Slow Cooker French Onion Steak Bites

Ingredients

For the Steak Bites

• 2½ lb (1.1 kg) beef chuck roast, sirloin, or stew beef
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme

For the French Onions

• 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar, optional
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

For the Sauce

• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

For the Cheese Topping

• 1½ cups shredded Gruyère cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella, optional
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

Why Brown the Beef?

1. Browning creates deeper savory flavors through the Maillard reaction . It gives the finished dish a richer, more complex taste than simply placing raw beef into the slow cooker. Beef slow cooker
2. Using the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium.
3. Add:
4. Butter
5. Olive oil
6. Sliced onions
7. Salt
8. Cook the onions slowly for approximately 15–25 minutes , stirring frequently. Butter
9. They will gradually soften and turn golden brown.
10. If they begin sticking, add a small splash of beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pan.
11. Add the minced garlic during the final 1–2 minutes .
12. If you prefer slightly sweeter onions, add the teaspoon of brown sugar.

The Secret to Great French Onion Flavor

1. Don’t rush the onions.
2. The onions should become soft, golden, sweet, and deeply aromatic.
3. This is one of the most important flavor-building steps in the entire recipe.
4. Once the onions are beautifully caramelized, pour approximately ½ cup of the beef broth into the skillet.
5. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom.
6. Those little browned pieces contain tremendous flavor.
7. Add the onions and all the flavorful liquid from the pan to the slow cooker.
8. Place the browned beef into the slow cooker.
9. Add the caramelized onions.
10. Then pour in:
11. Remaining beef broth
12. Worcestershire sauce
13. Dijon mustard
14. Dried thyme
15. Italian seasoning
16. Add the bay leaf.
17. Stir gently.
18. The liquid shouldn’t necessarily completely cover the beef. The slow cooker will generate additional moisture as everything cooks.
19. Cover the slow cooker.

LOW setting

1. Cook for approximately 6–8 hours .
2. This is my preferred method because the longer cooking time allows the beef and onions to develop a deeper flavor. Recipe subscription service

HIGH setting

1. Cook for approximately 3–4 hours .
2. Cooking times can vary according to the beef cut and slow cooker.
3. The beef is ready when it becomes very tender and can be easily pierced with a fork.
4. About 15 minutes before serving, remove the bay leaf.
5. In a small bowl, combine:
6. 1 tablespoon cornstarch
7. 2 tablespoons cold water
8. Whisk until smooth.
9. Pour the slurry into the slow cooker.
10. Stir gently.
11. Cover and cook for another 10–15 minutes , until the sauce thickens.
12. You should end up with a rich, glossy onion gravy coating the steak bites.
13. This is the step that transforms the recipe from delicious to something especially indulgent.
14. Transfer the steak bites and onions to an oven-safe serving dish, or leave them in the slow-cooker insert if it’s suitable for broiling.
15. Sprinkle generously with:
16. Gruyère
17. Mozzarella, if desired
18. Place under a broiler for approximately 2–4 minutes , watching carefully.
19. The cheese should become melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
20. Finish with freshly chopped parsley.
21. If you don’t want to use the broiler, simply sprinkle the cheese directly over the hot steak bites.
22. Cover the slow cooker for approximately 5–10 minutes .
23. The trapped heat will melt the cheese.
24. It won’t become as golden as broiled cheese, but it will still be wonderfully creamy and delicious. Cream cheese recipes

Nutrition

Calories: 470–520 kcal · Protein: 42–48 g · Fat: 27–31 g · Carbohydrates: 12–16 g · Saturated Fat: 10–12 g · Fiber: 2–3 g · Sugar: 5–7 g · Sodium: 700–950 mg