Slow Cooker Witches Brew Stew

By Becky Hardin

Published Oct 8, 2023

Witches brew stew easy crockpot recipe. - 4

This savory Witches Brew Stew recipe is so easy to make in the slow cooker for a filling and comforting meal. It’s filled with Italian sausage, ground beef, mushrooms, potatoes, and lots more delicious ingredients. I cut the carrots and mushrooms into fun shapes to add a spooky twist. It’s the best stew to serve on Halloween, to keep everyone warm before trick-or-treating!

a crock pot full of meat and vegetables. - 5

What’s in Witches Brew Stew?

This Halloween stew is a hauntingly delicious combination of sausage, ground beef, and hearty vegetables!

Italian Sausage: You can use another type of sausage–such as chorizo or bratwurst–or omit it entirely for a vegetarian version.
Lean Ground Beef : Ground chicken or ground turkey is a leaner option. If you use ground beef with more fat, be aware that you will release more grease. Do not add it all to the slow cooker, only what naturally transfers with the ingredients.
Shallots: White onion and minced garlic can be substituted if needed. You will want 1 small white onion and 2-3 garlic cloves.
Onion Soup Mix: You can also use a mixture of dried onion flakes, garlic powder, and beef bouillon if needed.
Large White Mushrooms: Substitute other mushrooms of your choice. Remember that they shrink while cooking, so larger mushrooms work better in this recipe in order to get the spooky “shrunken-head” look.
Carrots: Substitute sweet onion, butternut squash , parsnip, or another root vegetable if needed. Making other vegetables look like mini-pumpkin will be easier if sliced easily.
Celery: Adds a bit of crunch and earthiness. You could use fennel or water chestnuts instead.
Baby Gemstone Potatoes: Any baby potatoes, such as red or golden potatoes, will work for this recipe. Fingerling potatoes also work well.
Beef Broth: Substitute vegetable broth if needed.
Petite Diced Tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce are both excellent substitutes. You may add ½-1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning for flavor.
Red Wine Vinegar: Substitute another type of vinegar for a slightly different flavor finish, or use some mustard to add tang to this dish.

Pro Tip: To add more “spooky” fun, make “eyes” out of a scoop of sour cream or cream cheese, topped with a sliced black olive to go on the top of the soup. This adds a fun element and a creamy flavor that compliments the soup well.

Variations on Witches Stew

There are lots of ways to change up this festive witches brew Halloween stew!

To make it vegetarian , omit the meat and use vegetable broth instead of beef. You could also add more vegetables, such as bell peppers or zucchini.
To make it spicier , add some chopped jalapeño or red pepper flakes to the meat while it’s cooking, or add some diced hot peppers along with the other vegetables.
To make it more filling , you could add some cooked beans such as kidney or black beans, or some cooked grains such as quinoa or rice.
To make it creamier , add some heavy cream or coconut milk at the end of the cooking time.
To make it more colorful , you could use various colored vegetables, such as purple potatoes or rainbow carrots.

a bowl of stew in front of a slow cooker. - 6

Witches brew stew is a hearty and flavorful Halloween-themed stew that includes beef, sausage, and lots of veggies!

The name comes from the whimsical elements that are added to this stew, such as “carrot pumpkins” and “shrunken head mushrooms”.

Nope! This rich and tasty stew is great just about any time of year!

Yes, you can prepare the components of the stew in advance and then assemble and reheat it before serving. This is especially helpful if you’re hosting a Halloween party and want to spend more time enjoying the festivities.

You sure can! Simply add all of the ingredients to a large Dutch oven and simmer for 30-45 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender and the stew is warmed through.

a spoonful of soup with meat and vegetables in it. - 7

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover witches brew stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, you can either microwave it in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring occasionally, or heat it on the stove in a pot over set medium heat until it’s hot all the way through.

How to Freeze

You can freeze witches stew in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

Cheese focaccia , dinner rolls , Dutch oven bread , or cornbread muffins are excellent choices to serve alongside this spooky stew for the perfect Halloween night dinner . These sides can be used to soak up the flavorful broth.

a bowl of soup with meat, vegetables and potatoes. - 8

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 1 pound Italian sausage
▢ 1 pound lean ground beef
▢ 3 ounces shallots diced (1 package)
▢ 2 ounces dry onion soup mix divided (2 packets)
▢ 8 ounces large white mushrooms (1 package)
▢ 4 carrots peeled
▢ 1 cup chopped celery
▢ 1½ pounds baby gemstone potatoes halved
▢ 5 cups low sodium beef broth
▢ 14 ounces Italian-style petite diced tomatoes (1 can)
▢ 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown the Italian sausage and lean ground beef with the diced shallots and one packet of onion mix until cooked through, about 5-8 minutes. 1 pound Italian sausage, 1 pound lean ground beef, 3 ounces shallots, 2 ounces dry onion soup mix
As the meat cooks, slice the mushrooms in half and poke eyes into each rounded side with a chopstick or toothpick. 8 ounces large white mushrooms
Cut two triangular wedges out of one side of each carrot and discard. Slice each carrot, forming “pumpkin” shapes. 4 carrots
Once the meat has finished cooking, transfer it to a large slow cooker, leaving behind any extra grease in the pan.
Mix the mushrooms, carrots, celery, and potatoes in the large skillet with the extra grease and heat over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes to begin searing the vegetables. Be sure to stir frequently. 1 cup chopped celery, 1½ pounds baby gemstone potatoes
Transfer the vegetables into the large slow cooker with the meat and sprinkle the second packet of onion soup mix all over the vegetables.
Add the beef broth, diced tomatoes, and red wine vinegar and stir until well combined. 5 cups low sodium beef broth, 14 ounces Italian-style petite diced tomatoes, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Cover with a lid and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours, or until the vegetables are softened enough to pierce easily with a fork.

Equipment

Crockpot

Becky’s Tips

Instead of cooking the meat on the stovetop, you could brown it directly in the slow cooker using the sauté function, then add the rest of the ingredients and cook it all together. Be sure to remove any excess grease after cooking the meat.
To make the recipe vegetarian, you could omit the meat and use vegetable broth instead of beef. You could also add more vegetables, such as bell peppers or zucchini.
To make the recipe spicier, add some chopped jalapeño or red pepper flakes to the meat while it’s cooking, or add some diced hot peppers along with the other vegetables.
To make the recipe more filling, you could add some cooked beans such as kidney or black beans or some cooked grains such as quinoa or rice.
To make the recipe creamier, add some heavy cream or coconut milk at the end of the cooking time.
To make the recipe more colorful, you could use various colored vegetables, such as purple potatoes or rainbow carrots.
To add more “spooky” fun, you could make “eyes” out of a scoop of sour cream or cream cheese, topped with a sliced black olive to go on the top of the soup. This adds a fun element and a creamy flavor that compliments the soup well.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Beef Stew Recipes We Love

Classic Beef Stew
Red Wine Beef Stew
Cowboy Stew
Guinness Beef Stew
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Crockpot Beef Stew

a crock pot full of meat and vegetables. - 9

Slow Cooker Witches Brew Stew Recipe

Equipment

Crockpot

Ingredients

1 pound Italian sausage
1 pound lean ground beef
3 ounces shallots diced (1 package)
2 ounces dry onion soup mix divided (2 packets)
8 ounces large white mushrooms (1 package)
4 carrots peeled
1 cup chopped celery
1½ pounds baby gemstone potatoes halved
5 cups low sodium beef broth
14 ounces Italian-style petite diced tomatoes (1 can)
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown the Italian sausage and lean ground beef with the diced shallots and one packet of onion mix until cooked through, about 5-8 minutes. 1 pound Italian sausage, 1 pound lean ground beef, 3 ounces shallots, 2 ounces dry onion soup mix
As the meat cooks, slice the mushrooms in half and poke eyes into each rounded side with a chopstick or toothpick. 8 ounces large white mushrooms
Cut two triangular wedges out of one side of each carrot and discard. Slice each carrot, forming “pumpkin” shapes. 4 carrots
Once the meat has finished cooking, transfer it to a large slow cooker, leaving behind any extra grease in the pan.
Mix the mushrooms, carrots, celery, and potatoes in the large skillet with the extra grease and heat over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes to begin searing the vegetables. Be sure to stir frequently. 1 cup chopped celery, 1½ pounds baby gemstone potatoes
Transfer the vegetables into the large slow cooker with the meat and sprinkle the second packet of onion soup mix all over the vegetables.
Add the beef broth, diced tomatoes, and red wine vinegar and stir until well combined. 5 cups low sodium beef broth, 14 ounces Italian-style petite diced tomatoes, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Cover with a lid and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours, or until the vegetables are softened enough to pierce easily with a fork.

Notes

Instead of cooking the meat on the stovetop, you could brown it directly in the slow cooker using the sauté function, then add the rest of the ingredients and cook it all together. Be sure to remove any excess grease after cooking the meat.
To make the recipe vegetarian, you could omit the meat and use vegetable broth instead of beef. You could also add more vegetables, such as bell peppers or zucchini.
To make the recipe spicier, add some chopped jalapeño or red pepper flakes to the meat while it’s cooking, or add some diced hot peppers along with the other vegetables.
To make the recipe more filling, you could add some cooked beans such as kidney or black beans or some cooked grains such as quinoa or rice.
To make the recipe creamier, add some heavy cream or coconut milk at the end of the cooking time.
To make the recipe more colorful, you could use various colored vegetables, such as purple potatoes or rainbow carrots.
To add more “spooky” fun, you could make “eyes” out of a scoop of sour cream or cream cheese, topped with a sliced black olive to go on the top of the soup. This adds a fun element and a creamy flavor that compliments the soup well.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!