This cozy 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles uses a brilliant comfort food shortcut: pouring savory brown gravy mix and beef broth directly over uncooked wide egg noodles. As it cooks, the noodles absorb all that rich, beefy flavor while releasing their natural starches, thickening the gravy into a velvety, homemade-tasting sauce with zero boiling or draining required.
Ingredients & Prep
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The Noodles: 12 oz wide Amish-style or homestyle egg noodles (dry, uncooked).
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The Gravy Base: Two packets of dry brown gravy mix (or one 0.87-oz packet of brown gravy mix plus one packet of onion soup mix for extra depth).
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The Liquid: 3 1/2 cups warm beef broth or water.
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The Fat/Richness: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into small pats to dot over the top for richness).
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Optional Enhancements: 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 1/2 diced onion, or 1/2 lb cooked shredded beef/leftover pot roast if you want to make it an even heartier meal.
1.Layer the Uncooked Noodles:Spread dry noodles evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker.
Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with non-spired spray. Scatter the dry, uncooked wide egg noodles across the bottom in an even layer.
2.Mix the Gravy Liquid:Whisk dry gravy mix with warm beef broth.
In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the packets of dry brown gravy mix and the warm beef broth until smooth and completely dissolved.
3.Pour Gravy Over Noodles:Pour liquid over noodles and top with butter.
Pour the seasoned beef gravy mixture evenly over the uncooked egg noodles, ensuring the liquid covers them as much as possible. Dot the top of the noodles with the small pats of butter.
4.Slow Cook:Cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours or HIGH for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours (or HIGH for 1.5 to 2 hours). Crucial tip: Do not overcook, and check around the 1.5-hour mark; egg noodles absorb liquid fast and can become mushy if left too long.
5.Stir and Serve:Stir gently and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Gently stir the tender noodles and thickened gravy together. Let the dish rest uncovered for 5 minutes so the sauce reaches a rich, velvety consistency, then serve warm!
