Slow Cooker Beef Stew 🥩🥕
A classic slow cooker beef stew is hearty, flavorful, and perfect for a cozy meal. Cooking it low and slow makes the beef tender and allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
🧾 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 2 lbs (900 g) beef stew meat, cut into cubes
- 4 medium carrots, sliced
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for browning beef, optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Optional – Brown the beef
In a skillet, heat olive oil and brown the beef cubes on all sides. This step adds extra flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
2️⃣ Add ingredients to slow cooker
Place beef, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and garlic into the slow cooker.
3️⃣ Mix liquids and seasonings
In a small bowl, whisk together beef broth, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Pour over the beef and vegetables. Add bay leaves.
4️⃣ Cook
- Low: 7–8 hours
- High: 4–5 hours
5️⃣ Optional – Thicken stew
About 30 minutes before serving, mix 2 tbsp flour with a little cold water to make a slurry. Stir into stew to thicken.
6️⃣ Serve
Remove bay leaves and serve hot with crusty bread or over rice.
⭐ Tips for Best Flavor
- Use chuck roast — it becomes tender and flavorful after slow cooking.
- Add a splash of red wine with broth for deeper flavor.
- For extra richness, stir in a few tablespoons of sour cream or heavy cream just before serving.
✅ Result: Tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef with hearty vegetables in a rich, savory broth.
- If you want, I can also give a shortcut 3-hour version of slow cooker beef stew that is just as flavorful but faster to prepare. 🥩🔥
