I just came across a super simple Crock-Pot beef recipe that I know I’ll be making again and again. Are you ready for the ingredients? 1 packet dry ranch dip mix, 1 packet dry Italian salad dressing mix, 1 packet dry brown gravy mix, and 1 cup of water, earning it the nickname 3-packet Crock-Pot beef. That’s really all you need. Oh, yeah, and beef, of course!
The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. I made it last week and served some of the beef over egg noodles that evening. Next up: hearty steak pie. And finally, I added the beef to a big pot of vegetable beef stew. One day of cooking in the Crock-Pot, three dinners halfway done!
You can use this seasoning with any type of beef you want to cook in your slow cooker. When I made it last week, I used round steak, simply because that’s what I had on hand. We bought beef with some neighbors last fall, and while I’ve made significant headway with the ground beef, I still have several packages of round steak in the freezer.
Because my round steaks came two in a package, I simply thawed them enough to separate them, cut out the fat, and placed them in the slow cooker, still mostly frozen. I placed one of the steaks in the bottom of the Crock-Pot and added some seasoning. I topped this layer with the other round steak and covered it all with the rest of the seasoning mix. I cooked the beef on low for 8 – 10 hours. (I would shorten the cooking time to 6 – 8 hours if your beef is thawed.)
Meat is done when tender and easily pierced with a fork. For my recipes, I took the beef out of the Crock-Pot in chunks, shredded it, and returned it to the slow cooker to simmer in the juices and seasonings while I made the egg noodles. I refrigerated the leftovers to serve later in the week. If you’re looking for a moist, flavorful beef recipe, this super simple Crock-Pot beef is worth a try!
Ingredients:
1 packet dry ranch dip mix
1 packet dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 packet dry brown gravy mix
1 cup water
2 – 3 pounds beef (roast, round, or whatever you have on hand!)
Instructions:
Mix the seasoning packets together in a small bowl.
Add the water and whisk.
Place the beef in the slow cooker and cover with the seasonings.
Cook on low for 6 – 8 hours, longer if beef is still frozen.
Add to your favorite beef recipe or serve immediately over egg noodles or with a side of mashed potatoes and veggies. You choose!