Description
This Slow Cooker Witches Brew Stew is a hearty and flavorful dish combining Italian sausage, ground beef, fresh vegetables, and savory broth. Perfect for cozying up on a chilly day, it features fun Halloween-inspired vegetable shapes and an easy slow-cooking method for tender, rich flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3 ounces shallots, diced (1 package)
- 1 ounce dry onion soup mix (1 packet, divided)
Vegetables
- 8 ounces large white mushrooms (1 package), halved and eyes poked
- 4 carrots, peeled and sliced into ‘pumpkin’ shapes
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1½ pounds baby gemstone potatoes, halved
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1 ounce dry onion soup mix (1 packet, divided)
- 5 cups low sodium beef broth
- 14 ounces Italian-style petite diced tomatoes (1 can)
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the Italian sausage, lean ground beef, diced shallots, and one packet of onion soup mix together. Cook for 5-8 minutes until the meat is browned and cooked through.
- Prepare Vegetables: While the meat cooks, slice mushrooms in half and poke eyes into the rounded side with a chopstick or toothpick. Peel the carrots, cut triangular wedges out of one side to create ‘pumpkin’ shapes, then slice. Set aside.
- Sear Vegetables: Transfer the cooked meat to a large slow cooker and leave behind any excess grease in the skillet. Add mushrooms, carrots, celery, and halved baby potatoes to the skillet and sear over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently to coat with the grease and develop flavor.
- Combine in Slow Cooker: Transfer seared vegetables to the slow cooker with the meat. Sprinkle the second packet of onion soup mix evenly over the vegetables. Add beef broth, diced tomatoes, and red wine vinegar. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Slow Cook: Cover slow cooker with lid and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours. Cook until vegetables are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
Notes
- You can brown the meat directly in the slow cooker using the sauté function to save a step, just be sure to drain excess grease before adding other ingredients.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and use vegetable broth. Add extra vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini if desired.
- Add heat by incorporating chopped jalapeño, red pepper flakes, or diced hot peppers during cooking.
- Add cooked beans such as kidney or black beans or grains like quinoa or rice to make the stew more filling.
- For a creamier stew, stir in heavy cream or coconut milk at the end of cooking.
- Use colorful vegetables like purple potatoes or rainbow carrots to make the stew more visually appealing.
- Create spooky ‘eyes’ on top of the stew with dollops of sour cream or cream cheese topped with sliced black olives for a fun Halloween touch.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1½ cups)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
