Today, we're bringing you a recipe for a wholesome, hearty Crock Pot Beef Noodle Soup that you can easily whip up in your beloved slow cooker.
There's something incredibly comforting about a bowl of homemade soup. The warmth, the aroma, the flavors - it's all so inviting. And when you make it in a Crock Pot, the convenience factor goes through the roof!
Crock Pot soup recipes, like this one, are a game-changer - they allow for a hands-off approach to cooking while ensuring a deeply flavorful outcome, embodying the essence of comfort food.
The Ease of Slow Cooking
Cooking in a Crock Pot is a game-changer. It's the epitome of set-it-and-forget-it cooking, allowing you to toss in your ingredients, go about your day, and come home to a delicious, home-cooked meal.
Soups, in particular, lend themselves beautifully to this method of cooking. The slow, gentle heat allows the flavors to meld together perfectly, creating a depth and complexity that's hard to achieve on the stovetop.
Not only does a Crock Pot provide convenience, but it also offers numerous benefits. It uses less energy than an oven, keeps your kitchen cooler, and it's a healthier way to cook as it helps retain the nutrients in your food. Plus, the slow cooking process tenderizes meat, making it perfect for cheaper cuts.
Ingredients and Their Roles
Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️
Here are the key players in our Beef and Noodle Soup:
- Olive oil or butter: These provide the base for browning our meat, which adds a depth of flavor to the soup.
- Beef stew meat: This is the star of the show. We're using bite-sized pieces for easy eating.
- Vegetables: The onion, carrots, and celery add a classic flavor base for our soup.
- Seasonings: Garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and thyme: These seasonings bring out the flavors of our other ingredients.
- Beef broth: This forms the savory liquid base of our soup. You can also use homemade beef bone broth.
- Wide egg noodles: These add a delightful texture and heartiness to the soup.
Recipe Prep
- Begin by slicing your celery and carrots and dicing your onion.
- Cut the stew meat into bite size pieces. Heat your choice of oil or butter in a skillet and brown your stew meat in small batches. Transfer the browned meat to a bowl to catch all the juices.
- Transfer to a bowl to catch all the yummy juices.
👇See the step by step directions below!
Step by Step Directions
- Step 1: Place the browned stew meat in the bottom of your Crock Pot.
- Step 2: Add the sliced carrots and celery along with the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot.
- Step 3: Sprinkle the salt, ground pepper, and dried thyme over the soup ingredients. Add the bay leaves.
- Step 4: Pour the beef broth over all of the ingredients and give it a stir.
- Step 5: Place the lid on top. Turn the crock pot to low and let it cook for 4-6 hours (or on high for 2-3 hours).
- Step 6: After the cooking time is up and the meat is tender and the vegetables have softened, stir in the uncooked egg noodles. You can add another cup or two of beef broth if it looks like you need it. The noodles will absorb some of the broth as they cook.
- Step 7: Recover and let it cook for another hour, or until the noodles are tender.
Optional Add-ins
- Feel free to customize your soup with frozen peas, corn, or your favorite canned beans.
- You can also add in some diced potatoes or even swap out the egg noodles for a different type of pasta.
Serving Suggestions
This soup pairs wonderfully with crusty bread, a fresh salad, or even a grilled cheese sandwich for a heartier meal. Enjoy!
You can also make this soup ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days, making it the perfect meal prep option for a busy week. Hold off on adding the noodles until ready to serve. Then boil the noodles in a pot of water, drain and mix in with the beef soup base.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This soup also freezes well for up to 3 months. Just make sure to cool it completely before freezing.
Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or on the stove when ready to enjoy. Keep in mind that any noodles in the soup will absorb the broth and get very soft or mushy.
Recipe FAQS
Absolutely! This recipe is very versatile. You could add potatoes, green beans, or even spinach if you'd like.
Yes, but keep in mind that the flavors may not be as developed as when slow-cooked in a Crock Pot.
Yes, fresh herbs can be used and generally offer more robust flavors. However, they should be added towards the end of cooking, as they lose their flavor more quickly than dried herbs.
Helpful Products
The size of your Crock Pot matters, especially when making soups. For this recipe, we recommend using an 7 or 8 quart slow cooker. It provides ample space for all the ingredients and ensures even cooking. If you're cooking for a smaller crowd, you could use a 5-6 quart model, but be mindful not to overfill it.
📌Pro Crock Pot Cooking Tips
- Browning the meat is an optional step, but it adds a great depth of flavor.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of broth to your liking. Some people prefer a thicker soup, while others like it more brothy.
- Don't have egg noodles on hand? You can use any type of pasta you have in your pantry. Just adjust the cooking time according to the package instructions.
- Want to add some greens to this soup? Simply stir in a handful of spinach or kale during the last few minutes of cooking for added nutrition and color.
- Make sure to taste and adjust the seasonings before serving. You may need to add more salt and pepper depending on your preferences.
A Bowlful of Comfort
There's nothing quite like ending your day with a warm, comforting bowl of homemade soup. And when it's as easy and delicious as this Crock Pot Beef and Noodle Soup, you'll find yourself reaching for this recipe time and again.
So go ahead, give it a try and let this soup warm your heart and soul.
Looking for More Crock Pot Recipes?
If you enjoyed this recipe we have many more delicious and easy Crock Pot recipes for you to try! Here are a few for you to check out.
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Crock Pot Beef Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 2 lbs. Beef stew meat (cut into bite size pieces, browned)
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 medium bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 64 oz. Beef broth plus 2 cups
- 3 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
Instructions
Recipe Prep
- Begin by slicing your celery and carrots. Dice your onion and mince the fresh garlic.
- Cut the stew meat into bite size pieces. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Heat your choice of oil or butter in a skillet and brown your stew meat in small batches. Transfer the browned meat to a bowl to catch all the juices.
Make the soup
- Place the browned stew meat in the bottom of your Crock Pot.
- Add the sliced carrots and celery along with the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot.
- Sprinkle the salt, ground pepper, and dried thyme over the soup ingredients. Add the bay leaves.
- Pour the beef broth over all of the ingredients and stir.
- Place the lid on top. Turn the crock pot to low and let it cook for 4-6 hours (or on high for 2-3 hours).
- After the cooking time is up and the meat is tender and the vegetables have softened, stir in the uncooked egg noodles. You can add another cup or two of beef broth if it looks like you need it. The noodles will absorb some of the broth as they cook.
- Recover and let it cook for another hour, or until the noodles are tender.
- Serve with crusty bread, a fresh salad, or even a grilled cheese sandwich for a heartier meal.
- Makes 8 or more servings.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Browning the meat is an optional step, but it adds a great depth of flavor.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of broth to your liking. Some people prefer a thicker soup, while others like it more brothy.
- Don't have egg noodles on hand? You can use any type of pasta you have in your pantry. Just adjust the cooking time according to the package instructions.
- Want to add some greens to this soup? Simply stir in a handful of spinach or kale during the last few minutes of cooking for added nutrition and color.
- Make sure to taste and adjust the seasonings before serving. You may need to add more salt and pepper depending on your preferences.
Debbie
I cooked this dish yesterday, oh so good! I had enough for left overs today, but I added some frozen mixed vegetables and reheated ain’t the crock pot for four hours, my my it was delish!!