Slow Cooker Beef Stew

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a hearty and delicious meal that is perfect for a cold day. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to develop and the beef to become tender and juicy. Simply add the ingredients to your slow cooker in the morning, and come home to a hot and delicious meal that's ready to eat.

Check out my Slow Cooker Chicken Stew and my Crockpot Salsa Chicken Tacos with Avocado Sauce for more delicious recipes!

This slow cooker beef stew recipe is a classic comfort dish. The ingredients are combined in a slow cooker and cooked on low heat for 8-10 hours, allowing the flavors to develop and the beef to become tender and juicy. The end result is a rich and satisfying stew that is perfect for a cold day and can be served with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes.

Whether you're feeding a large family or looking for a simple and delicious dinner, this slow cooker beef stew recipe is a must-try.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Convenience. The slow cooking process allows you to add all the ingredients to the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a hot and delicious meal that's ready to eat.
• Flavor. The slow cooking process also allows the flavors of the beef, vegetables, and spices to develop, creating a rich and satisfying taste.
• Tender Beef. The slow cooking process makes the beef tender and juicy, which is the hallmark of a good beef stew.
• Versatility. You can customize this recipe to suit your taste by using different vegetables or adjusting the amount of spices.
• Large batches. This recipe makes a large batch, making it perfect for feeding a large family or for meal prepping.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Lean Beef Stew Meat: The base of the stew.
• All-Purpose Flour: Used to create a crust on the beef that helps to seal in the juices and add flavor.
• Salt & Ground Pepper: Added seasoning.
• Olive Oil: Used to brown the beef.
• Vegetable Broth: Helps to deglaze the pan.
• Onion & Garlic: Add flavor and aroma to the stew, and also help to build the base for the broth.
• Potatoes & Carrots: Provides a starchy and sweet contrast to the savory broth, and also add texture and nutrition to the stew.
• Celery: Adds a mild, slightly bitter flavor to the stew.
• Red Bell Pepper: Adds a sweet and slightly spicy flavor to the stew, and also provides a pop of color.
• Bay Leaves, Beef Broth & Fire Roasted Tomatoes: Added to enhance the flavor of the stew.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1:

Coat the beef with the flour. Shake off the excess flour, then sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper on the beef.

Step 2:

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Brown the beef over medium heat.

Step 3:

Add the vegetable broth. Cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, which is about 5 minutes.

Step 4:

Transfer the beef and its sauce to the slow cooker.

Step 5:

Add the onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, celery, red peppers, bay leaves, broth, tomatoes, and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper in the slow cooker.

Step 6:

Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8-10 hours, or until the beef is tender.

NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!

Expert Tips

• Sear the beef. Searing the beef in a mixture of olive oil and all-purpose flour before adding it to the slow cooker helps to create a crust that seals in the juices and adds flavor.
• Don't skip the deglazing step. After searing the beef, make sure to deglaze the pan with the broth to pick up any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Use potatoes that hold their shape. Choose potatoes that hold their shape well, such as Yukon gold or russet potatoes, as they won't turn to mush during the slow cooking process.
• Let it slow cook. Slow cooking is the key to creating a delicious and tender beef stew, so make sure to give the stew enough time to slow cook on low heat.
• Season to taste. Taste the stew before serving and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt and pepper.

Variations

• Add different vegetables: Try adding other vegetables, such as turnips, parsnips, or butternut squash, to the stew for a different flavor and texture.
• Use different spices: Try adding different spices, such as thyme, rosemary, or paprika, to the stew to give it a different flavor profile.
• Make it spicy: Add a diced jalapeño pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the stew for a spicy kick.
• Use different types of broth. Try using chicken broth or mushroom broth for a different flavor.
• Make it vegetarian: Substitute the beef with tofu, tempeh, or seitan, and use vegetable broth to make a vegetarian version of the stew.

Storing & Freezing

Storing: Refrigerate leftover stew in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezing: Let the stew cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible from the container or bag before sealing. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating: If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Microwave or heat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot.

Recipe FAQ's

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Erika

Slow cooker beef stew is a hearty and delicious meal that is perfect for a cold day. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to develop and the beef to become tender and juicy. Simply add the ingredients to your slow cooker in the morning, and come home to a hot and delicious meal that's ready to eat.

5 from 8 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 10 hrs

Total Time 10 hrs 20 mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 Servings

Calories 383 kcal

Equipment

• Ceramic Non-Stick Covered Saucepan, 3 quart
• Stainless Steel Knife Set with Block
• Cutting Board, 3 Piece
• Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cooker
• Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 pound lean beef stew meat 1" cubes
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon salt divided
• ½ teaspoon black pepper divided
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
• 2 medium carrots peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks chopped
• ½ cup red bell peppers diced
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups beef broth fat-free and low-sodium
• 14 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes

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Instructions

 

• Coat the beef with the flour. Shake off the excess flour, then sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper on the beef.
• Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Brown the beef over medium heat.
• Add the vegetable broth. Cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, which is about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the beef and its sauce to the slow cooker.
• Add the onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, celery, red peppers, bay leaves, broth, tomatoes, and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper in the slow cooker.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8-10 hours, or until the beef is tender.

Notes

• Sear the beef. Searing the beef in a mixture of olive oil and all-purpose flour before adding it to the slow cooker helps to create a crust that seals in the juices and adds flavor.
• Don't skip the deglazing step. After searing the beef, make sure to deglaze the pan with the broth to pick up any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Use potatoes that hold their shape. Choose potatoes that hold their shape well, such as Yukon gold or russet potatoes, as they won't turn to mush during the slow cooking process.
• Let it slow cook. Slow cooking is the key to creating a delicious and tender beef stew, so make sure to give the stew enough time to slow cook on low heat.
• Season to taste. Taste the stew before serving and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt and pepper.
• Storing: Refrigerate leftover stew in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezing: Let the stew cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer-safe plastic bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible from the container or bag before sealing. Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Microwave or heat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 383kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 6gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 741mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6g

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Keyword Beef Stew Recipe, Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

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