Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a hearty and comforting meal, perfect for colder days. It’s a simple, set-it-and-forget-it recipe where the slow cooker does all the work, resulting in tender beef and flavorful vegetables stewed in a rich gravy.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup red wine (optional, can replace with extra beef broth)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Directions
- Toss the beef cubes with the flour, ensuring each piece is lightly coated. This helps thicken the stew.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef on all sides. You may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, add a little more oil if necessary, and sauté the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery for about 5 minutes, until they start to soften. Add the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
- Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker. Add the potatoes, beef broth, red wine, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- Stir to combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6 hours, until the beef is tender.
- Remove the bay leaf and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Serve the beef stew hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
- Calories: 350-400
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 35g
Prep and Cooking Time
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cooking Time: 8-10 hours (low) or 4-6 hours (high)
Servings
- Serves: 6
This Slow Cooker Beef Stew is the epitome of comfort food. With minimal prep and a slow cooker doing most of the work, you can enjoy a warm, hearty stew with tender chunks of beef and vegetables in a flavorful gravy. It’s perfect for busy days when you want to come home to a ready-to-eat, cozy meal.
