If your heart yearns for a cozy, soul-satisfying meal that delivers flavor and comfort in every bite, you absolutely have to try Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes. This dish pairs meltingly tender beef with buttery, garlicky potatoes for a one-pot wonder that fills your kitchen with incredible aromas. Every spoonful is full of rich savory notes, a little herbal lift, and the kind of stick-to-your-ribs heartiness we all crave. Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes is effortless enough for a weeknight yet impressive enough to share with your favorite people.

Ingredients You’ll Need
It’s amazing how a few simple ingredients can come together to make a dish that tastes like you’ve spent hours fussing over it. Each ingredient in Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes brings its own magic, creating depth, tenderness, and savory satisfaction.
- Beef stew meat: Opt for a well-marbled cut and cut it into bite-sized pieces for the juiciest, most flavorful bites.
- Baby potatoes: Their creamy texture and quick cooking time make them perfect for this one-pot meal; halve them so they absorb all that amazing sauce.
- Unsalted butter: Melted butter is the backbone of our luscious garlic butter sauce—don’t skimp, it’s worth every drop.
- Garlic: Minced fresh garlic infuses the entire dish with warmth and bold flavor—don’t be shy!
- Onion powder: Adds an underlying savoriness and blends seamlessly into the sauce for extra depth.
- Smoked paprika: Provides a subtle smoky nuance that elevates the beef and ties all the flavors together.
- Dried thyme: Just enough herbal brightness to balance the richness.
- Dried rosemary: Its fragrant aroma makes each bite sing—crush it gently before adding for even more flavor.
- Salt: Taste as you go and season to your liking for perfect results every time.
- Black pepper: Adds a hint of heat to round it all out.
- Beef broth: Keeps everything juicy and creates the best savory sauce for your potatoes to soak up.
- Olive oil: Use it for searing the beef, which locks in the juices and builds a flavorful crust.
How to Make Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients
Start by assembling everything you need. Cut the beef stew meat into hearty, bite-sized pieces and halve the baby potatoes so they’ll soak up all the incredible garlic butter sauce later. If you’re looking to speed things up or want extra creamy potatoes, parboil them for a few minutes first—just until they start to become tender.
Step 2: Sear the Beef
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef bites in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan. Searing the beef on all sides helps lock in the juices and gives each piece that irresistible golden crust. If needed, work in batches so each piece gets plenty of space to brown.
Step 3: Mix Up the Garlic Butter Sauce
While your kitchen fills with the aroma of sizzling beef, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. This glorious mixture is the true star of Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes, and it’s what transforms the dish from simple to spectacular.
Step 4: Add Everything to the Slow Cooker
Next, toss the halved baby potatoes into the bottom of your slow cooker and layer the seared beef right over the top. Drizzle the garlic butter sauce generously over everything and pour in the beef broth. This step ensures that every nook and cranny gets coated with buttery, garlicky goodness.
Step 5: Slow Cook to Tender Perfection
Cover your slow cooker and set it to low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours. When the timer dings, the beef should be fall-apart tender and the potatoes perfectly cooked. Let it all rest uncovered for about 10 minutes before serving—this lets the sauce thicken ever so slightly while the flavors settle together beautifully.
How to Serve Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes

Garnishes
A sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or chives adds a pop of color and a fresh note on top of the warm, rich dish. If you like a little zing, a dusting of freshly cracked black pepper or a squeeze of lemon can brighten everything even more.
Side Dishes
Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes is hearty on its own, but it’s also amazing with a crisp green salad, steamed green beans, or oven-roasted carrots for a full, balanced meal. Some warm crusty bread on the side is perfect for mopping up the leftover garlic butter sauce!
Creative Ways to Present
For a dinner party, try serving beef and potatoes in elegant ramekins or small bowls, garnished with microgreens or edible flowers. Or, set out the slow cooker right on your buffet table with bowls of toppings—think grated Parmesan, chili flakes, or even herbed yogurt—for a fun, interactive meal.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Any leftovers of Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes keep beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors deepen overnight, making it a treat to revisit for lunch or dinner the next day.
Freezing
For longer storage, cool the dish completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating for the best texture.
Reheating
To reheat, place the beef and potatoes in a covered saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of extra beef broth if needed to revive the sauce. You can also microwave individual servings, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.
FAQs
Can I use a different cut of beef?
Absolutely! While beef stew meat is affordable and turns buttery soft with slow cooking, you can use chuck roast or even sirloin cut into cubes. Just make sure it’s a cut that benefits from gentle, slow cooking.
Do I have to use a slow cooker?
Not at all—a Dutch oven works great. Sear everything as directed, then braise gently on the stovetop or in the oven at 325°F until the beef is tender and the potatoes are cooked through, about 2–3 hours.
Can I add other vegetables?
Yes! Carrots, pearl onions, or parsnips are great additions. Toss them in with the potatoes so they soak in all that lovely garlic butter sauce with the beef bites.
How can I make this dish dairy-free?
Substitute the butter with a good olive oil or dairy-free butter alternative. The flavor will change slightly but you’ll still get a delicious, comforting meal.
Is Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes gluten-free?
Yes, as written, Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes is naturally gluten-free. Just double-check your broth and spices to be safe, especially if cooking for someone with allergies.
Final Thoughts
If you love meals that are as warming as they are simple, Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes deserves a spot on your weekly menu. It’s the kind of recipe that turns any night into a special occasion, and you’re guaranteed requests for seconds. Gather round, dish it up, and enjoy every cozy, garlicky, buttery bite!
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Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes Recipe
Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes is a hearty and comforting slow-cooked main course featuring juicy, tender pieces of beef and buttery baby potatoes, all coated in a rich garlic butter sauce laced with herbs and a hint of smoky paprika. With minimal prep and the convenience of a slow cooker, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners.
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
Beef & Vegetables
- 1.5 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 pound baby potatoes, halved
For Searing & Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.25 cup beef broth
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.5 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 0.5 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients: Gather all ingredients. Cut your beef into bite-sized cubes and halve the baby potatoes to ensure even cooking. Mince the garlic and melt the butter for the sauce.
- Optional Parboil: To help your potatoes cook through perfectly, parboil the halved baby potatoes in boiling water for 3–4 minutes, then drain and set aside.
- Sear the Beef: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef bites in batches, searing them on all sides until browned. This step locks in flavor and keeps the beef juicy.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well mixed.
- Assemble in Slow Cooker: Place the halved potatoes and seared beef into your slow cooker. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the top and add beef broth to keep everything moist.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours, or on high for 3–4 hours, until the beef is tender and the potatoes are cooked through.
- Rest & Serve: Let the finished dish rest in the slow cooker with the heat off for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Notes
- This recipe is highly adaptable—swap in your favorite cuts of beef or add vegetables like carrots or mushrooms for extra flavor and nutrition.
- For a golden finish, you can briefly broil the cooked beef and potatoes for 2–3 minutes before serving.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix a teaspoon of cornstarch with some broth and stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 530mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 100mg