Description

Witch’s Cauldron Beef Stew is a hearty, comforting slow-cooked meal perfect for a spooky-themed gathering or a cozy family dinner. Featuring ground beef, sausage, seasonal vegetables shaped like festive pumpkins, and rich broths, this stew melds flavors slowly to deliver a warm, savory dish with a touch of Halloween fun.

Ingredients

Scale

Meats

1 lb ground beef
1 lb hot breakfast sausage

Vegetables

3–4 large carrots (sliced then cut into pumpkin shapes)
2 cups gold potatoes (small diced)
3 ribs celery (diced)
1 cup leeks (diced)
10 mushrooms (cut down the middle lengthwise for decoration)
1 tsp minced garlic

Seasonings

1 Tbsp Italian herb seasoning
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Liquids and Soups

10.5 oz Campbell’s Condensed French Onion Soup
10.5 oz Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup
1.5 cups water
32 oz beef broth

Instructions

Preparation: Gather and prepare all ingredients as specified, including slicing carrots into pumpkin shapes by making two straight slits for the stem, cutting triangles, and slicing into rounds.
Brown meats: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and hot breakfast sausage together. Crumble the meat as it cooks, then drain off any excess fat to reduce greasiness. Transfer the cooked meat to the slow cooker.
Add vegetables and seasoning: Add the carrot pumpkins, diced potatoes, diced celery, diced leeks, minced garlic, Italian herb seasoning, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker, combining them with the browned meat.
Add soups and liquids: Pour in the Campbell’s Condensed French Onion Soup, Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup, water, and beef broth into the slow cooker, stirring gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Cook stew: Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours, allowing flavors to meld and vegetables to soften.
Prepare mushroom decorations: Near the end of cooking, prepare the mushrooms by cutting each lengthwise down the middle. Using a straw and knife, poke out ‘eyes’ and make slits for ‘noses’ to create a spooky effect.
Finish cooking with mushrooms: Add the decorated mushrooms to the slow cooker and let them cook for an additional 10 minutes with the rest of the stew to soften and blend flavors without losing their decorative shape.

Notes

Draining the fat after browning the meats helps reduce fat content in the stew.
Carrot pumpkins add festive decoration but can be substituted with regular sliced carrots if preferred.
Cooking times differ based on your slow cooker; adjust accordingly if your appliance runs hot or cold.
For a creamier texture, consider adding a splash of cream or sour cream at serving.
This stew freezes well; store in airtight containers for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours (HIGH) or 8 hours (LOW)
Category: Stew
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: beef stew, slow cooker stew, Halloween recipe, hearty stew, ground beef stew, sausage stew, carrot pumpkin shapes, slow cooker recipe