Slow Cooker Curry Beef

Make your family this comfort food for dinner. Slow cooker beef curry with perfectly seasoned beef, creamy coconut milk, curry paste, fresh ginger, and just the right amount of heat!

This slow cooker beef curry is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes because of its rich flavors, thick curry sauce, and amazing leftovers that taste even better the next day.

My secret to making this particular curry is to thicken the curry sauce with a good old cornstarch slurry. I also love a bit of heat, so I add cayenne pepper.

If you love curry, you should try my chicken curry in the slow cooker! It is creamy, healthy, and oh-so satisfying

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It is a great recipe for dinner and an amazing way to use tougher cuts of beef.
• Perfect for meal prep, just pack and freeze!
• Completely dairy-free and gluten-free, but high in protein and quite healthy for the whole family to enjoy.
• Minimal prep – you just sear the beef, dump all the ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the hard work. You can set it up in the morning and get home to a hot, delicious meal in the evening.

Ingredients Notes

Find exact quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Chuck roast or alternatives, see the substitutions section below.
• Avocado oil. You can use regular olive oil for searing, too.
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Aromatics: onion, garlic, and fresh ginger. Use all fresh ingredients, if not possible, use onion and garlic powder, and ginger paste.
• Tomatoes. I add fresh tomatoes, but it is fine to use a combination of passata (tomato sauce) and tomato paste.
• Unsweetened coconut milk – full-fat milk or cream to make sure it withstands long and slow cooking without separating.
• Cornstarch slurry (3 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water)
• Red curry paste is the base of our dish. There are many different types of curry paste, I prefer the red one. Don’t buy curry sauce, it has less concentrated flavor.
• Ground cumin
• Garam masala
• Cayenne pepper for a spicier curry. You can also use red pepper or chilli flakes in a pinch.
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Kitchen Equipment

• 7-qt crock pot
• Skillet or a large pan

How To Make Slow Cooker Beef Curry

1: Sear The Meat

1. Dry the beef chunks by patting it with a paper towel.
2. Season the meat with salt and pepper.
3. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil once the skillet is hot. Sear the cubed meat in small batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan, until browned on all sides. Add additional oil between batches as needed.
4. Don’t skip this step! It is the secret to the deep, rich, beefy flavor of the curry.

2: Load All The Ingredients In The Crock Pot

1. Transfer the lightly browned beef to the slow cooker insert. 
2. Add the diced onions, garlic, and ginger.
3. Top with diced tomatoes, a can of coconut milk, cornstarch slurry, curry paste, and seasonings. Stir to combine.

3: Slow Cook Beef Curry

1. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. The meat is done when fully cooked and tender.
2. Serve over white rice(Basmati rice is a classic pairing), brown rice, a side of naan bread, salads with cucumbers, and some lime wedges if desired.

Storage

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat until piping hot in a microwave or on the stove.

You can freeze slow cooker beef curry for up to 3 months.

Substitutions & Variations

• Meat. This recipe can be made with brisket, bottom round, beef stew meat, sirloin steak, skirt steak, chuck steak (thinner than roast), or flat iron steak as long as it is cut into 1.5-inch-thick cubes or strips and sliced against the grain. In fact, you can use lamb or chicken breast for this recipe, too!
• Veggies (sliced carrots, broccoli, potatoes, green beans, baby spinach, or bell peppers) can be added at the start of the cooking time or halfway through cooking for a little less tender texture.
• Creamy sauce. Plain yogurt or sour cream helps to add creaminess to the curry but also neutralizes the heat and can replace coconut milk.
• Spices. You can go all the way with spices here. Coriander, paprika, cardamom, mustard powder, turmeric, cinnamon – everything goes!
• Curry paste. Swap red curry paste with yellow paste, Tikka Masala curry paste, or Madras curry. Curry powder is ok to use in a pinch.
• Add beef stock or broth to make the meat juicier, and adding fish sauce will also bring out more flavor!
• Extra toppings. Slicing chili peppers, spring onions, toasted coconut, finely chopped nuts, and basil leaves will bring some Asian flavors to your plate!

Popular Questions

What Is The Best Cut Of Beef For Beef Curry?

For beef curry, you can use chuck roast, stew beef meat, short ribs, or braising steak. These cuts are perfect because they become very tender when slow-cooked, absorbing all the curry flavor.

How To Make Beef Tender In A Curry?

To make beef fork-tender in a curry, it’s important to cook it slowly. You can also make sure to have enough liquid in the cooker to keep the beef from drying out, use beef stock, tomato sauce, or fresh tomatoes, curry paste instead of powder, and brown the beef before placing it in the slow cooker – it will trap more juices inside it.

How To Stop Curry From Going Watery In A Slow Cooker?

To prevent your curry from becoming too watery in a slow cooker, you can add cornstarch slurry and use full-fat coconut cream (it won’t get too runny). Using curry paste instead of curry sauce also keeps the dish thick and nice.

If you love this slow cooker recipe, you’re going to love these other meals made in the Crockpot, too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Great Indian Recipes

Chicken Curry with Pumpkin

Naan Bread in Air Fryer

Masala Chicken Tandoori

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

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