Thank you to The Kansas Beef Council for sponsoring this Slow Cooker Asian Beef Stew post, and thank YOU for supporting the brands that help make Meal Prep On Fleek possible. All opinions are our own.
This Asian twist on beef stew incorporates ginger, garlic, coconut aminos, and shiitake mushrooms for an umami dish that is full of tender, protein-rich sirloin. Best of all, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it meal made in the slow cooker that is easily customizable with any veggies you have on hand! So say bye, bye to food waste!
When the colder weather hits, I want to eat easy, warm, and comforting meals that make me feel all comfy-cozy inside. The easiest way to make a meal like that, without spending much time in the kitchen, is with the slow cooker.
Not only does a slow cooker meal like this Asian Beef Stew save you cooking time, but it also allows you to get creative in the kitchen by creating a meal around your favorite lean cut of beef, such as a chuck tender roast, and then tossing in whatever veggies and starches you have on hand. This 'recipe' for a meal based around lean beef protein and veggies allows you to sneak in all the health benefits that beef offers, plus reduce food waste!
That's right! With just one serving of lean beef in your meal prep, you will be taking in 10 essential nutrients like high-quality protein, iron, zinc, B12, and choline, all in one simple ingredient. Then, simply pair your beef with colorful produce in the slow cooker, and you’ll have a “beefed-up” recipe packed with fiber, flavor, and nutrients! It really doesn't get much easier than that!
When it comes to food waste, did you know that food waste is a significant issue in the United States? Americans throw away approximately30-40 percent of their food supply. WHAT?! This accounts for the average family wasting about $1,300 / year.
However, the impacts are felt beyond the bank account. The EPA states food is the single largest category of material placed in landfills, where it emits methane as it rots. These landfills contribute approximately 15 percent of U.S. GHG To put this into perspective, domestic beef cattle are just 2 percent of direct emissions (https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/the-impact-of-consuming-beef-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html).
Reducing GHG emissions from rotting food in landfills can help mitigate climate change. We can lead the way to a more sustainable plate by using up those veggies before they go bad, and this recipe, anchored in high-protein beef, allows us to do just that in a delicious and nutritious way.
What kind of beef should I use?
For this Slow Cooker Asian Beef Stew, I went with a chuck tender roast, but you can sub it with a chuck eye roast or even a classic chuck shoulder roast. Choose a lean beef protein that you enjoy and fits your budget. Satisfaction and cost are two of the keys to being successful with meal prep for the long haul.
For the veggies, I listed quite a few swaps that would work nicely with this dish. But, don't let my suggestions below limit you! Feel free to add in whatever you have on hand! In the past, I've tossed in a random jar of water chestnuts I found in my cabinet, frozen corn, baby corn, etc.
It's all about making meal prep easy!
The goal with a slow cooker meal like this Asian Beef Stew is to show you just how easy it is to create a balanced, macro-friendly meal that hits on nutrition, flavor, ease of preparation, is affordable, and is guaranteed to satisfy every time!
The other win with slow cooker meals is that they are freezer-friendly! You can cook this all the way through, allow it to cool, and then portion it out and freeze half for a later date. That means that doubling or even tripling a recipe like this (if your slow cooker is big enough) will make your winter meal preps that much easier!
Beyond meal prep.
Although this recipe is a "meal prep" recipe, nothing hits quite like a cozy bowl of this Asian Beef Stew with a toasty piece of bread for dipping into the broth on a cold Sunday evening when curled up under a blanket.
Can't get enough beef? Same.
Here are 14 other affordable beef meal prep recipes that you do not want to skip on! They are all made with lean beef protein, veggies, and starch. So, if you've been looking for nutritious and affordable ways to add more lean beef to your diet, you've now got 15 ways at the tip of your fingers!
Slow Cooker Asian Beef Stew Ingredients:
- 1 lb. cubed chuck tender roast (can sub with chuck eye roast or a classic chuck shoulder roast)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups beef stock
- ¼ cup coconut aminos or less sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup peeled sliced carrots (or parsnips, sweet potato)
- 1 cup chopped sweet white onion (or white onion)
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup water
- 2 cups broccoli florets (or asparagus)
- 4 oz. shiitake mushrooms (or cremini, white button, portobello, etc.)
- 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro (or green onion)
- 3 cups cooked jasmine rice (white rice, brown rice, quinoa, pasta, etc.)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chuck tender roast cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups beef stock
- ¼ cup coconut aminos or less sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup peeled sliced carrots or parsnips, sweet potato
- 1 cup chopped sweet white onion or white onion
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup water
- 2 cups broccoli florets or asparagus
- 4 oz. shiitake mushrooms or cremini, white button, portobello, etc.
- 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro or green onion
- 3 cups cooked jasmine rice or brown rice, quinoa, pasta, white rice
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium skillet for 2 minutes. Add beef and brown for 4 minutes, turning after 2 minutes.
- Transfer beef and drippings from pan to slow cooker. Stir together beef stock, coconut aminos, honey, ginger, and garlic. Pour over beef. Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 4 hours.
- Add onion and carrots to the pot. Cook 1 hour longer.
- Whisk together cornstarch and water. Pour into a slow cooker. Add broccoli and mushrooms and stir well. Cover and cook 15 minutes longer until sauce has thickened and vegetables are tender.
- Divide rice between 4 black meal prep containers. Top rice with stew and sprinkle with cilantro.
Lena says
do you have recipes that have 5 servings so I can easily divide them Monday through Friday?
Meal Prep on Fleek says
You can adjust the serving size in the recipe box. 🙂 Our recipes are divided into 4 servings most of the time.