Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Jump to Recipe·Print 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! If you need another fix it and forget crockpot dinner recipe check out my Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup!

A spoonful of tender beef and root vegetables in a flavorful beef stew.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
How to Make Step by Step Recipe Instructions
Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
More Easy Recipes For Your Crockpot
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Very basic, easy stew recipe for a busy weeknight!
Tender beef chunks in flavorful brown gravy for mouth watering rich flavors!
A great recipe to reheat the next day!
This slow cooker version of a classic comfort food recipe makes even tough meat tender!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

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. Bouillon's are dried out and have weak flavor. Better Than Bouillon is a good brand and makes a rich broth. Click HERE to purchase some! You could also use low sodium beef broth that is ready to use.

The best beef stew only needs a handful of simple ingredients!

How to Make Step by Step Recipe 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 frying pan back on the stove top 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.

Vegetables sautéed and dumped into a crockpot followed by browning of beef.

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.

Flour added to beef chunks, followed by beef broth and then dumped in a crockpot.

Peel, slice and dice the potatoes, I prefer smaller pieces and add them to the slow cooker.
Pour in 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 lid on and cook on high heat for 4-5 hours or on low heat for 8 hours.

Potatoes and remaining beef broth added to the stew in the crockpot. — Potatoes and remaining beef broth added to the flavorful stew in the crockpot.

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.
Serve with a crusty bread like my Homemade French Bread!

Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

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 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. 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 bay leaves or some fresh rosemary if you would like though.

More Easy Recipes For Your Crockpot

Have you tried this recipe? If so, leave me a rating and a comment below! And don't forget to subscribe to get my latest recipes sent right to your email! You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!