Crockpot Beef Stew

Loaded with tender chunks of beef and hearty veggies, this Crockpot Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food during chilly winter months. The best part is, you just set it and forget it, and you’ll come home to a delicious and flavorful one-pot meal that’s ready to serve.

Slow-Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

There is nothing beats a bowl of hearty beef stew on a chilly day. That is unless it’s made from scratch, from start to finish, in your slow cooker. This easy recipe has all the same flavors of an old fashioned beef stew recipe, but it simplifies the cooking. You just add everything to the crock pot, set it to cook, and let the slow cooker take care of the rest.

The result is a savory stew packed with tender meat and flavorful veggies that make serving a full-course weeknight dinner a breeze. For a complete and cozy meal, pair this stew with a hearty slice of crusty bread, some Homemade Cornbread, or buttery Texas Road House Rolls. This stew is the best way to enjoy a delicious, home-cooked dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.

If you love hearty beef soups, you should also try this recipe for Lasagna Soup and this easy Hamburger Soup.

Why We Love This Recipe

Great for any season – Though it’s awesome on a cold night, you can never go wrong with the savory flavors of this crockpot stew any time of the year.
Ultimate comfort food – This stew is a hearty meal filled with tender meat and veggies in a flavorful broth.
Easy stew recipe – Busy weeknights are no problem with this easy stew recipe because the slow cooker does most of the work for you. Plus, leftovers are great the next day.

Ingredients

Beef broth – Creates a rich, savory foundation for the stew.
Beef bouillon – Intensifies the beef flavor and adds extra savory goodness to the stew.
Worcestershire sauce: Adds tanginess to the broth.
Yukon gold potatoes (diced into large chunks) – These potatoes hold their shape well during cooking and add a creamy texture to the stew.
Baby carrots – Add natural sweetness that goes well with all the other savory ingredients.
Frozen peas – Adds a burst of freshness and color, as well as a slight sweetness.
Yellow onion, diced –Added and cooked until tender, they add a hint of sweetness.
Cornstarch – Used to thicken the stew, giving it a rich and hearty consistency that’s perfect for scooping.
Water – Helps to adjust the stew’s consistency.

How to Make Crock Pot Beef Stew

Step One: Season the Beef

Next step in Crockpot Beef Stew recipe is to season the beef.

Add the beef to your crock pot.
Sprinkle the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder over the meat. Add the garlic.

Step Two: Add the Veggies

Next step in preparing Crockpot Beef Stew is to add the vegetables to the pot.

Add the potatoes, carrots, peas, and onions.

Step Three: Add the Broth Ingredients

Add the beef bouillon and Worcestershire sauce.
Pour in beef broth.

Step Four: Cook, Add the Slurry and Serve

A serving of Crockpot Beef Stew on a white counter.

Cook on the low setting for 6–8 hours.
One hour before cooking is finished, stir together corn starch and water in a small bowl, until dissolved. Add this cornstarch slurry to the crock pot.
Serve and enjoy.

How To Store Leftovers

Let the stew cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, warm it on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a bit of water or broth if needed to reach your desired consistency.

Freezer Instructions

This is a great recipe for freezing. Allow the stew to cool completely before adding it to freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags. Label the containers with the date and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw the stew overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. If the stew is too thick after freezing, add a little water or broth to adjust the consistency.

Variations:

Herbs – Next time you make it, experiment with other herbs like bay leaves or a little rosemary and thyme. You can also add some of your favorite dried Italian seasoning blend.
Other veggies – Add fresh green beans, mushrooms, celery, butternut squash, bell peppers or baby spinach for added texture and a pop of color.
Tomato sauce or tomato paste – Stir in tomato sauce or paste for a rich, tangy flavor and to thicken the broth slightly.
Pearl onions – Swap the regular onion with pearl onions for a mild, sweet taste that complements the beef.
Red wine – Add a splash of red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, to the crock pot with the beef broth for richer flavor.
Extra cornstarch – If you like a thicker gravy style broth, you can double the amount of cornstarch slurry.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew FAQs

Do I have to brown stew meat before putting it in the crockpot?

It is not required to brown the meat beforehand because it’s perfectly safe to add raw beef to the slow cooker. However, if you have the extra time, you can certainly take that extra step. To do so, if your slow cooker has a sauté feature, just heat up a little olive oil in the bottom of the insert.
Toss the beef cubes with a little flour. Sauté them in the oil just until they are brown on all sides.

What is the best meat for this easy crock pot beef stew?

To make things quick and easy, use the stew meat that is already cut up for you at the butcher. For the best beef stew, we typically use beef chuck roast that we cube up into bite-sized chunks. Chuck roast meat releases more gelatin as it cooks, making really tender and moist tips. If you can’t find a chuck roast, look for eye roast or a chuck shoulder.

Can I make this slow cooker beef stew recipe stove top?

You can certainly make this same beef stew using a stove-top method. Follow the same instructions as the crockpot method. Bring the stew to a boil over medium high heat, then turn it down to medium heat and let it simmer until the beef and veggies are tender.

This is such an easy beef stew recipe; you can make it several ways. You can make and cook the stew in the oven. Just add all the ingredients to an oven safe Dutch oven and cook it on 350 degrees until everything is tender. Or, if you are in a hurry, you can even make this an Instant Pot beef stew. The cooking time for the instant pot method will vary, but it typically takes about 35-40 minutes of pressure cooking, followed by about 10 minutes of natural release time.

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