Depression-Era Shipwreck Stew
American recipes

Depression-Era Shipwreck Stew

Slow Cooker
serves 4

Shipwreck stew is a practical, inexpensive meal built from ground beef, potatoes, onion and tinned vegetables. The ingredients cook in layers until the potatoes are tender and the sauce becomes rich and spoonable.

Serve it with bread, crackers or rice. It is simple food designed to be filling, adaptable and easy to leave cooking while you get on with the day.

BudgetComfort FoodMain
15 mins prep7 hrs cook7 hrs 15 mins total

  1. Lightly grease the slow cooker. Add the beef mince and break it into large pieces across the base.

  2. Layer the sliced onion over the beef, followed by the potato slices.

  3. Pour the vegetable soup over the potatoes, then add the chopped tomatoes with their juice.

  4. Season with salt and pepper, cover and cook on Low for 6–7 hours or High for 3½–4 hours, until the potatoes are tender and the beef is cooked through.

  5. Stir gently to bring the beef, potatoes and sauce together, then taste and adjust the seasoning.

  6. Serve hot with bread, crackers or rice.

Keep cooking

Related recipes