Whether you call it a slow cooker or a crockpot, this easy recipe is full of tender chunks of beef and cooked-to-perfection vegetables! Even though the ingredients are very simple, you'll love the savory flavors of this hearty meal. It even reheats perfectly the next day!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Very basic, easy beef stew recipe for a busy weeknight after a long day!
- Tender beef chunks in flavorful brown gravy for a mouth-watering beefy flavor!
- Crockpot beef stew is a great recipe for those winter months!
- If you own a freeze dryer, this recipe is freeze-dried for long-term food storage very well!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Butter - Either unsalted or salted is fine. You can substitute olive oil for the butter if you would like.
- Flour- Use all-purpose flour. If you need this stew to be gluten-free, substituting potato starch for the flour is the best option for a thickener. I have tried corn starch and didn't love the result.
- Stew Meat - What kind of meat do you use for beef stew? The cut I use is beef stew meat. You could also cut a beef chuck roast up into 1-inch pieces.
- Potatoes - I use russet potatoes for this recipe as they hold up better and maintain their shape. You could also use red potatoes, but I would avoid Yukon gold potatoes.
- Beef Broth - For best results, make the beef broth from a beef base instead of a bouillon. Bouillons are dried out and have a weak flavor. Better Than Bouillon is a good brand and makes a rich broth. You could also use low-sodium beef broth that is ready to use.
- Optional Seasonings - To vary the flavor, you can add a few dash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce to your beef stew. Many also like fresh thyme, rosemary, or bay leaves.
- For tips on how to use a slow cooker or crockpot, see this Complete Slow Cooker Guide!
How to Make
- Get your 6-quart crockpot or slow cooker out and ready.
- Slice and chop up the onions, carrots, and celery.
- It's also helpful to have the beef broth ready to use and the flour pre-measured and set to the side.
- Heat 2 Tbs. Butter to sizzling over medium-high heat in a large frying pan or large skillet.
- Add the celery, carrots and onions. Sauté until onions start to look translucent.
- Dump in the slow cooker.
- Place the frying pan back on the stovetop over medium-high heat and add the raw beef stew meat.
- Brown the outsides of the beef cubes. This increases the depth of flavor!
- You don't need to make sure it's cooked all the way through because it will finish cooking as it simmers in the crock pot.
- Add flour to browned meat and mix to make a paste.
- Add 3 cups of the beef broth, a little at a time to the meaty flour mixture while mixing well to make a gravy. Make sure to whisk in all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Simmer to thicken slightly.
- Dump into the crockpot over the vegetables.
- Peel, slice, and dice the potatoes; I prefer smaller pieces and add them to the slow cooker.
- Pour in the remaining broth.
- Some people like to add a bay leaf to their stew. If you would like to do that, this is when you would add it.
- Put a lid on and cook on high heat for 4-5 hours or on low heat for 8 hours.
- The gravy in this stew may seem too thin at first, but it will thicken as it cools.
- Cool slightly and season with salt and black pepper to your liking.
- If you would like, you could add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or fresh rosemary to this crock pot beef stew before serving as well.
Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
Can I freeze beef stew?
Yes! Chill the stew all the way through in the fridge before transferring to an airtight container for the freezer and freezing.
How to store:
Store this slow cooker stew in an airtight container in the fridge. It will be good for 3-4 days. Reheat it over medium heat on the stovetop or by the bowlful in the microwave.
Do you have to cook the meat before you put it in the slow cooker?
No, I suppose you don't; however, browning the stew meat before adds flavor to your stew and holds the stew together. Also, in my recipe, you juice the dripping the meat produces when browning to make the gravy the stew is cooked in.
Can you overcook beef stew?
Yes, you sure can. Overcooked beef stew has mushy mushy vegetables and a loss of flavor.
What can I add to beef stew for flavor?
I have had many bland stews in my lifetime. If you follow my recipe, you will have plenty of flavor. The flavor is why I lightly sauté' my veggies first. It pulls out the flavor but leaves it intact. I also brown the stew meat to add flavor. Then make the gravy from the meat drippings with a quality beef broth. You could add a couple of bay leaves or some fresh rosemary if you would like, though.
Check Out These Other Slow Cooker Recipes
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Whether you call it a slow cooker or a crockpot, this easy recipe is full of flavorful beef chunks and cooked-to-perfection vegetables! Let this fix it and forget it meal cook all day so you can enjoy a relaxing dinner later!
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Onions chopped
- 1 Cup Carrots chopped
- ½ Cup Celery chopped
- 2 Tbs Butter
- 2 Cups Potatoes diced
- 1 lb Stew Meat
- 5 Cups Beef Broth
- ¼ Cup Flour
Instructions
- Get your 6-quart crockpot or slow cooker out and ready.
- Slice and chop up the onions, carrots, and celery.
- It's also helpful to have the beef broth ready to use and the flour pre-measured and set to the side.
- Heat 2 Tbs. Butter to sizzling over medium-high heat in a large frying pan or large skillet.
- Add the celery, carrots and onions. Sauté until onions start to look translucent.
- Dump in the slow cooker.
- Place the frying pan back on the stovetop over medium-high heat and add the raw beef stew meat.
- Brown the outsides of the stew meat. You don't need to make sure it's cooked all the way through because it will finish cooking as it simmers in the crock pot.Â
- Add flour to browned meat and mix to make a paste.
- Add 3 cups of the beef broth, a little at a time to the meaty flour mixture while mixing well to make a gravy.
- Simmer to thicken slightly.
- Dump into the crockpot over the vegetables.
- Peel, slice, and dice the potatoes, I prefer smaller pieces and add them to the slow cooker.
- Pour in the remaining broth.
- Some people like to add a bay leaf to their stew. If you would like to do that, this is when you would add it.
- Put a lid on and cook on high heat for 4-5 hours or on low heat for 8 hours.
- The gravy in this stew may seem too thin at first, but it will thicken as it cools.
- If you would like, you could add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or fresh rosemary to this crock pot beef stew before serving.
Notes
- Butter - either unsalted or salted is fine. You can substitute olive oil for the butter if you would like.
- Flour- always all-purpose flour. If you need this stew to be gluten-free, substituting potato starch for the flour is the best option for a thickener. I have tried corn starch and didn't love the result.
- Stew Meat - The cut I use is beef stew meat. You could also cut a beef chuck roast up into 1-inch pieces.
- Potatoes - I use russet potatoes for this recipe as they hold up better and maintain their shape. You could also use red potatoes, but I would avoid Yukon gold potatoes.
- Beef Broth - For best results, make the beef broth from a beef base instead of a bouillon. Bouillons are dried out and have a weak flavor. Better Than Bouillon is a good brand and makes a rich broth. You could also use low-sodium beef broth that is ready to use.
- Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutrition
Calories: 674kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 64gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 2546mgPotassium: 2320mgFiber: 8gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 10810IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 198mgIron: 9mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Cathleen
I can't resist a good slow cooker recipe. This one is definitely a winner, I know that I am going to be making this over and over during the winter months 😉
Matt Ivan
Soups are one of my favorite things in the slow cooker! This soup has a perfect mixture of rich favor and hearty ingredients!
Rika
You can't go wrong with this beef stew! It's so easy and doesn't require a ton of ingredients. I love it.
Carrie Robinson
You can never go wrong with a classic like beef stew! And I love that you made this in the slow cooker. 🙂
Jacqueline Meldrum
I love a stew made in the slow cooker. So comforting.
Wayne Prather
My wife doesn't eat beef but likes chicken, so I substituted the beef with chicken and used chicken broth. Turned out great. Even ate your Cheesy Bread from this past weekend. For day 2 leftovers, I added cheese to each bowl. For day 3 added my home grown canned stewed tomato. Oh heck, it's all gone.
Maudi
Guuuurrrrrl! This was awesome! I made it for my fam tonight and they all loved it. And it was super easy too!
mindeescookingobsession
That makes me so happy! Thank You!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
What a delicious bowl of comfort food! 🙂 Yum!! Another great recipe!
mindeescookingobsession
Thanks so much!