This slow cooker 5-ingredient Hoover stew is the kind of dependable dinner that saves the day when the pantry is looking a little bare and everyone is hungry. It leans on simple, budget-friendly ingredients and the ease of a slow cooker to turn raw ground beef, canned stewed tomatoes, potatoes, onion, and corn into a hearty, comforting meal with very little hands-on work. It has the feel of an old-fashioned home supper, filling and practical in the best possible way.
Serve this stew with buttered bread, saltine crackers, or warm cornbread to soak up the tomato-rich broth. If you want to round it out a bit more, a simple green salad, steamed green beans, or even a dish of applesauce makes a nice easy side, especially for a family supper on a busy night.
Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Hoover Stew
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 pound raw ground beef
2 cans stewed tomatoes, 14.5 ounces each
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can corn, 15 ounces, drained
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
1. Lightly grease the slow cooker if desired. Add the raw ground beef to the bottom of the slow cooker, breaking it into a few large chunks.
2. Scatter the diced potatoes and chopped onion over the beef, then add the drained corn.
3. Pour the stewed tomatoes evenly over the top, then sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the potatoes are tender and the beef is fully cooked.
5. Stir well to break up the beef into smaller pieces and combine everything. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then ladle into bowls and serve hot.
Variations & Tips
For picky eaters: If your family prefers a smoother texture, chop the onion very finely and break up the stewed tomatoes a bit with kitchen shears before adding them. That way the stew still has plenty of flavor without big pieces that little ones may try to pick around.
Make it stretch: This is a great recipe for using up what you have. You can add an extra potato or stir in a second can of corn if you need to make it feed a few more people, and it will still be nice and hearty.
Add more seasoning: Even with such a simple ingredient list, a little garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or a dash of Worcestershire sauce can deepen the flavor. Add these only if you want to dress it up while keeping the spirit of the easy pantry meal.
Best texture tip: If you like a thicker stew, mash a few of the cooked potatoes right into the broth before serving. If it seems too thick, stir in a small splash of water or beef broth near the end of cooking.
Leftover idea: Leftovers reheat very well for lunch the next day. Store the cooled stew in the refrigerator and warm it gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring once or twice so everything heats evenly.