Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Loaded with melt in your mouth beef and plenty of veggies in a rich thick broth. Slow Cooker Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food that feels like a big warm hug.
Equipment
- 1 6 Qt Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs stew meat cut in 1-inch pieces (also known as chuck roast) You can usually find this already cut and packaged with fat trimmed at the grocery store.
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 cups beef broth, divided I use better than bouillon roasted beef base for best flavor
- 3 cups potatoes cut in 1-inch pieces If using russet make sure to peel potatoes first
- 3 large carrots peeled and cut in 1-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 all-purpose or gluten free flour
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Prep all ingredients first for a quick and easy process.
- Start by heating a large deep skillet to medium high heat. Season meat with salt and pepper, about a teaspoon each. Add olive oil and 1/2 of the stew meat to the hot skillet. Brown on all sides until golden and transfer to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining beef.
- Add onions and garlic to the skillet and toast stirring constantly about 2 minutes or just until softened, being careful not to burn the garlic. You may need to turn down the heat. When veggies have softened add 1/4 cup beef broth and begin scrapping the bits from the bottom of the pan using a wooden spoon. Transfer onions, garlic, and any remaining liquid from pan to slow cooker.
- To the slow cooker with the beef and onions, add carrots, potatoes, tomato paste, spices, bay leaves, and remaining 2 1/2 cups beef broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place lid on and cook for 5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low. Meat should be super tender.
- Once meat and veggies are soft, in a small bowl add the flour and 1/2 cup liquid from slow cooker. I usually use my ladle. Stir until it's mostly smooth and thick. Stir this mixture into the stew, place the lid on and cook another 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Cuts of beef that work well for stew:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
- Round
- Chuck
- Sirloin
- Brisket
- Bone-in-short rib
- Oxtail
- Turnups
- Butternut squash
- Sweet potatoes
- Mushrooms
- Fennel