Here’s a hearty and easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe 🥩🥕 — perfect for a comforting meal with minimal effort.
🥘 Slow Cooker Beef Stew (Serves 4–6)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (900 g) beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 medium carrots, sliced
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup red wine (optional, or use more broth)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2–3 tbsp flour or cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare Ingredients
- Toss beef cubes with salt, pepper, and flour (optional) to help thicken the stew later.
2️⃣ Layer in Slow Cooker
- Add beef, carrots, potatoes, onion, and garlic to the slow cooker.
3️⃣ Add Liquids & Seasoning
- Pour in beef broth and red wine (if using).
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
4️⃣ Cook
- Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked.
5️⃣ Thicken (Optional)
- If you like a thicker stew, mix 2–3 tbsp cornstarch or flour with a small amount of cold water, then stir into stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
6️⃣ Serve
- Remove bay leaves.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot with crusty bread or over rice.
🔹 Tips & Variations
- Flavor boost: Sear beef cubes in a hot pan for 2–3 minutes before slow cooking to enhance flavor.
- Veggie variations: Add celery, parsnips, peas, or mushrooms for extra texture.
- Make it richer: Stir in 1–2 tbsp butter or a splash of cream just before serving.
- Leftovers: Taste improves the next day as flavors meld; store in the fridge for 3–4 days.
💡 Fun fact: Slow cooking allows the connective tissue in beef to break down, making the meat tender and infusing the broth with rich, hearty flavor — all without constant stirring.
I can also give a one-step version using only pantry ingredients for super easy prep if you want.
Do you want me to do that?
