Easy Slow Cooker Beef Curry Recipe (No Browning)

An easy slow cooker beef curry recipe featuring tender chunks of diced beef in an aromatic and rich curry sauce. With no browning required and only 5 minutes of prep time, it's a true "dump and go" recipe!

The medium-spiced curry is full of fragrant flavours, making it the perfect addition to your next curry night. Best served with homemade pilau rice and fluffy naan bread.

If you're a fan of spicy curries, you'll love this crockpot beef curry. While it packs some heat, you can easily tone it down by serving it with a dollop of plain yogurt. This makes it perfect for the whole family, even the kids.

What's even better is that this recipe requires minimal effort, making it an excellent choice for busy weeknights. Just throw everything in the crockpot and let it work its magic while you focus on other things.

👩‍🍳 Love slow cooker curries? Try my easy slow cooker chicken curry too!

Jump to:

• ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
• 🛒 Ingredient notes
• 🥄 Equipment
• 🔪 How to make beef curry in slow cooker
• 💭 Expert tips
• 🍴 Serving suggestions
• 📖 Variations
• 🥡 Storage
• ❓ Frequently asked questions
• 😋 More slow cooker recipes
• 😋 More curry recipes
• Recipe
• 💬 Comments

✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

• Slow cooker beef curry requires minimal preparation time, as all you have to do is chop the ingredients, throw them in the slow cooker, and let it do the cooking. It's perfect for busy weekdays when you don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.
• The slow cooking process allows the beef to become tender and absorb all the aromatic spices.
• Making the curry in your slow cooker is an affordable way to feed your family or a group of friends. You can use cheaper cuts of beef, and bulk it out with vegetables too.
• It can be made in large batches and stored in the fridge or freezer for later use.
• Slow cooker beef curry is a versatile dish that can be customised to your liking. You can also adjust the spice level to your own preference.

🛒 Ingredient notes

Diced Beef: Diced braising or stewing steak is the best option for slow cooking as it has a good amount of fat and connective tissue that will break down during the long cooking process, resulting in tender meat.

Onion, garlic, and fresh ginger: These ingredients add depth and flavour to the curry. Finely chopping them will help them blend into the sauce better. A mini chopper or food processor is great for this!

Chopped Tomatoes or Passata: Tomatoes are a crucial ingredient in the curry sauce, providing acidity and sweetness. Chopped tomatoes will add some texture to the sauce, while passata will create a smoother consistency. I find that kids prefer smoother sauces.

Tomato Puree: Tomato puree (tomato paste) adds even more depth of flavour to the curry sauce.

Mango Chutney: This adds a touch of sweetness to the curry and balances the acidity of the tomatoes. If you don't have mango chutney, you can substitute it with apricot jam or honey.

Spices: The spices used in the curry, such as medium curry powder, ground cumin, chilli, garam masala, cardamom pods, and paprika, create a complex and aromatic flavour profile. Adjust the spices according to your preference and spice tolerance. You could also add a cinnamon stick for a more warming flavour.

Salt, Pepper, and Sugar: For seasoning and to balance the flavours.

Fresh Coriander: This is an optional garnish that adds a pop of colour and freshness to the finished dish.

Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices and substitutions to make it your own.

🥄 Equipment

Which slow cooker? I use a Morphy Richards Sear and Stew 6.5 litre slow cooker, which means I can brown and slow cook in the same pot as the slow cooker pot is safe to use on the hob! The 6.5 litre capacity serves 6-8 main portions, so it’s ideal for families and those that like batch cooking. There is also a 3.5 litre version for smaller households

A mini chopper also comes in handy for speedy chopping of vegetables like onion and garlic! It’s also a great way of hiding vegetables for fussy kids.

🔪 How to make beef curry in slow cooker

The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

One: Finely chop the onion, garlic, and ginger and put them in the bottom of the slow cooker basin.

Two: Place the diced beef on top.

Three: Mix together the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, mango chutney, spices, salt, pepper, and sugar in a jug.

Four: Pour the curry sauce into the slow cooker and give everything a good mix.

Five: Cook on high for 3.5 hours and then a further 30 minutes without the lid on to thicken up the sauce (or cook for 8 hours on a low setting).

💭 Expert tips

• While the recipe calls for no browning, taking the extra step to brown the beef before adding it to the slow cooker will add depth of flavour to the final dish due to the maillard reaction. So, if you have time, brown the meat first (I never have time, so I generally don't).
• To thicken the sauce leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes of cooking. You can also use thickening granules or a cornflour slurry.
• To create a creamier and richer sauce, add 200g of coconut cream in addition to the chopped tomatoes/passata.
• If you're unsure about the spice level, start with a smaller amount of spices and taste as you go. You can always add more later on.

🍴 Serving suggestions

Serve this easy slow cooked beef curry with pilau rice or turmeric rice, naan bread, mango chutney, raita, and pickles.

You could also make a milder creamier curry to serve alongside it (this mild chicken curry is very child-friendly).

📖 Variations

• Make a vegetarian version of the curry by omitting the beef and replacing it with vegetables like cauliflower, sweet potato, or butternut squash. You can also add some chickpeas or lentils for protein.
• Use madras curry powder and extra chilli powder if you like your food spicy. For a creamier korma-style sauce, stir in some coconut milk or double cream towards the end of cooking. You can also use cashew cream instead of dairy cream for a vegan version.
• Give your curry a Thai twist by using Thai red or green curry paste instead of the traditional Indian spices. You can also add ingredients like lemongrass, coconut milk, lime juice, and fish sauce for extra flavour. Massaman beef curry is a delicious option too.
• Try making the beef curry in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker instead of a crockpot.

🥡 Storage

Store - The beef curry can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Reheat - Reheat in the microwave until piping hot. Alternatively, put the curry in a saucepan and reheat it on the hob.

Freeze - Allow to cool then place the curry in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge.

❓ Frequently asked questions

😋 More slow cooker recipes

• Slow Cooker Pork Chops
• Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole
• Slow Cooker Roast Beef
• Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne
• Slow Cooker Hunters Chicken
• Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole
• Slow Cooker Diet Coke Chicken
• Slow Cooker Red Lentil Dahl
• Slow Cooker Pork Ragu

Check my slow cooker recipes page often, as I add new content regularly.

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