Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe
This hearty Crockpot Beef Stew is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for any day. Tender chunks of stewing beef are slowly cooked with garlic, onions, potatoes, carrots, celery, and a rich blend of beef broth and tomato paste, creating a savory stew that melts in your mouth. Easy to prepare and left to simmer all day, this recipe delivers a delicious, homemade meal with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours (low) or 3.5 hours (high)
- Total Time: 7 hours 20 minutes (low) or 3 hours 50 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Stew
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 2 pounds boneless stewing beef cubes or chuck
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled & diced into large bite-size pieces
- 4 large carrots, peeled & cut into large bite-size pieces
- 3 sticks celery, chopped
Liquids and Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste
- 3 bay leaves
Optional
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- Prepare the beef and vegetables: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the stewing beef cubes and brown them on all sides to seal in the juices. Remove the beef and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until they become fragrant and translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Layer ingredients in the crockpot: Place the browned beef, sautéed onions and garlic, diced potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaves into the crockpot. Pour in the beef broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook the stew: Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through.
- Optional thickening: If you prefer a thicker stew, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with a little cold water to make a slurry. Stir it into the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Continue cooking until the stew has thickened.
- Final seasoning: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Remove bay leaves before serving.
- Serve: Ladle the stew into bowls and enjoy with crusty bread or over rice if desired.
Notes
- The tomato paste adds richness and depth of flavor; if unavailable, you can substitute with canned crushed tomatoes for a slightly different texture.
- Using Yukon Gold potatoes ensures the pieces hold their shape during slow cooking.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free or substitute with coconut aminos.
- Do not add cornstarch slurry at the beginning as it can break down and cause the sauce to become thin.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors meld.
Keywords: crockpot beef stew, slow cooker stew, hearty beef stew, easy beef stew recipe, comfort food
Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/crockpot-beef-stew-recipe/