Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
This hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for any day of the week. Tender beef stew meat is slowly cooked with aromatic vegetables, rich beef broth, and herbs to create a savory and satisfying meal. The addition of potatoes, carrots, and peas makes it a complete and nutritious one-pot dish that is easy to prepare and sure to please the whole family.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Stew
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Meat and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
- Salt and pepper to taste
Vegetables
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 pound small yellow potatoes, halved
- 4 carrots, halved and sliced into 1 inch chunks
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Liquids and Others
- 3 cups beef broth
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 tablespoons flour
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the beef stew meat with salt and pepper, then brown the meat on all sides until nicely seared. This step locks in flavor and improves texture.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker. Add diced onion, minced garlic, halved potatoes, carrot chunks, beef broth, tomato paste, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Stir gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
- Thicken the Stew: About 30 minutes before serving, mix the flour with a small amount of cold water to create a slurry. Stir this into the stew to thicken the broth. Add the frozen peas and cook for the remaining time uncovered.
- Finish and Garnish: Remove the bay leaf, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed, and sprinkle chopped parsley over the stew for a fresh finish before serving.
Notes
- For richer flavor, brown the meat in batches to avoid crowding the pan.
- You can substitute baby red potatoes if small yellow potatoes are unavailable.
- Adding a splash of red wine during the browning step can enhance the stew’s depth.
- Make sure to stir the flour slurry thoroughly to avoid lumps when thickening the stew.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld.
Find it online: https://recipethrive.com/slow-cooker-beef-stew-recipe/
