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Poor Man's Stew

Poor Man's Stew is a simple American-style one-pot stew with browned ground beef, onions, and garlic simmered in a savory tomato-beef broth until the potatoes turn tender. Finished with frozen mixed vegetables for an easy, hearty texture in about an hour.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Soups, Stews & Chili
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beef and vegetables base
  • 1 lb ground beef Use 80/20 or 85/15 for best flavor.
  • 1 onion Dice for even browning and texture.
  • 2 cloves garlic Minced for quick flavor release.
  • 4 potatoes Cubed; keep pieces similar in size so they cook evenly.
  • 3 carrots Sliced for tender bite after simmering.
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes Use canned diced tomatoes for consistent body.
  • 1 can (10.75 oz) tomato soup Adds thickness and extra tomato flavor.
  • 3 cup beef broth Helps create a rich stew broth.
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce Adds depth without needing expensive ingredients.
  • 1 tsp dried thyme Use dried thyme for classic savory notes.
  • 1 tsp salt Adjust at the end to taste.
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper Freshly ground or pre-ground both work.
  • 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables Stir in at the end to prevent overcooking.

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the beef and aromatics
  1. In a large pot, brown the ground beef and onion over medium-high heat for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until the beef is cooked through and the onion softens and turns golden.
  2. Drain excess fat, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, keeping it from browning.
Build the stew
  1. Add the potatoes, carrots, diced tomatoes, tomato soup, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper to the pot and stir to combine.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, scraping the bottom so nothing sticks.
Simmer until tender
  1. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the potatoes are tender, stirring once midway.
Finish and serve
  1. Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes until heated through.
  2. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve hot.

Notes

For the best texture, keep potato cubes roughly the same size so they soften evenly during the covered simmer. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days; reheat gently on the stove until hot throughout. Freezing is okay, though potatoes may soften further after thawing. For a dietary swap, use a plant-based ground beef and vegetable broth to keep the same hearty tomato-potato stew feel.