Slow Cooker Creamy Ground Beef & Gravy

This Slow Cooker Creamy Ground Beef & Gravy is the kind of easy comfort-food dinner that practically makes itself. Ground beef cooks slowly with chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, cream cheese, and onion soup mix until everything comes together into a rich, savory, creamy sauce.

Serve it over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or toast for a simple family meal that requires only a few minutes of preparation. It is especially handy on busy days when you want something warm and filling without standing over the stove.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Only a handful of main ingredients
No complicated preparation
Rich, creamy gravy
Budget-friendly ground beef dinner
Perfect over potatoes, noodles, or rice
Easy to customize with mushrooms, cheese, or vegetables

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef, fully thawed
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
1 packet dry onion soup mix

Optional Seasonings

1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Fresh parsley for serving

Ingredient Notes

Ground beef: An 85/15 or 90/10 blend works well because it gives the dish plenty of beef flavor without producing an excessive amount of grease.

Chicken broth: Chicken broth may sound unexpected with ground beef, but it creates a lighter savory base that works beautifully with the creamy ingredients. Beef broth can be substituted for an even deeper flavor.

Cream of mushroom soup: This creates an instant creamy gravy base. Cream of chicken soup can be substituted if your family does not enjoy mushrooms.

Cream cheese: Softened cream cheese melts into the cooking liquid and gives the finished gravy a thick, velvety consistency.

Onion soup mix: One packet adds plenty of onion and savory seasoning, so wait until the end before adding any extra salt.

How to Make Slow Cooker Creamy Ground Beef & Gravy

Lightly coat the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Add the fully thawed ground beef and break it into large crumbles with a spoon.
Pour the chicken broth evenly over the beef.
Add the cream of mushroom soup and onion soup mix.
Add the cubed cream cheese over the top.
Sprinkle with optional garlic powder and black pepper.
Cover and cook on Low for about 4 to 5 hours or High for about 2 to 3 hours.
After the first hour or so, carefully stir and break the beef into smaller crumbles.
Continue cooking until the ground beef is completely cooked and reaches at least 160°F.
If there is excessive rendered fat, carefully spoon some away.
Stir thoroughly until the cream cheese and condensed soup form a smooth gravy.
Add Worcestershire sauce if desired.
Taste and adjust pepper or other seasonings before serving.

Optional Browning Method

If you prefer more browned beef flavor, cook the ground beef in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker. Drain excess fat, transfer the beef to the crockpot, then add the remaining ingredients.

Because the beef is already cooked, this version usually needs only about two to three hours on Low, just long enough for the flavors to blend and the cream cheese to melt.

How to Get the Creamiest Gravy

Cut the cream cheese into small cubes before adding it. Smaller pieces melt more evenly and are easier to stir into the sauce.

Near the end of cooking, stir the mixture thoroughly. If necessary, use a whisk after pushing the beef aside to smooth out any remaining pieces of cream cheese.

If the sauce is too thick, add another splash of warm chicken broth. If it is thinner than you prefer, leave the lid slightly open for about 10 to 15 minutes on High.

Turn It Into Creamy Beef and Noodles

Cook 10 to 12 ounces of wide egg noodles separately until just al dente. Drain them and stir them into the finished creamy beef mixture shortly before serving.

Cooking the noodles separately gives you much better control over their texture and prevents them from becoming mushy in the slow cooker.

Mushroom Variation

Add 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms at the beginning of cooking. They become tender and blend naturally into the mushroom gravy.

For even more flavor, sauté the mushrooms in butter before adding them.

Cheesy Ground Beef Variation

Once the beef is fully cooked, stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Cover for about five minutes, then stir again until melted.

Cheddar makes the dish especially good over baked potatoes or mashed potatoes.

What to Serve with Creamy Ground Beef & Gravy

Creamy mashed potatoes are one of the best choices because they soak up every bit of the savory sauce.

You can also spoon the beef over egg noodles, rice, baked potatoes, biscuits, or thick slices of toasted bread.

For vegetables, serve it with green beans, peas, roasted carrots, broccoli, or a simple garden salad.

Storage and Reheating

Cool leftovers promptly and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days.

Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until steaming hot. The gravy will thicken after refrigeration, so add a splash of chicken broth or milk while reheating if needed.

The cooked beef mixture can also be frozen for up to two months, although cream-based sauces may change texture slightly after thawing.

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