Homemade crock pot beef stew is an easy slow cooker recipe made with tender meat, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and celery. A comforting dish for a cold day!
PIN HERE and follow ME ON PINTEREST for more delicious recipes
Once the cooler temps hit, there is nothing better than a big pot of soup or stew to warm you up.
Beef stew is a popular favorite around here and since we make several variations of this delicious beef stew regularly, I wanted to give the photos a little update along with a new video.
And if you don’t have a slow cooker, you can also checkout:
How to Make Crock Pot Beef Stew
Making beef stew in a slow cooker is my favorite way on a lazy Sunday. Cooking it low and slow takes very little effort and makes the beef so amazingly tender while allowing deep, rich flavors to develop.
The best part about any homemade soup or stew recipe is that you can customize them by adding whatever vegetables you prefer or have on hand.
Tips for The Perfect Crock Pot Beef Stew
- Chop the carrots and celery the day before and add them to a zip-top freezer bag in the fridge
- Peel and chop the potatoes and onions and store them in a zip-top freezer bag in the freezer. This prevents the potatoes from changing color and the onions from spreading odours in the fridge.
- Cut the beef into chunks and place in zip-top freezer bags. Store in the fridge.
How to Get Extra Flavor into Your Stew
And if you have time, I would definitely brown the beef and onions in a skillet before adding them to the slow cooker.
It’s an extra, more involved step but completely worth it for that caramelized and hearty depth and extra layer of flavor you get.
On those days you are pressed for time, you are totally free to skip the browning if you’d prefer an easy dump and go recipe.
This Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe makes a big batch with enough for lots of leftovers. In fact, I think I love the flavors even more the next day. All those thick rich and deep flavors get a chance to build even more overnight.
So delicious and the perfect meal for busy weeknights or a cozy Sunday dinner.
Homemade crock pot beef stew is an easy slow cooker recipe made with tender meat, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and celery. A comforting dish for a cold day!
- 1-1/2 - 2 pounds beef chuck roast preferred or beef stew meat trimmed and cut into 1 - 2 inch chunks
- 1/3 cup flour use gluten free flour or arrowroot starch if needed
- 1-2 teaspoons sea salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- cooking oil
- 1 medium onion cut into large chunks
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 6 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar or red wine
- 3-4 medium Russet potatoes peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks (or can use about 10 small baby potatoes with skin on - cut in half)
- 1 large sweet potato peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks (leave out if desired)
- 3 medium carrots peeled and cut into slices
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 4-5 cups beef broth homemade or low sodium
- 1 star anise optional but adds SO much depth and flavor
- water as needed to cover the vegetables
- 1-2 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley for garnish
- more salt and pepper to taste
- 2 Tablespoons flour (all-purpose, gluten-free, or arrowroot starch) + 3 tablespoons cool water
- For the beef In a large zip-top bag, combine flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Add beef and shake until well coated.
- Browning the meat: (feel free to skip to step 5 and add all the ingredients to the slow cooker instead)
- In a large skillet on medium high heat, add cooking oil and brown the meat on all sides. Meat will not be cooked through. (Be sure not to crowd the skillet - you may have to work in batches). Transfer browned meat into a large 6-quart slow cooker.
- Put the uncleaned skillet back on the stove and add onions and garlic. Saute for a minute or two then add the balsamic vinegar and tomato paste until just hot enough to deglaze the pan, about 1 minute. Pour into slow cooker over the beef.
- Add the potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, celery, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, beef broth, (star anise if using) and stir to combine. If there is not enough liquid to cover the vegetables, add water - only as much as needed.
- Cook on low for 5 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours (stir about halfway through), until potatoes are tender and meat is cooked through. (Times may vary depending on how hot your slow cooker runs - check and cook longer or shorter if necessary)
- Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper if necessary (discard star anise if used). Serve hot with fresh parsley.
- Optional: To thicken stew: Make a slurry by whisking 2 tablespoons of flour (all purpose, cornstarch, gluten-free flour or arrowroot powder) with 3 tablespoons of cool water. 20-30 minutes before serving, stir the slurry into the slow cooker, set to HIGH. Stew should thicken within 20-30 minutes. If it does not thicken, your slow cooker may not be hot enough so you will have to transfer to a large pot and heat on the stove if you want to thicken the stew. However, the stew will thicken up on its own overnight in the fridge even without the cornstarch slurry - the slurry is just a solution for immediate results.
Recipe Video
Let cool, then store in refrigerator overnight or until ready to serve. This stew improves in flavor if made at least 1 day ahead.
