honey balsamic beef and butternut squash

Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Beef and Butternut Squash is the perfect combination of cozy comfort and simplicity. Tender beef and butternut squash cook slowly together in a sweet and tangy sauce. The ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dish.

A black bowl holds a serving of seasoned rice topped with pieces of honey balsamic beef and roasted butternut squash, finished with a few fresh thyme sprigs.

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Why you will love this recipe
📝Ingredient shopping list
Step-by-step instructions
Serving ideas
Storing leftovers
Expert tips from my kitchen
Good to know
Great recipes made with stew meat that aren't stew
📖 Recipe

Recipe at a glance (TL;DR)

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8-10 hours on low
Main Ingredients: Stew meat, butternut squash
Servings: 6
Best for: Busy weeknights, hands-free cooking, long days away from home
Why it's lazy: No cutting or prep required. Just pop it in your slow cooker.

Why you will love this recipe

No-cut recipe. Both stew meat and pre-cut butternut squash are already cut to the perfect size.
A budget-friendly way to put a hearty beef meal on your table.
Turns less expensive stew meat into fork-tender bites. Stew meat is affordable but tough. Slow cooking gently breaks down the connective tissues over time. By letting your slow cooker do its thing, you will have a weeknight beef meal that the whole family will love!
Toss and go. No need to babysit the stovetop with this simple dish. Perfect for busy days when you still want a delicious homemade meal.
Great leftovers. This dish stores easily in both the refrigerator and freezer.
Cook all day - This easy slow cooker beef recipe is perfect for longer days out of the house. The simple ingredients cook for up to 10 hours, making it the perfect, easy weeknight meal.

📝Ingredient shopping list

Following are the ingredients you'll need to make this beef and butternut squash meal. Full quantities and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this page

A top-down photo shows bowls filled with the ingredients for honey balsamic beef and butternut squash. The bowls hold stew meat, chunks of butternut squash, broth, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, and minced garlic. All are arranged neatly on a light-colored surface with clear labels for each ingredient.

Produce

Butternut squash ~ cubed, frozen
Garlic ~ minced

Meat

Stew meat ~ for ease, I prefer the already cut kind. You can use chuck roast and cut it yourself

Pantry Items

Balsamic vinegar
Honey
Worcestershire sauce
Soy sauce
Beef broth

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Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Lightly coat your slow cooker with a non-stick spray or oil before cooking
Olive oil and avocado oil are both great choices for this recipe
Use a slow cooker liner for the easiest cleanup (always an optional step)

Step-by-step instructions

Several pieces of raw red beef sit in a dark pan lightly coated with oil, prepared for slow cooking into honey balsamic beef and butternut squash.

Place beef into a well-greased slow cooker

Add in all remaining ingredients

Raw beef chunks and diced butternut squash are coated in a glossy, dark marinade and mixed together in a pan, prepared for slow cooking.

Stir to combine, then cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours (or high for 4-5 hours)

A teal spoon lifts a serving of honey balsamic beef and butternut squash stew from a pot, showing pieces of beef, orange squash, carrots, and thick brown gravy.

Stir again and serve.

If you love this recipe...

Please let me know in the comment section below!

Serving ideas

This crockpot beef and butternut squash recipe is great served:

Over rice, mashed potatoes, quinoa, polenta, riced cauliflower, riced hearts of palm, or noodles.
Next to a crisp garden salad
Alongside air fryer carrot chips
With a heel of crusty bread (the sauce is great for dipping!).

Storing leftovers

Store leftover slow cooker honey balsamic beef and butternut squash in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Leftovers will stay good for 3-4 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.

Thaw frozen leftovers overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating in the microwave.

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A clear glass container with the lid partly open holds honey balsamic beef and butternut squash stew, showing visible pieces of beef, orange carrots, and golden squash in a dark broth on a white surface.

Expert tips from my kitchen

Store leftovers of this hearty beef dinner in meal-sized containers. This makes for easy reheat-and-eat next-day meals for the whole family.
This is a delicious crockpot dinner to make if your diners eat at different times. Once your dish has finished cooking, turn your crockpot to the warm setting. Everyone will have a warm meal waiting for them, no matter when they walk through the door!
I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
Always double-check to make sure your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! There is nothing worse than coming home to a slow cooker that was never properly turned on!

Good to know

Can I use fresh butternut squash?

Yes! I wrote this recipe using frozen butternut squash intentionally. It is an easy item to keep on hand - right next to some frozen stew meat.
However, frozen squash tends to become soft and break apart when slow-cooked for this long. Fresh squash will hold its shape better and be less mushy when serving.

What cut of beef works best?

Stew meat is the laziest option, but chuck roast cut into bite-sized pieces works just as well.

Can I prep this in advance?

Yes! Mix all the sauce ingredients and beef pieces in a food-safe bag and store in the refrigerator overnight. Pop the mixture into your slow cooker with the butternut squash when you are ready to start cooking

Is this recipe sweet?

Yes, this recipe is on the sweeter side. The sauce somewhat mimics a balsamic glaze.

How can I thicken the gravy in this dish?

If you would like a thicker gravy, make a slurry out of either potato starch (my preference) or cornstarch.
Mix equal parts of either starch with cold water. Stir the mixture into your beef dish. Potato starch will thicken right away; cornstarch will need to cook for an additional 30-60 minutes to fully thicken.