Crockpot Beef Stew

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This easy Crockpot Beef Stew is made with tender chunks of beef, carrots, and red potatoes in a rich, buttery gravy. It’s a great choice for weeknight dinners, Sunday meals, or cold days when you want something hearty. Just add everything to the slow cooker and let it handle the rest.

Table of Contents

Fail-Proof Beef Stew Recipe

I love using my crockpot for this fail-proof beef stew recipe. So many of you have loved the Irish Beef Stew that I decided to transfer that recipe over to the slow cooker, with the addition of potatoes. Whether it’s the shorter, cold days of winter or longer, hot days of summer, this recipe can feed a crowd, fill bellies, and make you never want to try another beef stew crockpot recipe again. This one has it all.

Ingredient Notes

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this crockpot beef stew, and each one helps build that rich, cozy flavor everyone loves.

• Stew Meat: Beef stew meat becomes incredibly tender after slow cooking, making every bite hearty and satisfying.
• Yellow Onion: Yellow onion adds a savory base and slowly melts into the broth as it cooks.
• Carrots: Carrots bring a natural sweetness and hold their shape well during the long cooking time.
• Red Potatoes: Red potatoes stay nice and creamy without falling apart, making them perfect for crockpot stews.
• Olive Oil: A quick sear in olive oil helps brown the beef and adds extra flavor before it goes into the slow cooker.
• Beef Broth: Beef broth creates the rich, savory base that gives the stew its comforting flavor.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Just a splash adds extra depth with a slightly tangy, savory boost.
• Fresh Thyme: Fresh thyme gives the stew a classic, earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with beef and vegetables.
• All-Purpose Flour: Flour coats the beef before browning, helping create a richer broth as everything cooks together.
• Salted Butter: A little butter adds richness and helps create a smooth gravy when thickening the stew.
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch thickens the broth at the end, giving it that classic hearty stew consistency.
• Fresh Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a pop of color and bright, fresh flavor just before serving.
• Bay Leaves: Bay leaves quietly infuse the broth with subtle herbal flavor while the stew simmers low and slow.

How to Make Crockpot Beef Stew

Only a few simple steps and basic ingredients are needed to create this delicious slow cooker beef stew! For full recipe details, including ingredients needed and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below.

Step 1: Prep Veggies for the Crockpot

Chop onions, carrots, and red potatoes and place them into a cold crockpot or slow cooker.

Step 2: Brown Stew Meat

Pat the stew meat as dry as you can using paper towels. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and flour and toss to coat evenly. Brown meat in batches, using a large skillet and olive oil. Cook over medium-high heat until a brown crust forms, but not until cooked through. As the meat browns, transfer it to the crockpot. Deglaze the pan with beef broth and pour it into the crockpot.

Step 3: Cover + Cook

Top off with more beef broth, bay leaves, thyme leaves, and Worcestershire sauce.

Cover and cook 4-5 hours on high or until potatoes and carrots are fork tender and meat is very tender.

Step 4: Thicken Stew

Thicken stew by stirring butter, flour, and cornstarch together to create a paste. Add the butter-flour mixture to the hot broth in the stew and stir to melt.

Cook another 20 minutes to fully thicken.

Step 5: Serve Hot!

Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs, add chopped parsley, and serve hot.

Tools You’ll Need

You don’t need anything fancy to make this crockpot beef stew, but a few reliable kitchen tools make prep easier and help everything cook evenly.

• Large skillet – Browning the beef in a large skillet gives it a rich, flavorful crust before it goes into the slow cooker, and the extra space helps the meat sear instead of steam.
• Chef’s knife – A sharp chef’s knife makes chopping the onions, carrots, and potatoes faster and gives you evenly sized pieces that cook at the same rate.
• Crockpot or slow cooker – A 6-quart crockpot or slow cooker is perfect for this recipe because it has plenty of room for the beef, vegetables, and broth to simmer low and slow until everything is fork-tender.
• Prep bowls – A few prep bowls keep the chopped vegetables, seasonings, and flour organized, making it easy to add everything when it’s time to cook.

How to Make a Beef Stew With More Depth of Flavor

These few simple tips will go a long way toward creating the most flavorful and delicious slow-cooker beef stew. You don’t have to use these tips, but I highly recommend them if you want to enhance your stew.

• Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste to the broth while cooking.
• Don’t skip the Worcestershire sauce.
• Substitute a little red wine for the beef broth (see below).
• Try using beef consume or beef stock in place of the beef broth. Makes a big difference!
• Taste as you go and add salt as needed.

What to Serve With Crockpot Beef Stew

Crockpot beef stew is filling enough to stand on its own, but the right side dish can round out the meal. Here are a few easy favorites that pair well with its rich, hearty flavors.

• Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls– Soft, warm rolls are perfect for soaking up every last spoonful of the rich beef broth.
• Mashed Potatoes Recipe – Creamy mashed potatoes make this hearty meal even more comforting and pair perfectly with the tender beef and vegetables.
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts – Crispy roasted Brussels sprouts add a fresh, savory side that balances the richness of the stew.
• Fruit Salad Recipe – A light fruit salad is a refreshing way to finish a hearty bowl of beef stew.
• Angel Biscuits – Soft Angel Biscuits are perfect for soaking up the rich beef stew broth.
• Sour Cream or Horseradish – A dollop of sour cream adds creaminess, while prepared horseradish brings a bold kick that complements the beef beautifully.

Storing and Reheating

Leftover crockpot beef stew tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or an easy dinner later in the week.

Storing: Let the beef stew cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating if frozen.

Reheating: Reheat the stew in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. For individual servings, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, and add a splash of beef broth or water if needed to thin the stew.

FAQs

Variations

Other vegetables that you can add to your beef stew:

• Butternut or acorn squash
• Turnip
• Parsnips
• Rutabaga
• Hearty greens
• Sweet Potatoes
• Frozen peas or corn (add in right at the end of cooking)

More Soup Recipes to Try!

• Easy Taco Soup
• Hamburger Soup
• Irish Beef Stew Recipe with Mashed Potatoes
• The Best Chili Recipe
• Vegetable Beef Soup
• Ham and Bean Soup
• Cabbage Roll Soup

There you have it! Dinner’s ready for you when you get home. Be sure to save/print/bookmark or share this recipe if you decide to make it. It’s a classic and a keeper! Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.