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 494 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 494 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 to make beef more tender in 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

What is the best beef for a curry? ›

Chuck Steak

Chuck is juicy, flavourful, and versatile with the fatty juices providing a rich, delicious curry. Plus, the chuck steak is easy to cut into small pieces, so it cooks quickly and evenly.

Can you cook slow cook beef faster? ›

The high setting on the slow cooker allows you to cook your dish for between 4 – 5 hours. Stir occasionally to ensure a good flavour distribution. If you have more time, the low setting on a slow cooker allows you to cook your beef and lamb dish for between 8 – 10 hours. Little to no stirring is required.

How do you keep curry from getting watery in a slow cooker? ›

Though not a perfect solution, you could always try adding a fine-grain thickener afterwards if you need to bring the thickness up quick. Corn Starch is good for this. Though this is only if you're going for a curry that is wet, and not trying to make a dry curry. For a curry I'd use gram flour rather than corn starch.

How long does beef take to soften in curry? ›

Add the beef, put a lid on top of the curry and cook over a low heat for 1 ½ – 2 hrs or until the meat is tender and falling apart.

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 you put raw beef in the slow cooker? ›

Yes! that is one of the best way to cook meats! Put in some raw beef brisket, leave it in for the 6+ hours, and once it is ready…it is so tender! Slow cookers are so great as you can just throw everything in and no need to worry about it.

Why is my beef tough in curry? ›

First off, cooking meat causes it to lose moisture and the tissues shrink, making it tougher. Braising (cooking meat in a liquid) allows the meat to reabsorb moisture and breaks down the tough tissues. This lead to a more tender piece of meat.

Do you cook meat before adding to curry? ›

The curry-making process begins by chopping the vegetables and meat, followed by sautéing them in oil and butter. The meat will brown and the onions will soften. As soon as this occurs, add water and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for about twenty minutes, or longer if more tender meat is desired.

How long does it take for beef to get tender in 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.

How long is too long for beef in slow cooker? ›

The general rule of thumb is that a high temp setting usually finishes cooking the contents in 4 about hours, a low temp setting is usually finished in about 8 hours. I've never had an issue with beef becoming tough in a slow cooker. Usually quite the opposite, it's so tender it falls apart.

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.

Why does my curry taste bitter in the slow cooker? ›

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish.

How do you thicken curry after slow cooker? ›

5 Tips for Thickening Slow Cooker Soups, Stews, and Sauces
  1. Prop the lid up for evaporation.
  2. Purée your soup or stew a little.
  3. Add a slurry at the end.
  4. Enrich with canned milk.
  5. Add a little starch.
Feb 28, 2024

What thickens curry? ›

Use wheat flour, rice flour, or coconut flour plus a fat (like ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil) in equal amounts. Cook both ingredients for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste, then add your curry ingredients. Once the whole curry dish comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken.

How do you make meat soft in a curry? ›

Use Natural Tenderisers

Using ingredients like yoghurt, vinegar, or citrus juices tenderise the meat. But you can also use some fruits like raw papaya which contains enzymes, such as papain, which can help tenderize meat. Make a paste from raw papaya and apply it to the mutton. Keep it for a few hours before cooking.

How to make meat soft in curry? ›

(sometimes it's just the cut of the meat or the way you cut the meat that will cause the meat to toughen if this happens just add another cup of water and let it simmer longer until the meat is soft).

Why is my beef curry not tender? ›

Cooking tough chewy meat fast at a high temp gives you tough chewy meat. That might not be bad in very thin slices or small pieces. To tenderize tough meat cook it ta a slow simmer to melt the connective tissue without driving off all the moisture.

How do you make tough cooked beef tender? ›

6 Ways to Tenderize a Tough Cut of Meat
  1. How to Tenderize a Tough Cut of Meat. Pound it out. Use salt. Use an acidic marinade. Use kiwi, papaya, or pineapple. Score it. Slow cook it.
  2. Our Favorite Recipes for Slow Cooked Meat.
Jan 17, 2024

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