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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

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This slow cooker beef stew features tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a rich, savory gravy, all simmered together for the ultimate comfort meal. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends, it’s a forgiving, crowd-pleasing recipe that’s been perfected over years of family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 4 Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup frozen peas (optional, stir in at the end)
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced (optional)
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine (optional, for deeper flavor)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels. In a large mixing bowl, toss the beef with flour, plus a pinch of salt and pepper, until evenly coated.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef cubes in batches on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker.
  3. Add carrots, potatoes, onion, and garlic to the slow cooker, scattering them evenly around and over the beef.
  4. In a medium bowl or measuring cup, whisk together beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, smoked paprika (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  5. Pour the broth mixture over the beef and veggies. Add bay leaves. If using red wine, pour it in now. Gently stir to combine.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until beef is fork-tender and potatoes are cooked through.
  7. Remove bay leaves. For a thicker broth, mash a few potato chunks against the side of the slow cooker and stir. Add peas (if using) in the last 15 minutes of cooking.
  8. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch instead of all-purpose flour. For a thicker stew, mash some potatoes or add a cornstarch slurry. Add peas in the last 15 minutes for color and sweetness. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 4-5 days or freeze up to 3 months. Browning the beef before slow cooking adds extra flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef stew, slow cooker, crockpot, comfort food, hearty, family dinner, easy, one pot, gluten-free option, dairy-free, meal prep

Find it online: https://pokirecipes.com/slow-cooker-beef-stew-recipe-best-hearty-comfort-meal-ever/