If you’re looking for a meal that is equal parts comforting and packed with flavor, crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes is the answer to your dinnertime dreams. Imagine fork-tender beef, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes, and the irresistible aroma of buttery garlic wafting through your kitchen—all with barely any hands-on effort. This dish comes together effortlessly in your slow cooker, leaving you with hearty, savory bites that taste like you spent all day in the kitchen (even if you barely did). It’s the kind of recipe that brings everyone to the table with big appetites and even bigger smiles.

crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gathering your ingredients for crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes couldn’t be easier. Each component is chosen for its straightforward flavor, its role in creating tender bites, or its ability to soak up that dreamy garlic butter sauce—every ingredient shines here, so don’t skimp on quality if you can help it!

Beef Stew Meat: Go for well-marbled chunks; they turn meltingly tender after hours in the crockpot.
Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes: These potatoes keep their shape and develop creamy centers as they soak up the garlicky butter.
Onion Powder: Adds gentle aromatic depth to both meat and potatoes, with no slicing or dicing required.
Garlic Powder: Delivers a more mellow garlic backbone, complementing the fresh garlic without overpowering it.
Seasoned Salt: Brings together all the flavors with a well-rounded seasoning boost—keep your favorite blend handy.
Chopped Garlic: The real flavor bomb—those little bits soften and infuse the whole dish with their unmistakable zing.
Butter (cut into pads): Unsalted is best so you can control the seasoning; the butter creates a luscious sauce that’s the soul of this recipe.

How to Make crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes

Step 1: Set Up Your Crockpot with Beef and Potatoes

Start by placing your beef stew meat on one side of the crockpot, and nestle those baby Yukon gold potatoes right beside it (but keep them separate for now). This helps both the beef and potatoes cook evenly so you don’t end up with overcooked spuds or tough meat. If you’re using larger potatoes, give them a quick chop to help them cook through at the same rate as the beef.

Step 2: Sprinkle on the Seasonings

Next, evenly dust both the beef and potatoes with onion powder, garlic powder, and seasoned salt. This step is key to ensuring that every single bite is packed with flavor—the seasoned salt especially ties everything together, so don’t hold back here. The idea is to get a little bit of that fragrant seasoning in each mouthful.

Step 3: Toss the Beef (But Keep It Separate From Potatoes)

Gently toss the beef pieces to make sure that luscious seasoning clings to every one, but try not to mix them into the potatoes just yet. Keeping them on their own sides helps keep the textures distinct: the beef will get perfectly juicy while the potatoes soak up flavor but stay tender instead of mushy.

Step 4: Add Fresh Garlic and Butter

Time for the flavor powerhouse: pile the chopped garlic right over the meat and potatoes, then stud the top with pads of cold butter. As everything cooks down, the butter melts into the garlic and creates a dreamy, aromatic sauce that seeps into every bite. No stirring required—just scatter and go!

Step 5: Cook Low and Slow

Cover your crockpot and set it to cook on low for six hours. This low-and-slow magic transforms tough stew meat into the most succulent, pull-apart beef you can imagine, and gives the potatoes time to absorb all that garlicky, buttery goodness. Try your best not to lift the lid—trapping all the moisture inside is what makes the magic happen.

Step 6: Spoon over the Garlic Butter Sauce

Once it’s done, grab a large spoon and gently ladle that fragrant garlic butter sauce up from the bottom, drizzling it over the beef and potatoes before serving. This last step ensures every bite is glossy with rich, savory flavor—don’t skip it!

Step 7: Serve Hot and Savor

Dish up your crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes immediately while everything is piping hot. The combination of tender beef, buttery potatoes, and golden garlic sauce is pure comfort food perfection. A sprinkle of herbs or a grind of black pepper on top makes it irresistible.

How to Serve crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes

Garnishes

Add a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or green onions just before serving for a pop of color and a little hit of brightness. Extra cracked black pepper or an additional pinch of coarse salt does wonders for finishing off crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes and making them look (and taste) restaurant-worthy.

Side Dishes

While this dish is a meal-in-one, it can easily pair with light, crisp sides to round things out. Think a simple mixed green salad with a tangy vinaigrette, or some roasted green beans for a shot of color. Warm crusty bread is perfect for mopping up that luxurious garlic butter sauce, and you’ll never regret serving this dish with extra vegetables if you want to stretch things further.

Creative Ways to Present

If you want to get a little fancy, skewer individual beef and potato pieces onto small bamboo picks and serve as hearty appetizers at gatherings. Or, pile a generous scoop over a bed of cauliflower mash for an even more decadent dinner. Crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes also make a stellar crowd-pleasing potluck dish; simply transport right in your slow cooker and plug in to keep warm.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes can be cooled completely and stored in airtight containers in the fridge for up to four days. Store the beef and potatoes together, making sure to spoon plenty of that garlicky sauce over the top to keep everything moist and flavorful.

Freezing

This dish freezes beautifully! Once cooled, transfer the beef, potatoes, and sauce to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. To prevent freezer burn and keep those tender textures intact, try to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.

Reheating

To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen. Warm everything gently in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of broth if needed to loosen the sauce. You can also microwave leftovers in short bursts, stirring frequently to ensure even heating. The flavors only get better with time!

FAQs

Can I use a different cut of beef for this recipe?

Absolutely! While beef stew meat is convenient and budget-friendly, you can use chuck roast cut into cubes, or even brisket if you’re feeling fancy. Any well-marbled, slow-cooking cut will work beautifully in crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes.

What if I don’t have baby Yukon gold potatoes?

No problem—red potatoes, fingerlings, or even russet potatoes cut into large chunks will all work. Just try to keep pieces similar in size to ensure even cooking alongside the beef.

Can this dish be made in advance?

Definitely! In fact, crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes mellow and intensify in flavor as they sit, so making them a day ahead can be delicious. Simply store, then reheat gently before serving.

Is it possible to make this recipe dairy-free?

Of course! Swap the butter for a quality plant-based alternative. You’ll still get a luscious finish and the garlic flavors will shine just as brightly.

Can I add vegetables to this recipe?

Yes! Carrot chunks, parsnips, or quartered mushrooms make great additions—just add them with the potatoes. They’ll infuse more color, nutrition, and even more flavor into the crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes.

Final Thoughts

If you’re craving a cozy, crowd-pleasing dinner that practically cooks itself, crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes is a must-try. This is the kind of dish that will have everyone begging for seconds, and it’s so simple, you’ll want to keep it in your regular dinner rotation. Give it a go and enjoy every melty, garlicky, beefy bite!

crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 26 reviews

Author: Lily
Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

Tender beef stew meat and baby Yukon gold potatoes cooked in a flavorful garlic butter sauce, made easy in the crockpot.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef Bites:

2 pounds beef stew meat
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 tablespoon garlic, chopped

Potatoes:

1½ pounds baby Yukon gold potatoes
5 tablespoons butter, cut into pads

Instructions

Place Ingredients: Place beef stew meat in one half of the crockpot and baby potatoes on the other side.
Seasoning: Sprinkle onion powder, garlic powder, and seasoned salt evenly over both sides.
Coat Beef: Gently toss the beef to coat evenly in the seasoning, keeping it separated from the potatoes.
Add Garlic: Add chopped garlic on top of the meat and potatoes.
Add Butter: Place butter pads over the entire dish.
Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
Finish: When done, spoon the garlic butter sauce from the bottom over the beef and potatoes.
Serve: Serve hot and enjoy your crockpot garlic butter beef bites with potatoes!

Notes

You can add some fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for extra flavor.
For a thicker sauce, mix a cornstarch slurry and add it to the crockpot 30 minutes before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Category: Main Course
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American