• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
BeeyondCereal
  • Recipes
  • Summer Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Summer Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
    • Resources
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    BeeyondCereal » Recipes » Soups

    Poor Man's Beef Stew (Stove Top)

    Modified: Oct 17, 2023 Published: Oct 6, 2021 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links. 14 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.52 from 31 votes

    Poor Man's Beef Stew is a hearty and filling stew with minimal ingredients and cost. Frugal eating never tasted so good with this poor man's stove top stew!

    Recipe: $9.84 | Per Serving: $1.23 | Servings: 8

    one bowl of stew with another in the background.

    Making Stove Top Beef Stew is perfect for chilly nights when you crave something hearty.

    But pricey beef cuts can strain the budget, and sometimes a trip to the store isn't an option. When this happens, we make do with what we have, as taught in our Tips for Meal Planning on a Tight Budget.

    That's where Stove Top Poor Man's Stew shines! With just a pound of beef or leftover ground beef and affordable veggies, you can whip up a pot of flavorful stew that tastes gourmet.

    For more budget-friendly meals, explore my Cheap Family Meals Under $10, Egg Drop Soup, Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta, and Spicy Peanut Butter Ramen.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🧾 Substitutions
    • 🔪 Instructions for Poor Man's Beef Stew
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 🥗 Side Dishes
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Soup Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. It's simple yet delicious. With this easy stove top beef stew recipe, you're going to get a flavorful and thick broth packed with veggies, meat, and bowl-licking goodness.
    2. Easy prep. We can use up a lot of "whatever is on hand" with this recipe as it's very versatile. This is a great opportunity for a Clean Out the Pantry Challenge.
    3. Even the leftovers taste great! It's not often you get to hear that, but this poor man's beef stew tastes even better the next day. My guess is that the flavors had longer to develop. So make sure to set aside leftovers for lunch while you still have a chance!

    🥘 Ingredients

    Ingredient Notes:

    Ground Beef- While ground beef is preferable, you could use any ground meat (cooked or uncooked) that you may have on hand. If you have more ground beef on hand, use it up in our Ground Beef Pot Pie or Taco Mac and Cheese (with Rotel).

    Potatoes- I personally prefer Russets because they're cheaper, but golden potatoes work great too and don't get grainy when cooked.

    Flour- This is the soup thickener and helps to give a thicker broth that fills tummies.

    Tomato Paste- Just a small 6 ounce can of tomato paste helps to add flavor and the red color we expect from stews. I have also had success using leftover spaghetti sauce instead- turned out incredible!

    Beef Broth- A 32 ounce carton of beef broth is enough, but you could also do water and bullion.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    📖 Variations

    Enhance with Veggies- Experiment with additional vegetables like cherry tomatoes, summer squash, or mushrooms. Incorporate mushrooms early for richer flavor. Other veggies can join later with potatoes.

    Use Leftover Meat- Utilize seasoned taco meat, sloppy joe meat, or shredded beef from a slow cooker roast instead of ground beef. They add varied flavors and textures.

    Try Different Sauces- Substitute tomato paste with pasta, marinara, or pizza sauce for depth and flavor. Each sauce variation brings a unique taste to the soup.

    🧾 Substitutions

    Flour. Need to be gluten free? Swap out the requested flour for ⅓ cup of cornstarch. Just add it in at the end as a slurry by taking 1 cup of broth from the soup and adding it to a bowl with the cornstarch. Whisk until dissolved and stir into the soup.

    🔪 Instructions for Poor Man's Beef Stew

    Step 1: Brown your ground beef in a large pot over medium high heat and drain excess grease.

    Step 2: Add in the celery, onion, and carrots. Stir and then cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Step 3: Add in the potatoes and stir to combine.

    Step 4: Add in the flour, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Stir to combine and coat everything.

    Step 5: Add in the tomato paste and stir until well combined.

    Step 6: Add in the beef broth and water. Stir until well mixed.

    a pot of stew ready to eat.

    Step 7: Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce heat to medium/low and let simmer for 45 minutes. It's ready when the potatoes and carrots are fork tender.

    a bowl of stew.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    1. Savor the Flavor- This ground beef stew offers a delightful twist from traditional recipes, with smaller, more tender meat chunks.
    2. Let it Simmer- Allow the stew to simmer to meld flavors. Initially tomato-heavy, it transforms into something savory and rich over time. Patience pays off with delicious results.
    3. Test for Doneness- Check potato readiness by mashing a chunk against a cutting board. If it mashes easily, the stew is ready. For smaller pieces, adjust simmering time accordingly, as russets cook faster than golden or red potatoes.

    🥗 Side Dishes

    This poor man's stew recipe pairs really well with breaded items like Air Fryer Canned Biscuits, Frozen Garlic Bread in Air Fryer, Homemade Dinner Rolls, and 2 Hour No Knead White Bread.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What is Poor Man's Stew?

    It's a low-cost soup that tastes great! Made with cheap veggies like onion, celery, carrots, potatoes, and ground beef instead of a pricier cut this soup packs a lot into every heart-warming bowl.

    Can Beef Stew Be Frozen?

    Yes, after allowing the soup to cool completely, store it in a freezer bag or other freezer-friendly container for up to three months. Thaw and reheat before eating.

    Do You Need Oil to Cook Ground Beef?

    No, ground beef will naturally produce its own grease and oils as it cooks. Drain excess grease for better tasting (and slightly healthier) soup.

    a spoon lifting a bite of stew out of a serving bowl.

    ❤️ More Delicious Soup Recipes

    • a bowl filled with creamy turkey soup and a spoon resting inside the soup.
      Creamy Turkey Dumpling Soup
    • a bowl full of instant pot chili and topped with cheese, onions and sour cream.
      5 Ingredient Instant Pot Chili
    • a bowl full of soup.
      Poor Man's Beef Stew (Stove Top)
    • tomato soup chili in bowls with cornbread in the background.
      Tomato Soup Chili

    If you tried this Poor Man's Stew, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    a bowl full of soup.
    Print Recipe
    4.52 from 31 votes

    Poor Man's Stew

    A hearty and filling stew with minimal ingredients and cost. Frugal eating never tasted so good with this poor man's stew (stove top version).
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Servings: 8 bowls
    Calories: 197kcal
    Cost Recipe $9.84 / Serving $1.23
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Large Pot
    • Measuring Cups
    • Soup Ladle
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Cups

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground beef ($4.97)
    • 3 stalks celery, chopped ($0.63)
    • 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped ($0.54)
    • 1 medium onion, chopped ($0.90)
    • 3 medium potatoes, chopped (Golden or Russet work best!) ($0.69)
    • ⅓ cup all purpose flour ($0.04)
    • 1 teaspoon salt ($0.01)
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder ($0.08)
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ($0.08)
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ($0.04)
    • 6 ounces tomato paste (small can) *see note ($0.86)
    • 32 ounces beef broth ($1.00)
    • 4 cups water ($0.00)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a large pot over medium high heat, brown your ground beef and drain excess grease.
    • Add in celery, carrots, and onion. Stir and let cook for 5 minutes.
    • Add in potatoes and stir to combine.
    • Add in flour, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper, stirring to combine and coat well.
    • Add in tomato paste and stir until everything is well coated.
    • Add in beef broth and water. Stir until well mixed.
    • Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium/low and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes and veggies are fork tender.

    Notes

    • Tomato paste can be substituted for 1-2 cups of leftover spaghetti sauce.
    • Additional veggies can be added depending on what you have on hand. Mushrooms should be added with the onions to get the most flavor but other veggies like zucchini can be added with the potatoes.
    • Different potato varieties and sizes will cook at different rates. Russets will cook faster than yellow or red potatoes and smaller chunks will cook faster than larger ones so keep an eye on your soup and check every 5-10 minutes for doneness because you may not need all 20 minutes, or you could need longer.
    • Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.8g | Protein: 17.6g | Fat: 2.1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 33.9mg | Sodium: 642.9mg | Potassium: 957.8mg | Fiber: 3.6g | Sugar: 5.5g | Vitamin A: 256.7IU | Vitamin C: 12.7mg | Calcium: 52.3mg | Iron: 3.3mg
    Author Nicole Durham
    Course dinner, Soup
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

    More Easy Homemade Soup Recipes

    • a spoon holding a bite ot egg drop soup over a bowl.
      Egg Drop Soup
    • a white bowl filled with turkey wild rice soup.
      Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
    • a spoon skimming the top of a bowl of cheesy potato soup thats garnished with parsley.
      Cheesy Potato Soup
    • Stove Top Beef Stew in a white bowl.
      Stove Top Beef Stew

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emily says

      February 25, 2025 at 12:30 pm

      3 stars
      With some adjustments, this turned out well. Some of the directions were confusing. 32 ounces IS 4 cups. 4 cups of water would've been way too much, so I only added 2 cups, plus the 4 cups of broth. I added some frozen peas toward the end of the cooking. I tasted it and decided it needed some depth, so I added a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce and a few shakes of curry powder (couldn't really taste curry; just added some oomph). I didn't add the teaspoon of salt, instead adding to it "to taste." Oh and I made this vegan by using Impossible Burger and BTB no-beef for the broth. The final result was great. Thanks for the inspo.

      Reply
    2. Courtney says

      November 03, 2024 at 8:08 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and it’s really good. I made it exactly as written except:
      I added 1 teaspoon of extra Italian seasoning (in hindsight, probably not needed) and 1/2 teaspoon of thyme.
      I also gave it 2 shakes of Cavender’s . One probably would have been fine.
      It’s very good and I will make again. Served with cornbread.

      Reply
      • BeeyondCereal says

        November 04, 2024 at 10:03 am

        Glad you liked it! Your additions sound delicious.

        Reply
      • Frances Lee says

        January 24, 2025 at 8:41 am

        What is Cavender's? Is there a substitute if I can't find it in the store?

        Reply
    3. Jan says

      September 26, 2024 at 8:28 pm

      5 stars
      This was super easy & totally delicious!!

      Reply
    4. Mackenzie says

      January 27, 2023 at 10:39 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! I think I'm gonna add more potatoes next time tho because I love lots of potatoes! Also I accidentally tripled the beef but oh boy it was delicious, I think I'll continue to do that! So good

      Reply
      • Nicole says

        January 27, 2023 at 10:50 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Amy says

      October 09, 2022 at 3:57 pm

      I made this and it was wonderful. Thinking of adding pasta instead of potatoes next time.

      Reply
      • Nicole says

        October 09, 2022 at 5:29 pm

        Pasta noodles sound like a great addition (my husband loves adding egg noodles to soups)!

        Reply
    6. Bonnie Dietrich says

      May 15, 2022 at 5:25 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for dinner tonight and it was very good.

      Reply
      • Nicole says

        May 16, 2022 at 6:13 pm

        So happy to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    7. Bonnie Dietrich says

      May 15, 2022 at 2:57 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks

      Reply
    8. Bonnie Dietrich says

      May 15, 2022 at 7:59 am

      Can you use canned carrots

      Reply
      • Nicole says

        May 15, 2022 at 2:11 pm

        I don't see why not! I recommend adding them in towards the end though so that they don't become mushy.

        Reply
    4.52 from 31 votes (25 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Nicole from Beeyond Cereal

    Hey, I'm Nicole

    The proud owner and recipe developer behind BeeyondCereal. Here, I'm passionate about showing people how to navigate the kitchen with frugality in mind, whipping up family-friendly recipes that not only save money but also bring joy to every meal.

    Learn More→

    Summer Recipes

    • two loaves of snickerdoodle zucchini bread on a cutting board with two fresh zucchini.
      Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread
    • strawberry blueberry shortcake with fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream.
      Strawberry Blueberry Shortcake
    • a white bowl filled with orange fluff sald and topped with marshmallows and orange slices.
      Orange Creamsicle Fluff
    • angled view into a glass of ice cold lemonade with sliced lemons on a wooden cutting board and fresh lemons to the side.
      Single Serving Lemonade

    Trending NOW

    • a white bowl filled with cooked canned green beans.
      The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe
    • a bowl of creamy 5 ingredient mac and cheese.
      5 Ingredient Mac and Cheese
    • roasted chicken, carrots and potatoes in a baking dish with a sprig of rosemary on top.
      Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots
    • sliced banana bread on a wooden surface.
      Eggless Banana Bread
    • a sliced beef roast on a cutting board with carving utensils.
      Poor Mans Prime Rib
    • cinnamon rolls with icing on top in an 8x8 baking dish.
      Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls

    As Seen In

    as seen in various articles and websites.

    Footer

    ↑ Back to Top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Public Sharing Policy
    • Pricing Disclosure
    • Accessibility Statement

    Follow

    • Subscribe for FREE eBook
    • Follow on Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram
    • Follow on Pinterest

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Beeyond Cereal --Theme by Feast Design Co.

    promotional graphic for poor mans stew
    promotional images for Poor Man Stew

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.