Slow Cooker Valentine's Dinner Recipes: 30 Ideas (Print Version)

Discover 30 Slow Cooker Valentine's Dinner Recipes for a romantic, fuss-free evening. From hearty stews to tender roasts, find your perfect date night meal.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 6 Hours minutes
Total Time: 31 minutes
Servings: 2 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: French
Dietary: Meat

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 1 lb beef chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
02 - 4 oz smoked bacon, thick-cut, diced
03 - 1.5 cups dry red wine (like Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon)
04 - 1 cup beef broth, low-sodium
05 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
06 - 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
07 - 8 oz cremini mushrooms, halved
08 - 1 cup frozen pearl onions (optional)

→ Flavor Boosters

09 - 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
11 - 3 sprigs fresh thyme
12 - 2 bay leaves
13 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Finishing Touches

15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Crispy bacon bits (from earlier)

→ Make It Special

17 - 1 tbsp brandy (for deglazing, optional)
18 - Crusty bread or mashed potatoes, for serving

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get that bacon sizzling! Chop your bacon into small pieces and cook it in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s crispy. Pull the bacon out with a slotted spoon, leaving all that glorious fat in the pan. Now, season your beef chuck generously with salt and pepper. This is where the flavor really starts, hon. Brown the beef in batches in that bacon fat until it's nicely seared on all sides. Don't overcrowd the pan, or it'll steam instead of brown, and we don't want that. I always try to rush this part and end up with sad, grey beef, so take your time!
02 - Once all the beef is browned and set aside, toss your chopped carrots and onion into the same skillet. Sauté them for about 5-7 minutes, scraping up all those delicious brown bits from the bottom of the pan – that's called fond, and it's pure flavor! Then, stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, letting them cook for another minute until fragrant. Oh, the smell at this point is just incredible, honestly. This step is crucial for deepening the taste of your Slow Cooker Valentine's Dinner.
03 - Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and stir for a minute or two. Now for the fun part: pour in the red wine! Scrape up any remaining bits from the bottom of the pan while it simmers for a couple of minutes, letting some of that alcohol cook off. It’s like magic watching the sauce start to thicken. Then, add the beef broth, fresh thyme sprigs, and bay leaves. Bring it to a gentle simmer, just until it starts to thicken slightly. This liquid base is going to become the heart of your Slow Cooker Valentine's Dinner stew.
04 - Carefully transfer all the deliciousness from your skillet into your slow cooker. Add the browned beef back in, nestling it into the liquid and veggies. Give it a gentle stir to make sure everything is submerged. Cover your slow cooker and set it to low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. You want that beef to be fall-apart tender, like, seriously melt-in-your-mouth tender. I usually peek around the 5-hour mark on low, just to check the aroma, but don't lift that lid too often!
05 - About 30-45 minutes before serving, stir in your cremini mushrooms and pearl onions (if you're using them). They’ll cook through beautifully without getting mushy if you add them towards the end. This is where the stew really starts to come together visually and texturally. Taste and adjust seasonings here, too. Sometimes I forget this step in my kitchen chaos, but it makes a big difference for fresh flavor!
06 - Once the beef is ridiculously tender and the sauce has thickened to your liking, remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Ladle this incredible Beef Bourguignon into bowls. Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley and those crispy bacon bits you saved earlier. Honestly, it smells divine, and the beef just falls apart with a fork. Serve it with some crusty bread for soaking up that amazing sauce. This is truly one of the best Slow Cooker Valentine's Dinner Recipes for a special, yet relaxed, evening. Enjoy every single comforting bite!

# Notes:

01 - Browning the beef *really* makes a difference for deep flavor, don't skip it!
02 - This stew tastes even better the next day, honestly. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
03 - No red wine? Beef broth works in a pinch, but you lose some of that classic depth.
04 - A dollop of crème fraîche or a sprinkle of fresh parsley at the end is surprisingly good and makes it feel extra special.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Slow cooker
02 - large skillet
03 - slotted spoon
04 - cutting board
05 - knife

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 550-650
Total Fat: 35-45g
Total Carbohydrate: 20-25g
Protein: 40-50g

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