Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (2024)

Home Collections Slow Cooker Slow Cooker Curries

By Sarah Rossi

on Feb 09, 2021, Updated Nov 15, 2023

4.95 from 491 votes

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This Slow Cooker Beef Curry is mixed up in just 5 minutes. A tasty ‘fakeaway’ it also happens to be light and healthy.

Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (2)

Oh hi new favourite Friday night dish! This fakeaway is the perfect throw in a slow cooker in the morning and come home to delicious smells by dinner time.

This Slow Cooker Beef Curry doesn’t use any cream or coconut milk so it’s also is lighter and lower in fat than your usual takeaway.

You have LOVED my Slow Cooker Chicken Curry recipe as it’s so simple to prepare, I decided it was about time to update my beef curryversion to make it as easy as possible.

This recipe also freezes well, and you can adjust the spice level to suit all of the family.

You’ll love this Slow Cooker Beef Curry because:

✅ It’s packed with vegetables and atasty sauce.

✅ Hardly any preparation, no need to brown the beef.

Freezes brilliantly, cook once, eat twice!

Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (3)

FAQs about the Slow Cooker Beef Curry recipe:

What is the best cut of beef for the Slow CookerBeef Curry?

I use ‘Braising Steak’, which is the name supermarkets and butchers use for a few different cuts of beef that need slow cooking.

These includechuck, skirt, leg and flank.

It’s also sometimes labelled as Stewing Steak. Any of these cuts that need to be cooked slowly are fine for this recipe.

Do I really not need to brown the beef before cooking in the slow cooker?

If you want to get scientific, the reason we brown meat before slow cooking, is because it causes a Maillard reaction. The process of frying, heating it very hot until it browns, changes the flavour compounds in the meat, basically adding a depth of flavour.

Does it add something to most slow cooked dishes? Yes. Is it vital in this dish, which is packed with other flavour? No.

If you want to brown the meat, it will add another level of delicious flavour BUT I feel that sometimes we need a super quick preparation dinner and it’s worth sacrificing maybe 10% of extra flavour?

Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (4)

I don’t have any curry paste, can I use curry powder?

Yes, depending on your curry powder and your taste, you’ll need to use 3 – 4 tbsp of curry powder instead of the paste.

I would say, I think the paste does work better than powder in this recipe though as unlike in a Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, beef does need a really robust flavour to complement it.

What can you serve with Beef Curry?

You can serve all of the usual curry accompaniments with this Beef Curry.

Rice, poppadums, yoghurt with some mint mixed through and a salad of tomatoes and cucumber works really well.

Myeasy flatbreadswould be soooo amazing dunked in!

Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (5)

Fancy some other easy Slow Cooker recipes ?

  • Super Simple Slow Cooker Chicken Curry – This is one of the most loved recipes on this site, over 175 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews!
  • Slow Cooker ‘Roast’ Gammon Ham – Such an easy and yummy Sunday roast joint.
  • Slow Cooker ‘Roast’ Beef Joint – Another super simple and delicious roast joint, complete with gravy.

Hope you enjoy this recipe.I’d love to know how you got on and what you thought of it if you make this recipe.Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below!

Also, if you fancy showing me a photo by tagging me on Instagram (@tamingtwins) I LOVE to see your creations and try and share as many of them as I can.

This post was originally published on March 28, 2018 and updated on February 9, 2021.

Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (6)

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4.95 from 491 votes

Slow Cooker Beef Curry

By Sarah Rossi

ThisSlow Cooker Beef Curryis mixed up in just 5 minutes, no preparation required. A tasty 'fakeaway' it also happens to be light and healthy.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 People

Ingredients

For slow cooking:

  • 1 kg Braising steak
  • 200 g Curry spice paste
  • 2 Onions, Peeled and chopped
  • 4 Cloves Garlic, Peeled and chopped
  • 1 Inch piece Fresh ginger, Peeled and chopped finely
  • 2 tbsp Ground cumin
  • 400 g Tin of tomatoes
  • 2 tsp Garam Masala
  • 1 tsp Sea salt
  • 1 Beef stock cube

Before serving:

  • 100 g Spinach leaves
  • 2 tsp Garam Masala
  • 4 tbsp Mango chutney

Metric - Imperial

Instructions

  • Put all of the slow cooking ingredients into the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 6 hours on LOW.

  • Add the spinach leaves, remaining Garam masala and mango chutney before serving.

Notes

Note 1 - Beef Braising Steak

'Braising Steak' is the name supermarkets and butchers use for a few different cuts of beef that need slow cooking. These includechuck, skirt, leg and flank. It's also sometimes labelled as Stewing Steak. Any of these cuts that need to be cooked slowly are fine for this recipe.

Note 2 - Curry Paste

Any curry paste you like to your taste will work here. I like Patak's Jalfrezi or Madras.

Note 3 - Onions, garlic and ginger

I use pre prepared frozen, chopped here. An onion weighs about 150g so I replace the onions with 300g (2.5 cups) of pre chopped. Garlic is about 5g per clove so I use 20g (4 teaspoons). 1inch of Ginger equals about 5g (1 tablespoon).

Note 4 - Spinach

If using fresh spinach, I just stir in and the heat of the curry will wilt it. If you want to use frozen, defrost it first in a pan or microwave and then drain it and add it to the curry. A lot of water comes out of cooking spinach. You can also cook and drain the fresh spinach if you're very particular about your curry not being watery at all.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 40gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 684mgPotassium: 920mgFiber: 4gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 9184IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 155mgIron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Family Food

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Categorized as:
Batch Cook, Beef, Curry, Diced Beef Recipes, Freezer Friendly, Main Courses, Recipes, Slow Cooker, Slow Cooker Beef, Slow Cooker Curries

Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (7)

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92 Comments

  1. Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (13)
    Love this recipe.
    It’s the best home made curry I’ve ever made and so simple.
    Often recipes are expensive to follow and turn out disappointing, but not this one.
    I used hot curry powder as I did not have curry paste
    Neither did I have Garam Masala or cumin powder but the outcome was superb.
    I will purchase and use all suggested ingredients next time I make this ,which will be super soon as it was fabulous.

    Reply

  2. Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (14)
    Best beef curry ever and so easy . I used a tikka Marsala curry paste as that’s all I had ! So delish thanks .

    Reply

  3. Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (15)
    Absolutely LOVE this recipe. I use Massaman paste. We find it quite spicy though, are there any recommendations to tone down the heat?

    Reply

  4. Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (16)
    Delicious fail safe curry every time! My family love this recipe… perfect balance of heat and spice. Perfect in every way! I’ve cooked reach version. 1x 2x and 3x and all have been brilliant!

    Reply

  5. Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (17)
    This was my first ever slow cooker meal! It came out great! I substituted guava jelly for the mango chutney (it’s what I had) and it was yummy!
    Thanks!

    Reply

  6. Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (18)
    Super simple to make. Made this for 12 servings but used Patak’s Balti paste instead. I found the suggested 400g of paste a little too overpowering so next time I will try 300g. I will also try making with the madras or jalfezi pastes. Otherwise, it has great potential. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  7. Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (19)
    Made this for New Year’s eve! Absolutely delicious. Beef not as tender as I hoped so might leave in for longer than 4hrs next time. Family loved it.

    Reply

  8. I’ve loved your chicken curry and have batch cooked so it’s a real time and money saver and just delicious I’m making the beef curry this morning and no dought it will be just as nice thankyou

    Reply

  9. This recipe was fab! Made a Rogan Josh paste and followed the recipe! Tasted fab and froze half for another meal. Love all these recipes. Thank you.

    Reply

Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe - Just 5 Minutes to Prepare! (2024)

FAQs

How long does beef need to be slow-cooked for? ›

Heat on high for 4 hrs or low for 6 hrs until the beef is cooked and tender. Remove from the liquor, cover and leave to rest for 30 mins.

How to make beef tender for curry? ›

Instructions
  1. Place the beef in a bowl and sprinkle over the bicarbonate of soda. ...
  2. Rub the bicarbonate of soda into the beef so it's thoroughly coated.
  3. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  4. Thoroughly rinse the beef in cold water, drain, then pat dry with kitchen towels.
  5. Use as per your recipe.
Jul 11, 2023

Why does curry go watery in slow cooker? ›

If too much liquid or broth is added to a curry, it will become runny and thin. It may also be thin if the cooking temperature is too low for it to cook, or if the cooking time is too short, thereby preventing the sauce from being reduced.

Can you cook slow cook beef faster? ›

I sear the meat in a very hot frying pan to get the Maillard Reaction going, before taking it off the heat and applying a coating (last time, I used English mustard, thyme, salt & pepper), then putting it on a rack in the slow cooker. I use the "high" setting to get things going quicker for an hour or so.

Why is my beef still tough after slow cooking? ›

“Beef may be tough in the slow cooker if you haven't added enough liquid, or haven't cooked it for long enough,” Kristen Carli, M.S., R.D., owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness, tells SELF. “For cuts of meat, the fattier cuts are often the ones that get juicy and tender.

Can I put raw beef straight into a slow cooker? ›

Yes, you most certainly can cook raw meat in the slow cooker! You put it in “cold”, with whatever liquid your recipe calls for, turn it on either “low” or “high” depending on your recipe (I usually start it on “high” for a couple hours, then turn it to “low”), and in 6–7–8 hours, it's now COOKED meat!

How to fix a watery curry? ›

6 ways on how to thicken your curry sauce
  1. Reduction: One of the most common methods to thicken a curry sauce is by reducing it. ...
  2. Roux: A roux is a classic French technique that works wonders in thickening curry sauces. ...
  3. Cornstarch slurry: ...
  4. Coconut milk or cream: ...
  5. Yoghurt or heavy cream: ...
  6. Pureed vegetables:
Oct 19, 2023

How to thicken up a slow cooker curry? ›

Add a thickening agent

Some common options include cornstarch, flour, or arrowroot powder. Mix the agent with some water or broth before adding it to the slow cooker towards the end of the cooking time. This will help prevent clumping and ensure an evenly thickened sauce.

How long does it take curry to thicken? ›

Let the curry reduce until it's as thick as you want. Time varies greatly depending on the type of curry, so keep an eye on your curry as it thickens. It may reduce in a few minutes or it may need 10 to 20 minutes to thicken.

Is it better to cook on high or low in a slow cooker? ›

Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting. It's safe to cook foods on low the entire time -- if you're leaving for work, for example, and preparation time is limited.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

How do I make sure my beef is tender in a slow cooker? ›

Simply add the meat to your slow cooker with aromatics, stock and sauces and cook either on High for 4-5 hours or on Low for 5-8 hours. How do you make meat tender in a slow cooker? Choosing a cut of beef best suited for low and slow cooking is the ideal way to get extra tender meat.

Is 3 hours enough to slow cook beef? ›

Add stock, water or other liquids, making sure there is enough to come up 1-2cm from the base of the slow cooker bowl. Cover with the lid and cook on High for 4-5 hours or Low for 5-8 hours, or until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily with a fork.

Does beef get softer the longer you slow cook it? ›

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low. As a result, this is the best way to retain all the natural juices of the meat.

How long do you need to slow cook? ›

If a dish usually takes:
  1. 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low.
  2. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low.
  3. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.
  4. 2-4 hours, cook it for 4-6 hours on High or 8-12 hours on Low.

How do I slow cook beef without it drying out? ›

A beef joint in a crock-pot also needs about a ½ cup of liquid – beef broth is usually an excellent choice – to keep it tender and flavorful as it cooks. Place it on the lowest setting and only open it to add a small amount of liquid, if needed, and to stir your veggies.

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