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    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker

    Easy Slow Cooker Beef Curry (No Browning)

    Published: Feb 17, 2022 · Modified: Jan 5, 2023 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Slow Cooker Beef Curry pin image.

    An easy slow cooker beef curry recipe made with tender chunks of diced beef! It's a fuss-free dump-and-go slow cooker recipe meaning only 5 minutes of prep and no browning is required!

    Medium spiced, aromatic, and fragrant, this easy slow cooker curry with beef is perfect for your next curry night, served with homemade pilau rice and fluffy naan bread!

    Slow cooker beef curry in crockpot.

    This crockpot beef curry is definitely one of the spicier curries I make, but the kids eat their portion with some plain yogurt, which tones down the spice a touch!

    It's a delicious meal for busy weeknights as it requires such little effort!

    👩‍🍳 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 you might like
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    • Delicious spicy beef curry (but you can make it milder if you prefer!).
    • Tomato based curry sauce.
    • Dump and go slow cooker recipe.
    • Rich and warming.
    • Freezer friendly.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients to make spicy slow cooker beef curry.
    • Diced Beef - diced braising steak (sometimes labelled as stewing steak) is best for slow cooking.
    • Onion, garlic and fresh ginger - chopped finely.
    • Chopped Tomatoes - or use passata if you prefer a smoother curry sauce.
    • Tomato Puree - for depth of flavour.
    • Mango Chutney - add a lovely sweetness to the curry and helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
    • Spices - I used a medium curry powder, ground cumin, chilli, garam masala, cadamom pods and paprika.
    • Salt, Pepper and Sugar - for seasoning.
    • Fresh Coriander (optional) - for garnish

    🥄 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.

    Making a beef curry in slow cooker step by step instruction photos.

    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).

    Slow cooker beef curry with coriander.

    💭 Expert tips

    • For a less chunky, smooth curry sauce use passata instead of chopped tomatoes and use a food processor to chop the onion, garlic and ginger so it turns more into a paste.
    • I don't brown the meat, but I'm going to level with you here. There is a slight flavour enhancement from browning the meat first due to the maillard reaction. If you have time, by all means brown the meat first...but I never have time, so I just don't bother!
    • To thicken the sauce I leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes of cooking. You can also use thickening granules or a cornflour slurry.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve this easy beef curry with pilau rice or turmeric rice, naan bread, mango chutney, and pickles. I'll often make a milder creamier curry to serve alongside it for the kids (this mild chicken curry is very child-friendly!).

    📖 Variations

    • Make a mild slow cooker beef curry by leaving out the chilli powder and adding half a tin of coconut milk. You can also stir through some double cream at the end of cooking for a korma-style sauce.
    • Like your curry hot? Use madras curry powder and extra chilli powder.
    • Add vegetables to the beef curry! Cubed sweet potato and butternut squash work well in a slow cooker, or wilt in some baby spinach at the end of cooking.
    • Add a tin of drained chickpeas to bulk it out.
    Slow cooker beef curry.

    🥡 Storage

    Store: The cooked 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 in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    Do I need to brown the beef before slow cooking?

    No you don't need to. Browning the beef before slow cooking adds about a little more flavour but I don't usually bother due to time constraints.

    Can I use curry paste instead of curry powder?

    Yes, you can swap the curry powder for curry paste. Use 200g of curry paste instead of the specified 4 tablespoons of curry powder.

    What to serve with beef curry?

    Pilau rice, plain basmati rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, naan bread, chapatis, flatbreads, poppadoms, mango chutney, red onion, raita, and lime pickle all go nicely with beef curry.

    How long do I cook slow cooker beef curry for?

    4 hours on high or 7.5 - 8 hours on low.

    😋 More slow cooker recipes you might like

    • 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

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    Recipe

    Beef curry in a slow cooker basin.
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    5 from 9 votes

    Easy Slow Cooker Beef Curry

    An easy slow cooker beef curry recipe made with tender chunks of diced beef! It's a fuss-free dump-and-go slow cooker recipe meaning only 5 minutes of prep and no browning is required!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine British, Indian
    Keyword crockpot beef curry, slow cooker beef curry, spicy slow cooker beef curry
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 4 hours
    Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 750kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker
    • Mini Chopper
    • Measuring Jug

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 2 Onions peeled and finely chopped
    • 4 Garlic Cloves peeled and finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger peeled and grated
    • 1 kg Diced Beef braising steak
    • 400 g Tin of Chopped Tomatoes
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree
    • 4 tablespoon Mango Chutney
    • 4 tablespoon Medium Curry Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
    • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala
    • 1 teaspoon Paprika
    • 3 Cardamom Pods bruised with the back of a knife
    • ½ teaspoon Chilli Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon Pepper

    Instructions

    • Finely chop the onion, garlic, and ginger and put them in the bottom of the slow cooker basin.
      2 Onions, 4 Garlic Cloves, 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger
    • Place the diced beef on top.
      1 kg Diced Beef
    • Mix together the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, mango chutney, spices, salt, pepper, and sugar in a jug.
      400 g Tin of Chopped Tomatoes, 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree, 4 tablespoon Mango Chutney, 4 tablespoon Medium Curry Powder, 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin, 1 teaspoon Garam Masala, 1 teaspoon Paprika, 3 Cardamom Pods, ½ teaspoon Chilli Powder, ½ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Sugar, ¼ teaspoon Pepper
    • Pour the curry sauce into the slow cooker and give everything a good mix.
    • Cook on high for 4 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).

    Notes

    Expert Tips:
    • For a less chunky, smooth curry sauce use passata instead of chopped tomatoes and use a food processor to chop the onion, garlic and ginger so it turns more into a paste.
    • I don't brown the meat, but I'm going to level with you here. There is a slight flavour enhancement from browning the meat first due to the maillard reaction. If you have time, by all means brown the meat in a frying pan first...but I never have time, so I just don't bother!
    • To thicken the sauce I leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes of cooking. You can also use thickening granules or a cornflour slurry.
     
    Variations:
    • Make a mild slow cooker beef curry by leaving out the chilli powder and adding half a tin of coconut milk. You can also stir through some double cream at the end of cooking for a korma style sauce.
    • Like your curry hot? Use madras curry powder and extra chilli powder.
    • Add vegetables to the beef curry! Cubed sweet potato and butternut squash work well in a slow cooker, or wilt in some baby spinach at the end of cooking.
    • Add a tin of drained chickpeas to bulk it out.
     
    Storage:
    To Store: The cooked beef curry can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
    To Reheat: Reheat in the microwave until piping hot. Alternatively, put the curry in a saucepan and reheat on the hob.
    To Freeze: Allow to cool then place in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Slow Cooker Beef Curry
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    750
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    51
    g
    78
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    19
    g
    119
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    3
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    22
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    178
    mg
    59
    %
    Sodium
     
    618
    mg
    27
    %
    Potassium
     
    1043
    mg
    30
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    27
    g
    9
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    15
    g
    17
    %
    Protein
     
    45
    g
    90
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    279
    IU
    6
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    19
    mg
    23
    %
    Calcium
     
    112
    mg
    11
    %
    Iron
     
    7
    mg
    39
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

    More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

    • Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Beef Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Beef Keema Curry Recipe
    • Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crumble Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dana Sandonato

      February 18, 2022 at 2:16 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a cozy recipe and such a nice way to enjoy beef in a new way—a way that isn't the same ol' stew!

      Reply
    2. Toni

      February 18, 2022 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      I love how flavorful this is!! Can't wait to make it again!

      Reply
    3. Beth

      February 18, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      I love all the rich, earthy flavors in this one. I REALLY love that I don't have to brown anything.

      Reply
    4. Soniya

      February 18, 2022 at 11:29 pm

      Looks and sounds so delicious! Love one pot meals especially slow cooker.. can't wait to make it

      Reply
    5. Michele

      February 19, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much! My family loved this recipe, and I loved how easy it was to make. We will be making this again and again.

      Reply
    6. Joanne Buchanan

      November 06, 2022 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      This is such an excellent recipe. I make up 3 times the spice quantity which works out to be about 4 tablespoons of spice blend per cooking. The end flavor is so lovely and hearty, thank you from a cook based in New Zealand

      Reply
      • Beth Sachs

        November 06, 2022 at 9:02 am

        So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    7. Emma

      November 08, 2022 at 11:02 am

      This is currently in my slow cooker!
      As some one said above, it’s different to the same old stew!
      Can’t wait to have it tonight.

      Reply
      • Beth Sachs

        November 08, 2022 at 11:26 am

        Enjoy!

        Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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