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Hearty Hobo Dinner in a Slow Cooker — featured

Hearty Hobo Dinner in a Slow Cooker

This Slow Cooker Hobo Dinner features lean ground beef, Yukon Gold potatoes, and carrots simmered in a flavorful sauce, creating a hearty one-pot meal that cooks itself while you focus on other tasks.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

Meat
  • 900 g lean ground beef
Vegetables
  • 900 g Yukon Gold potatoes cut into 2.5 cm chunks
  • 4 medium carrots peeled and sliced into thick rounds
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
Liquids
  • 240 ml beef broth
  • 410 g diced tomatoes with their juices
Condiments
  • 30 g tomato paste
  • 30 ml Worcestershire sauce
Fats
  • 15 ml olive oil
Spices
  • 5 g garlic powder
  • 5 g onion powder
  • 5 g smoked paprika
  • 5 g dried Italian seasoning
  • 5 g dried thyme
  • 5 g salt
  • 2.5 g ground black pepper
Thickener
  • 30 g cornstarch
  • 30 ml cold water to make slurry
Garnish
  • 30 g fresh parsley finely chopped

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker Essential for slow cooking to tenderize beef and meld flavors.
  • skillet For browning the ground beef.
  • Cutting Board For preparing vegetables.
  • Knife For cutting vegetables.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Wash and cut the potatoes into 1-inch chunks, peel and slice carrots into thick rounds, chop the onion into bite-sized pieces, and mince garlic. Ensuring uniform sizes helps them cook evenly.
  2. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil and add ground beef. Cook until browned and crumbly, about 6 to 8 minutes. Browning adds depth to the meat flavor and prepares it for the slow cooker.
  3. Transfer the browned beef and minced garlic to the slow cooker. Layer the prepared vegetables on top and stir gently for even distribution.
  4. In a bowl, mix beef broth, diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato paste, and seasonings. Pour this mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker, ensuring everything is evenly coated.
  5. Cover and set the cooker to LOW for 7 to 8 hours. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking, as this can extend the cooking time. The dish is ready when the potatoes and carrots are tender.
  6. To thicken the sauce, mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry, then add it to the slow cooker. Set the cooker to HIGH for an additional 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  7. Once cooking is complete, sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top just before serving. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm for the best taste.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.

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