Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (2024)

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

Delicious slow cooker beef and pumpkin stew. Loaded with beef, fresh pumpkin, parsnips and carrots, this pumpkin stew is perfect for the cold winter months and for using up leftover pumpkin.

This pumpkin stew recipe is also a fantastic healthy fall recipe. It is loaded with beef and vegetables and perfect for paleo or the whole30.

This beef and pumpkin stew recipe is an updated recipe. Originally shared back in 2016, updated in 2020, and updated again for you today.

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (1)

Table of Contents

Beef And Pumpkin Stew

This beef and pumpkin stew came about (back in 2016) because I was on a round of the Whole30 and wanted something different than just air fryer pumpkin for dinner.

I lived in Portugal then and was rather limited on ingredients. The parsnips looked past it (but where the best I could get) and the beef was the best I could find. Yet Portugal excelled with its AMAZING pumpkin.

It soon became my go to and I would also transform it with more stock and tomatoes into a beef and pumpkin soup sometimes too.

Fast forward a few years and living back in the UK and I am now able to get all the best ingredients and really transform this beef and pumpkin stew.

It has also become my go to for using up pumpkin and dumping all the ingredients into the slow cooker.

Are You New To The Slow Cooker?

This is perfect for you if you want to get more recipes for your slow cooker. Loaded with a lot of British classics and something for everyone.

Click here or on the banner above and you will have access to it in an instant.

What Meat Goes With Pumpkin?

The best meat to cook with pumpkin is beef. You can add pumpkin to stews, stroganoffs or serve it alongside your air fryer sirloin steak. It really does go well together.

Can You Make A Vegetarian Pumpkin Stew?

Yes, you can. You can load it up with more vegetables, add in chickpeas or just swap out the beef for some quorn. Or follow our slow cooker vegetable stew for inspiration.

Can You Cook Beef Stew With Pumpkin?

Yes, you certainly can make beef stew with pumpkin, and it is delicious. But remember that pumpkin is fast cooking and beef is slow cooking. If you dumped everything into the slow cooker at once, you will end up with pumpkin mush.

What I recommend instead that you add pumpkin to your stew later and then your stew ingredients will be cooked correctly.

Would you like easy & amazing slow cooker recipes from slow cooker experts? Click here and join the Recipe This Newsletter. We will then send you the BEST slow cooker beginner recipes direct to your email inbox along with other useful kitchen gadget resources.

Pumpkin Beef Stew Ingredients

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (3)

Pumpkin – You will want loads of cubed pumpkin. The lovely hubby always peels and cubes a whole pumpkin when we buy one and then we have a good batch of it to use in a variety of pumpkin recipes.

Veggies – I also recommend adding in some other veggies too. We used parsnips and carrots.

Beef – Any diced beef will do the trick. I usually look for a deal on diced pumpkin and then bulk buy it for later and then freeze it. Then when I want to make a slow cooker beef stew, I will defrost overnight.

Onion – I also recommend adding an onion. You can peel and dice the onion and then sauté it with extra virgin olive oil to flavour your slow cooker first, or skip the sauté step.

Garlic – Your pumpkin stew tastes better because of the garlic. You don’t have to use fresh garlic though you can cheat. Swap fresh garlic for garlic puree, chopped frozen garlic, or garlic seasoning. We went with Morrison’s frozen chopped garlic and it’s a life saver for quick prep.

Stock – I also recommend using our instant pot veggie stock or some beef stock. It’s such a great way to add stock to your soups and stews and it freezes perfectly. Though you can of course use any veggie stock and you will need 300ml.

Seasoning – Then for seasoning for your beef and pumpkin stew I recommend salt, pepper, sweet paprika, thyme and parsley.

Then for the kitchen gadgets that we have used in this recipe for pumpkin stew it has just been our Crockpot Slow Cooker. We have this one and its wonderful for many types of slow cooker recipes and also great for homemade stews.

Plus, we recommend you head over to our slow cooker recipes category as we have more than 100 tried and tested slow cooker recipes and have been using slow cookers for 18 years.

How To Make Beef Stew With Pumpkin?

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (4)
  • Peel. If you haven’t done so already, peel and dice loads of pumpkin. We used 400g of pumpkin in our stew.
  • Optional. I like to sauté my onion first in my slow cooker with some extra virgin olive oil. This is optional and can just be dumped in with the other ingredients. I then love to add in the garlic too and then brown the meat.
  • Dump. Add to the slow cooker everything but the pumpkin and seasonings.
  • Cook. Slow cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 3 hours.
  • Add. Then add the pumpkin and seasonings and mix well. The frozen stock cube will have defrosted now and will mix in easily.
  • Cook. Then cook for a further 1 hour on high or 1.5 hours on low.
  • Serve. Stir and then serve.

And I am sure you can see why crockpot pumpkin stew is a true favourite of mine.

How Can I Make My Beef Stew More Flavoursome?

The best way to make beef stew more flavoursome is to always use your own homemade stock. It makes such a difference to make your own compared to shop bought or using OXO cubes.

I don’t always have spare beef stock and that is okay as you can sub it for vegetable stock, you can also make instant pot chicken stock, instant pot turkey stock or even instant pot lamb stock.

More Slow Cooker Stew Recipes

As we just love stew in the slow cooker, below are a few more slow cooker stew recipes that we recommend that you try, and of course its easy to mix and match ingredients to fit in with what ingredients you have in.

  • Slow Cooker Irish Lamb Stew
  • Slow Cooker Corned Beef Stew
  • Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
  • Slow Cooker Venison Stew
  • Slow Cooker Turkish Bean Stew

What Else To Make With Leftover Pumpkin?

There are also a lot of other things you can make with leftover pumpkin beyond our pumpkin beef stew.

For example, we love to cook air fryer cubed pumpkin for a delicious side dish, cook instant pot pumpkin puree and freeze for later, make air fryer pumpkin muffins or best of all soup maker pumpkin soup.

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (5)

Your beef pumpkin stew slow cooker recipe is below, note you can print it out with or without photos, adjust servings, or click between metric and imperial depending on where you are in the world.

Though before you do, don’t forget to subscribe, and grab your FREE VIP Pass to Recipe This. You will get access to our latest recipes first, you will be able to request recipes, you will have access to free mini courses, free ebooks and useful cook time charts and so much more.

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (7)

Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Beef & Pumpkin Stew

Delicious slow cooker beef and pumpkin stew. Loaded with beef, fresh pumpkin, parsnips and carrots, this pumpkin stew is perfect for the cold winter months and for using up leftover pumpkin.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time3 hours hrs

Total Time3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Slow Cooker

Servings: 4

Calories: 317kcal

Author: RecipeThis.com

Ingredients

  • 400 g Beef Stewing Meat cubed
  • 400 g Cubed Pumpkin
  • 3 Medium Carrots
  • 3 Medium Parsnips
  • 1 Medium Onion peeled and sliced
  • 1 Tbsp Chopped Garlic
  • 300 ml Instant Pot Veggie Stock
  • 2 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Parsley
  • 1 Tbsp Thyme
  • 1 Tbsp Sweet Paprika
  • Salt & Pepper

Kitchen Gadgets:

MetricImperial

Instructions

  • If you have not done so already, peel and dice your pumpkin, parsnips and carrots into cubes and peel and slice your onion.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (8)

  • Load your onion into the Crockpot and sauté with extra virgin olive oil. Then take the slow cooker off the heat and stir in the garlic.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (9)

  • Add the diced beef and brown all over.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (10)

  • Then add in everything but the seasonings and pumpkin, and slow cook for 2 hours on high or 3 hours on low.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (11)

  • Then stir in seasonings and pumpkin and cook for a further 1 hour on high or 1.5 hours on low.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (12)

  • Stir and then serve.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (13)

Notes

Garlic. The best garlic I have found for a cheats method, is the frozen chopped garlic from the supermarket. It is a total prep time saver.

Frozen. I love frozen stock cubes. You can batch instant pot veggie stock, freeze, and load frozen stock into the slow cooker. It will then defrost and cook with the stew.

Thanks for reading our pumpkin beef stew crockpot recipe on Recipe This. We have many more slow cooker recipes for you to check out next. Though if you would like more soup slow cooker recipes, do check out our slow cooker Pumpkin soup.

Nutrition

Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 402mg | Potassium: 1375mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 17345IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition InfoPlease Note: Nutrition values are our best estimate based on the software we use at Recipe This and are meant as a guide. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Are We Friends On Pinterest?If we are not and you use Pinterest then follow us @RecipeThisBlog for more delicious recipes.

Fancy A Video?Subscribe to the Recipe This YouTube Channel for full length recipe videos. Don’t forget to click the bell icon to be notified when we upload a new video. Subscribe Here!

Copyright Notice© RecipeThis.com. ALL content including photos are copyright protected. Sharing of our recipes is both encouraged and appreciated via the social share buttons. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media channel or onto your own website is strictly prohibited.

Can’t make it now? Then save it for later!

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (14)
Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Pumpkin Stew (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to cook stew on low or high in slow cooker? ›

Tips for making the best beef stew

Browning the beef in a skillet beforehand will bring out even more flavor. Cook it on low. While many slow cooker recipes can be made on high for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend cooking this beef stew on low for the full 7-8 hours. This will ensure that the beef gets nice and tender.

Why is my beef stew tough in slow cooker? ›

If you consistently notice tough beef, Carli says your slow cooker may not be working hard enough. “Try cooking for longer, or at a higher temp,” she advises.

What meat goes well with pumpkin? ›

Pumpkin will go well with any roast fowl, so turkey, chicken, cornish hens and the like are all good choices. I've had spicy pumpkin puree with lamb and pork, both a good combo. And you can make pumpkin soup as a main course or as an appetizer.

Can you overcook beef stew in a slow cooker? ›

Actually, it is possible to overcook beef stew. The meat may be dry and the vegetables can become mushy. It's all edible but it won't be the best quality. You may prefer the shorter cooking time on High compared to all day on Low.

What gives beef stew the best flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The secret to tender beef stew lies in slow braising short ribs and marbled chuck roast in a red wine and beef broth. This gentle simmer transforms the meat into incredibly tender pieces that practically fall apart with a fork. Tender root vegetables, like carrots and potatoes, complete this hearty dish.

What happens if you don't brown meat before a slow cooker? ›

Browning Is Better

And if you dredge the meat in flour before you brown it, your sauce will thicken up to make a gravy. You should always brown ground beef or any ground meat in a skillet before adding it to your slow cooker to prevent the meat from clumping up or from adding excess grease to your cooked dish.

Why are my potatoes still hard in the crockpot? ›

Insufficient Liquid: If there wasn't enough liquid in the crockpot, it could have caused uneven cooking. Potatoes need to be fully submerged in liquid to cook evenly. Old Potatoes: Very old or stored potatoes can become starchy and may not soften as well during cooking. It's best to use fresh, firm potatoes.

Why are my carrots still hard in the slow cooker? ›

Carrots may remain firm in a slow cooker if they're not cooked long enough or if the temperature is too low. Ensure sufficient cooking time and consider cutting carrots into smaller pieces for even cooking.

What spice compliments pumpkin? ›

Pumpkin is notorious for pairing well with warm winter spices – as found in a variety of Moroccan-inspired cuisines. Try incorporating cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cumin and chilli with your pumpkin dishes for flavour-packed feasts.

What is a complimentary flavor to pumpkin? ›

To complement pumpkin with sweet flavor pairings, consider using spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, or sweet ingredients like chocolate, maple, honey, cranberries or brown sugar. Create savory dishes by pairing pumpkin with spices like chilies, cajun, cayenne or pepper.

Can I leave food in a slow cooker overnight off after? ›

Most appliances will automatically shut off after 20 or so hours on this setting, but you shouldn't leave food in a slow cooker for an extended length of time. The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm.

What thickens stew in slow cooker? ›

Cornstarch, potato starch, and chickpea flour are a couple of pantry-friendly ways to thicken soups, stews, and sauces in the slow cooker. Just a tablespoon or two of any — added towards the end of cooking — will thicken sauces especially well.

Can I leave my crockpot on low for 12 hours? ›

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours? Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.

Is it better to use low or high setting on slow cooker? ›

Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting.

Does beef stew get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

Chuck meat is your best bet for beef stew, but it's also a pretty tough cut so it needs time to break down and become tender. Rush the cooking process and the beef will be tough and chewy. Follow this tip: For really tender meat, cook the stew low and slow, for approximately two hours.

Does stew taste better the longer it cooks? ›

Don't Stew the Stew Too Long Either

It might seem that cooking your beef stew on low for 8 hours will make it even better, but that is not true at all.

Should slow cooker be on low or high times? ›

If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Allyn Kozey

Last Updated:

Views: 6626

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Allyn Kozey

Birthday: 1993-12-21

Address: Suite 454 40343 Larson Union, Port Melia, TX 16164

Phone: +2456904400762

Job: Investor Administrator

Hobby: Sketching, Puzzles, Pet, Mountaineering, Skydiving, Dowsing, Sports

Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.