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This slow cooker beef and noodles recipe is the ultimate comfort food. Tender beef simmers in a rich, creamy mushroom gravy before being served over buttery egg noodles for an easy family dinner. Whether you make it with stew meat or chuck roast, it’s one of those cozy crockpot meals everyone loves. It’s an easy, satisfying recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or anytime you’re craving a warm and hearty meal with minimal effort.
Why You’ll Love It
This is one of my favorite slow cooker meals. The tender beef and creamy sauce make this rich and creamy slow cooker beef and noodles perfect for cozy dinners midweek.
Easy to prepare: The slow cooker does most of the work for you. Just add the ingredients, let the beef cook until tender, and serve it over freshly cooked egg noodles.
Rich, comforting flavor: Slow cooking gives the beef plenty of time to become fork-tender while creating a creamy, savory mushroom gravy that’s perfect for spooning over noodles.
A family favorite: This hearty, cozy meal is the kind of comfort food everyone looks forward to, making it ideal for busy weeknights or Sunday dinners.
Easy to customize: You can easily make this recipe your own. Swap cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken or cheese soup, use your favorite pasta or noodles, or serve the beef over mashed potatoes or rice instead.
If you enjoy this, also try chicken stroganoff, Thai drunken noodles, beef with broccoli, miso ramen soup, or Chinese chicken salad.
Crockpot Beef and Noodles Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Beef: I usually use stew meat because it’s convenient, but chuck roast cut into bite-sized pieces becomes especially tender after slow cooking.
Aromatics: Onion and garlic add plenty of savory flavor.
Cream of mushroom soup: This creates the rich, creamy gravy. I like regular cream of mushroom soup, but golden mushroom soup also adds great flavor. Use 20 ounces soup total (either 2 x 10-ounce cans or 1 x can condensed soup with enough added water to make it up to 20 ounces total).
Thyme: Helps bring out the flavor of the beef and also complements the mushrooms.
Beef bouillon: Adds rich, meaty flavor.
Worcestershire sauce: Just a little adds depth and enhances the beef flavor.
Egg noodles: Extra-wide egg noodles are my favorite because they hold onto plenty of the creamy sauce.
How to Make Crockpot Beef and Noodles
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Add beef and seasonings to the slow cooker: After adding the beef to the crockpot, add salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, and bouillon powder on top.
Add more ingredients and cook: Mix the soup and broth with the Worcestershire sauce, then pour this over the beef. Cook for 7 or 8 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high.
Cook the egg noodles: About 20 minutes before the slow cooker beef noodle casserole is done, you can cook the dry noodles then divide them between serving dishes and ladle some of the stew on top. Alternatively you can stir the beef mixture with the noodles.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bouillon (I love this one!) soup and beef broth.
Stewing beef: Instead of stew beef you could use chuck roast or a blade or cross rib roast. Another idea is to sub veal or pork for the beef. Ground beef is another option if you brown it first and drain off the excess grease.
Mushroom soup: The mushroom or golden mushroom soup should be regular, not condensed. If you’re using condensed then make it up to 20 ounces, adding as much water as the can specifies.
Extra-creamy: Add half a cup of heavy cream or sour cream for a creamier consistency.
Add vegetables: Add halved button mushrooms to the crockpot for an extra-mushroomy flavor, or include squash, celery of broccoli.
Egg noodles: Use fresh or frozen egg noodles, or even homemade noodles. The twisty ones are good, as are the flat ones. Frozen noodles should be thawed first. Another option is to omit the egg noodles altogether and instead serve the beef over mashed potatoes.
Instant Pot version: You can make this in your Instant Pot if you’re in a rush!
Make it stroganoff style: Stir in sour cream right before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with roasted beet salad.
Side dishes: Pair slow cooker beef and noodles with roasted rainbow carrots or shaved Brussels sprouts slaw. Don’t forget some crusty bread for mopping up all those delicious juices.
Desserts: Finish up with pineapple upside down cheesecake or Lucky Charms Rice Krispie cakes.
How to Store
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze slow cooker beef in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove.
Top Tips
Uniform beef cubes: Cut the beef into even bite-sized pieces so they all have the same cooking time.
Cook the egg noodles separately: Although you could cook the egg noodles with the meat, they can go from cooked to mush really fast, which is why I recommend making them separately.
Check for doneness: Your slow cooker beef and noodles with mushrooms is done when the beef is done, since that is the ingredient which takes the longest to cook. If you can pull the beef apart with a fork, it’s definitely ready to enjoy!
Season to taste: Before serving, taste the slow cooker beef and noodles and add salt and/or freshly ground black pepper if needed.
Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles FAQs
Yes, you can freeze this slow cooker beef noodle recipe. Once cooled, place in freezer safe bags or airtight containers and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
You can cook your egg noodles ahead of time, which can be a time saver at dinner. Once the pasta is cooked, add one tablespoon of butter or olive oil and toss to coat the pasta (which keeps it from sticking together). Place in the refrigerator in an airtight container until you need to use it.
You can, but I don’t recommend it. Egg noodles cook quickly and can become soft or mushy if they’re left in the slow cooker for too long. For the best texture, cook the noodles separately according to the package directions and stir them into the beef just before serving, or spoon the beef mixture over the cooked noodles.
Crockpot Beef and Noodles Recipe
Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles
Equipment
- Pot Medium
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds stew beef, cut into chunks
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 Cup onion, diced
- 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1/2 Teaspoon thyme, fresh sprig
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Teaspoon beef bouillon, Better Than Bouillon Beef flavor
- 2 Cans mushroom soup, 10-Ounce cans, if using condensed soup make it up to 20 Ounces total by adding water
- 2 Cups beef broth, more if needed, low-sodium
- 12 Ounces egg noodles, dried, extra wide
- 2 Teaspoon parsley, freshly minced
Instructions
- Put the beef and onion in the crockpot and season with salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, and beef bouillon.
- In a mixing bowl combine the Worcestershire sauce, soup, and broth with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Pour over the meat and place the lid on the pan.
- Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours.
- 20 minutes before serving, cook the noodles according to package directions and drain.
- Place the noodles in a warm serving dish and top with the meat and gravy.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Notes
Cook the egg noodles separately: Although you could cook the egg noodles with the meat, they can go from cooked to mush really fast, which is why I recommend making them separately.
Check for doneness: Your slow cooker beef and noodles with mushrooms is done when the beef is done, since that is the ingredient which takes the longest to cook. If you can pull the beef apart with a fork, it’s definitely ready to enjoy!
Season to taste: Before serving, taste the slow cooker beef and noodles and add salt and/or freshly ground black pepper if needed.
Nutrition
If you’re looking for new dinner ideas, this slow cooker beef and noodles recipe is a simple dish with big flavors! You’ll find the whole family loves this slow cooker beef noodle casserole any night of the week. This comfort food and creamy beef meal is really satisfying and will warm you up from the inside to become one of your favorite meals.
Other Recipes to Try
Don’t miss Mexican Shredded Beef either – it’s so delicious.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
What type of mushroom soup do you usually use?
I used Campbell’s Condensed Mushroom Soup in mine.
Thank you. Did you use 2 cans of it though it’s condensed? And add addl water? I’m a little confused bc there’s a part in the post about the soup should
be regular.
You can either use 2 x 10-ounce cans of regular soup or a can of condensed soup with enough added water to make it up to 20 ounces total.
Perfect comfort food for chilly nights! It’s like a warm hug in a bowl.
One of the best noodle recipes that I’ve tried! So delicious!
I love making it for weekend dinners. It tastes special but it’s actually easy to make!
This was so good! Could be my new favorite recipe.
I love comfort food and this recipe didn’t disappoint. I used penne pasta because that’s all I had. The meat was really juicy and tender. I love my crockpot and I love recipes like this.
Made this tonight for dinner and was a hit. Followed the recipe exactly and will definitely make again. Thank you!!
If I want to just add the noodles to the Crock-Pot instead of cooking them on the stove when do I add them
I have not tried this, but I would suggest just the last bit (10 to 15 minutes) as it doesn’t take long to cook the noodles. It will vary based on the noodles you use, too. Look at the package for reference.
Great recipe, perfect for wintertime!
This is amazing! I added more better than bouillon (beef flavor) and added 1/4 red wine. On the family fav list.❤️
so good to hear!
Is the 761 calories per serving (4 servings per recipe) include the noodles?
Yes, it includes the noodles
This sounds so yummy I love anything with mushrooms.
Mmmm, this looks so delicious and the perfect comfort dish for the cooler months up ahead.
This seems like a nice recipe. I imagine cooking it and seeing my family coming home to the delicious smell and feeling loved.
Such comfort food! Just in time for the season.
This is one of my favourite dinner idea, I love mushrooms and I often have them with pasta in the evenings, I need to try and make them in a slow cooker
When were we supposed to add the onions???
hi, it is with the beef. I will update the recipe. Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
I had to improvise and use chicken broth. It’s looking very watery and is cooking on high. Does this thicken up?
I hope it thickened up for you! Mine came out quite thick.
Ohhhh this looks so amazing!