Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew

If you’re craving a meal that feels like a warm hug after a long day, Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew might just become your new favorite lifesaver. This is the kind of recipe you turn to when the to-do list is never-ending, everyone’s hungry now, and you still want something homemade and comforting on the table.

I love slow cooker meals like this because they ask so little of us and give back so much. A bit of chopping, a quick browning step, and then your crock pot takes over—filling your home with that cozy, “something good is happening” smell all day long.

This stew is hearty, budget-friendly, and made with simple pantry staples. No fancy ingredients. No complicated steps. Just honest, old-fashioned comfort food that tastes even better the next day (hello, leftovers!).

Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew

There’s a reason Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew has been around in one form or another for generations. It’s practical, filling, and incredibly forgiving. Here’s why it works so well for busy home cooks:

• Set-it-and-forget-it magic: Once everything’s in the slow cooker, you’re free to live your life.
• One-pot comfort: Protein, veggies, and a rich tomato broth all in one bowl.
• Budget-friendly: Ground beef, potatoes, carrots, and canned goods keep costs low.
• Family-approved: Mild, cozy flavors that picky eaters usually say yes to.
• Even better tomorrow: This stew reheats like a dream.

It’s the kind of recipe that doesn’t need babysitting—perfect for workdays, errands, or those afternoons when life just feels loud.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what goes into this classic, cozy stew. Nothing complicated—just solid, dependable ingredients that work beautifully together.

• 1 lb ground beef (85–90% lean)
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced ½ inch thick
• 2 celery ribs, sliced
• 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: 1 teaspoon sugar if your tomatoes taste acidic

This is pantry cooking at its best—simple ingredients coming together into something deeply satisfying.

How Much Time Will You Need?

One of my favorite things about this recipe is how manageable it feels, even on chaotic days.

• Prep & browning: About 20 minutes
• Cook time:
  • LOW: 7–8 hours (best flavor and tender veggies)
  • HIGH: 3–4 hours if you’re short on time

Like many slow cooker meals, Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to mingle.

How to Make Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew

1. Brown the Beef and Aromatics

Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for about 4–5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until mostly browned.

Add the diced onion and cook for another 3 minutes, until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds—just until fragrant. Drain off excess fat if needed.

This quick step adds so much flavor and is totally worth the extra pan.

2. Layer Everything in the Slow Cooker

Add the potatoes, carrots, celery, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.

Spoon the browned beef mixture over the top and gently stir everything together. If your tomatoes taste a bit sharp, sprinkle in that optional teaspoon of sugar—it helps balance the acidity without making the stew sweet.

3. Cook Low and Slow

Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the potatoes and carrots are fork-tender and the broth has thickened slightly.

Try not to lift the lid too often. Every peek lets out heat and can stretch your cook time longer than you want.

4. Adjust and Serve

Remove the bay leaf and give the stew a taste. Add more salt and pepper if needed.

Ladle into bowls and serve hot. Garnish with chopped parsley, a dollop of sour cream, or shredded cheddar cheese if you want to lean fully into cozy comfort vibes.

Helpful Tips for the Best Stew

• Cut veggies evenly: This helps everything cook at the same pace.
• Don’t skip browning: It adds richness that makes the stew taste like it simmered all day (because it did—but smarter).
• Too thick? Add a splash of beef broth.
• Too thin? Remove the lid for the last 20–30 minutes or mash a few potato cubes into the broth.
• Season at the end: Slow cookers can mute flavors, so a final taste test is key.

If your stew looks extra thick, don’t panic—it’s not a problem, it’s just extra comfort waiting to happen.

A Little Personal Note from My Kitchen

This Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew is one of those recipes that saved me during a week when everything felt like too much. You know the kind—long days, empty fridge, zero energy. I tossed this together in the morning, and by dinnertime the house smelled incredible, dinner was done, and no one asked, “What’s for dinner?”

That’s a win in my book.

These are the recipes I love sharing—meals that make life feel just a bit easier without sacrificing flavor or warmth.

FAQs About Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew

A Cozy Bowl Worth Coming Home To

There’s something deeply comforting about a recipe like Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew. It’s warm, filling, and dependable—the kind of meal that makes busy days feel manageable and evenings feel calmer. Whether you’re feeding a family, meal-prepping for the week, or just craving a cozy bowl of something hearty, this stew delivers every time.

So dust off that slow cooker, let it do the heavy lifting, and enjoy the simple joy of a homemade meal that feels like home.

Keep the Cozy Comfort Going

If this Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew hit the spot, there’s plenty more comfort waiting for you in my kitchen. Think of these as your “what’s next?” ideas—perfect for chilly nights, busy weeks, or anytime you want dinner to feel easy and comforting without overthinking it:

• Love hearty, spoonable dinners? You’ll feel right at home with this Crock Pot Hamburger Soup—it’s loaded with ground beef, veggies, and that same cozy, old-fashioned flavor that makes Shipwreck Stew such a favorite.
• Craving classic comfort food? This Crock Pot Beef Stew is rich, slow-simmered, and perfect for those nights when you just want something warm and familiar.
• Planning a week of easy dinners? Bookmark this collection of 20 Crockpot Soup Recipes—it’s full of simple, no-fuss meals that practically cook themselves.
• Have ground beef in the fridge again tomorrow? This cozy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole is a reader favorite and just as comforting, filling, and family-approved.

Each of these recipes is made with real life in mind—simple ingredients, easy steps, and that comforting “dinner is handled” feeling we all need more of.

Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew

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• Author: Mounia
• Total Time: 7 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Description

This Crock Pot Shipwreck Stew is a hearty, old-fashioned comfort food made with ground beef, potatoes, beans, and vegetables simmered low and slow in a rich tomato broth. Perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or cozy family dinners.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb ground beef (85–90% lean)

• 1 large yellow onion, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes

• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced

• 2 celery ribs, sliced

• 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes

• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

• 3 cups beef broth

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• Optional: 1 teaspoon sugar (if tomatoes are acidic)

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Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until mostly browned (4–5 minutes).

2. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Drain excess fat if needed.

3. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.

4. Spoon the browned beef mixture on top and gently stir to combine. Add sugar if needed.

5. Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until vegetables are fork-tender.

6. Remove bay leaf, taste, and adjust seasoning. Serve hot.

Notes

Browning the beef adds deeper flavor but can be skipped if short on time.
This stew thickens as it sits and tastes even better the next day.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 hours
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooker
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 Serving
• Calories: 420 kcal
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 820 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 7 g
• Protein: 26 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg