is there something else I can use?
Is the meat for this recipe already cooked or does the cook time include the time it takes for the meat to cook. I have some canned stew meat I want to use but am unsure if I should cook it for that long if the meat is already fully cooked.
Hi Erica, the cook time is the time for the meat to cook.
Does the meat cook till soft? I have tried stew meat but for some reason it’s still tough. Does it have to be pounded first?
Yes Kristi, the meat should be tender after cooking. It does not need to be pounded.
Could I substitute the cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom
Hi Crystal, sure that would be fine, it will have a different taste, but I think it would be great.
Happy Cooking!
~Liz
Thanks, I was wondering the same thing. Not so fond of celery.
I made it with cream of celery the first time and cream of mushroom the second time. I much prefer the cream of mushroom. Just add some pepper.
Tried this tonight and have to say, it was not the greatest. Never has French onion soup before and am definitely not a fan. : (
We are sorry you did not like it Marcia. Our family enjoyed it a lot.
Do you mix water with the cream of celery soup and then add it? Or put it in right out of the can? Mine looks lighter than yours looks in the picture does the color darken as it cooks?
Hi Stacy, no water, just the 3 ingredients plus noodles, and yes it will darken a bit. It might also be the light that we shot the photo in.
Happy Cooking!
~Liz
I didn’t have a can of French onion soup. Used dried French onion soup mix and enough water to equal a can. Turned out great. Thank you!
You are welcome Sandy, glad you liked it.
This was great but I used 2 cans of cream of mushroom and 1 can french onion to have plenty of gravy.
Thanks for the input Rene, we are always interested in how you change our recipes to make them better.
Doug
Did you use the celery soup or just the mushroom and French onion soup??
Can I brown beef first in a pan before adding to slow cooker
Yes Bob, you can brown the meat, but you don’t have to.
I’m makeing this for the 2nd time in two weeks . It is so yummy and couldn’t be easier . I threw some baby carrots in with it to get a veggie in and served it over mashed potatoes. Great filling meal for under $10.00
So glad you like the Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles, Ryan! Baby carrots are a great idea!
~Liz
I put all this in the crockpot and saw you said in the comments to brown the meat first. I did just threw the raw meat in the crockpot. Will is turn out ok?
Sorry Kallie, I just saw this comment. How did your beef turn out? I have always browned first.
~Liz
I’ve never browned the meat first and it’s still delicious 😉
I made this for dinner today with stir fry beef from walmart and added chopped red potatoes, baby carrots, and peas. Delicious!!!
That sounds amazing Sierra! Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
Just put this in the crock-pot….looks delicious!
Made this for my family tonight and it was a big, big hit. Roasted some carrots and green beans to go with it. Amazing. Thank you.
Did you have to brown the beef first? I just threw everything in and I just read the comments about browning the meat first.
Hi Ana, no the meat does NOT need to be browned first, but you can if you want to.
I made this for my boyfriend last night and it was AMAZING! We were fighting over the leftovers to take to work today! I was worried the meat would be tough but after the six hours it was melt in your mouth! I will definitely be making this often! Thanks for this easy and delicious recipe!
Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe at #HomeMattersParty. We would love to have you again next week.
Sounds good and so simple! Pinning this for later.
Thanks so much!
Oh my goodness gracious, this looks divine!!!! I especially your food-tography 🙂 totally pinning, have a great day! xo
Thanks so much Jess! It is a great recipe- and easy!
We love this recipe! My hubby requested it for his birthday dinner next week. We just got a pressure cooker. Any idea how to make it in there?
Wow, wasn’t sure how this would work. Turned out great! Served over mashed potatoes, the pot was locked clean. Definitely making this again! So easy too.
Hi. .I made this for dinner and it was a big hit! I did tweak the recipe a little…I added a couple of carrots and celery and one potato. I don’t know if those made the gravy too thin. I fixed that by adding a little corn starch. I will add this to my list of favorites! Thanks
I doubled the recipe and it seems a little runny. Anything I can do to thicken the broth?
Hi Shae, to thicken you can add a small amount (1-2 teaspoons) of cornstarch to water or broth and whisk it, then add it to the beef combination.
I love this recipe, but for a thicker gravy I always dredge the beef in flour, brown it and then add some of the liquid (whichever) you like to de-glaze the pan before adding it to the slow cooker. Definitely helps with thickening.
Thanks for the tip!
made it for the first time in my dutch oven. loved it.
My husband loved this! I dredged meat in flour but didn’t brown it. Doubled soups for extra gravy. Will be adding as a regular go to!!
Can you use hamburger meat? Curious since I dont have any other meats!
Yes, actually that is a great substituent!
Can you cook it on high for 4 hours instead of low for 8?
Not really. You need to slow cook it for the texture and the flavor.
Can I assemble the beef with soups and put crock pot in refrigerator overnight (& cook next day)??
Yes, you can do that. It should not affect the recipe too much
I accidentally bought cream of chicken instead of celery. Hope it comes out ok
Has anyone made this recipe for the Instant Pot?