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Home » Recipes » Southern Recipes

Slow Cooker Rabbit Stew

Overhead close up view of a slow cooker rabbit stew.
A tender and flavorful slow cooker rabbit stew that is easy to fix and one the whole family will love.
Prep Time :15 minutes mins
Cook Time :8 hours hrs
Total Time :8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Servings :8
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Two images showing slow cooker rabbit stew with text overlay for pinterest.

Published: Feb 25, 2023 · Modified: Nov 11, 2024 by Melanie Cagle · 4 Comments

We're a big fan of living off the land and those little cotton-tails provide an excellent source of protein. This hearty slow cooker rabbit stew makes for a very tasty and comforting dish that the whole family will love.

Overhead close up of slow cooker rabbit stew with carrots.
Slow Cooker Rabbit Stew

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Rabbit hunting season is during the colder months so if you're working with fresh rabbit meat then it'll be in the winter months.

We're not shy to serve this any other time though, as we keep our freezer well stocked.

Jump to:
  • What makes this recipe so yummy
  • Groceries you'll need: Ingredients
  • Recipe walkthrough: Instructions
  • Recipe variations and substitute ideas
  • Necessary gear: Equipment
  • More slow cooker recipes I think you'll love
  • How to store leftovers
  • Mel's kitchen notes
  • Frequently asked questions: FAQs
  • Slow Cooker Rabbit Stew
  • 💬 Comments

What makes this recipe so yummy

  • Rabbit meat is very lean and healthy. It's a great alternative to your regular beef or chicken.
  • As the grocery prices keep rising and rising living off the land really can help your pocket-book. If you don't have land, perhaps you can check with a friend that does.

Groceries you'll need: Ingredients

Ingredients laid out with text overlay, for what is needed to make a slow cooker rabbit stew.
  • Rabbit Meat
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Sea Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Olive Oil
  • Carrots
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Celery
  • Prunes
  • Beef Broth
  • Dried Thyme

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.

Recipe walkthrough: Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

A collage of four images showing how to make a slow cooker rabbit stew.
  • Step 1: Coat the rabbit pieces in seasoned flour and brown in a large skillet.
  • Step 2: Add to a 6 quart or bigger slow cooker along with the other veggies.
  • Step 3: Add the beef broth.
  • Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Hint: Wild rabbit tastes differently than farmed rabbit. It will have a slightly gamier taste. Any farmed rabbit will tend to have a sweeter meat.

Recipe variations and substitute ideas

  • White Wine - to balance out the recipe.
  • Chicken Stock - or chicken broth instead of beef broth.
  • Bay Leaves - add a bay leaf or two.
  • Fresh Herbs - some fresh rosemary, thyme or oregano would be delicious.
  • Green Beans - Some people like to add this.
  • Vegetable Broth - instead of beef broth.
  • White Vinegar - add a few tablespoons of vinegar to balance things out.
A slow cooker rabbit stew with a ladle pulling some out.

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Necessary gear: Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You'll need a 6 quart (or bigger) slow cooker for this recipe, as well as a large skillet to brown the rabbit.

I have some affiliate links in the recipe card below, if you need.

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How to store leftovers

Once the slow cooker rabbit stew has cooled completely transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

This rabbit stew will freeze well. Transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Mel's kitchen notes

Thicken using instant mashed potato flakes, for best flavor and added thickness. If not though, you could use a cornstarch slurry.

A dished out bowl of slow cooker rabbit stew.

Frequently asked questions: FAQs

Why is my rabbit stew tough?

If you have ended up with tough meat, this will happen because it was cooked at a temperature too high. For best results, cook your rabbit stew low and slow.

I have a whole rabbit, how do I prepare it?

After the rabbit has been skinned and cleaned, the best method is to cut the legs off then also keep the back area. There's some delicious Backstrap that runs alongside the spine. Be careful before eating though, there can be a lot of smaller bones if using that back bone.


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Overhead close up view of a slow cooker rabbit stew.
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Slow Cooker Rabbit Stew

A tender and flavorful slow cooker rabbit stew that is easy to fix and one the whole family will love.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time8 hours hrs
Total Time8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Servings: 8
Cuisine: American
Author: Melanie Cagle
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Video

Equipment

  • Large 12" Skillet
  • 6 Quart Crock Pot

Ingredients

  • ½ Cup All Purpose Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 2 Each Rabbits skinned and quartered
  • 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
  • 2 Each Carrots peeled and sliced
  • 3 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 Each Yellow Onions diced
  • 2 Ribs Celery diced
  • 1 teaspoons Dried Thyme
  • 8 Each Dried Prunes
  • 6 Cups Beef Broth

Instructions

  • Mix the flour with the salt and pepper and coat the rabbit sections in it.
    ½ Cup All Purpose Flour, 2 teaspoons Salt, 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • Add the olive oil to a large skillet and brown the rabbit sections on each side for a few minutes.
    2 Each Rabbits, 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
  • Place into the slow cooker, along with all the other ingredients.
    2 Each Carrots, 3 Cloves Garlic, 2 Each Yellow Onions, 2 Ribs Celery, 1 teaspoons Dried Thyme, 8 Each Dried Prunes, 6 Cups Beef Broth
  • Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
  • Remove any bones from the slow cooker before serving.
  • Season with more salt and pepper, to taste.

Notes

Rabbit can be quite small and the bones can be quite elusive sometimes. Make sure to check carefully when dishing up.
If you want to thicken up the stew a little more, sprinkle some instant mashed potatoes into the slow cooker and stir into the rabbit stew. It will thicken nicely and give some more flavor.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 1223mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g

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Filed Under: Dinner Recipes, Slow Cooker Recipes, Southern Recipes

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    Recipe Rating





  1. Jim says

    February 27, 2023 at 5:49 am

    What are the prunes for? Never seen them in a recipe before.

    Reply
    • Melanie Cagle says

      February 27, 2023 at 7:12 pm

      Hi Jim, the prunes add a certain amount of sweetness that helps cut the gaminess of the wild rabbit. It's very common in France to cook rabbit with prunes.

      Reply
  2. Dannah says

    August 06, 2023 at 10:01 pm

    We only have 1 rabbit, will that work for this recipe? Can I just cut the ingredients in half? Will the time of cooking change with only 1 rabbit?

    Reply
    • Melanie Cagle says

      August 07, 2023 at 10:11 am

      Hi Dannah, I guess it depends on the size of the rabbit, if it is a smaller size, then yes, cut the ingredients in half - the cooking time will stay the same though, as it's cooking low and slow.

      Reply

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