Easy slow cooker beef stew

The Slow cooker beef stew is hearty, healthy and so aromatic. It’s packed with colorful veggies, fluffy potatoes, and tender chunks of beef. Just 10 minutes prep time for this handy crockpot recipe!

Easy recipe for Irish Beef Stew

If you’re looking for the perfect recipe to make when you’re craving something comforting and filling?

Look no further.

This Slow Cooker Beef Stew is just what you need in your life. It’s brimming with tons of good ingredients and is so easy to make right in your crockpot. Simply combine everything in the slow cooker and let it work!

This recipe is paleo, dairy-free, Whole30 compliant, and contains no added sugars. I love making this soup early in the week and enjoying leftovers throughout the week.

ingredients required

This Crockpot Beef Stew is made with the best simple ingredients! Here’s what you need:

• Olive oil: You’ll need some olive oil to sear the meat before adding it to the pot.
• Beef: I recommend Chuck or Round for slow cooker beef stew. You can find already chopped stew meat at the store or chop it up yourself.
• Vegetables: Our colorful vegetable mix features chopped carrots, onions, mushrooms, celery, frozen peas and optional potatoes.
• Garlic: I recommend freshly chopped garlic for the best flavor.
• Beef broth: Beef broth gives the stew a rich flavor base.
• tomato paste: A few tablespoons of tomato paste add richness and depth of flavor to the stew.
• Flour: I usually use tapioca flour, but feel free to use whatever flour you like.
• Herbs and spices: We season our Irish stew with a combination of paprika, garlic granules, dried parsley, dried thyme, sea salt, ground pepper and a bay leaf. Don’t forget to remove the bay leaf before serving!

What liquid do you use for beef goulash?

I recommend using beef broth to add tons of flavor and create a rich, meaty base.

In a pinch, you can substitute chicken broth or vegetable broth for the beef broth if you have it on hand.

Which beef is used for stew?

The most common cut of beef for stews is chuck steak, which tends to be cheaper but also tougher than other cuts of beef.

Luckily, its chewy texture makes it perfect for crock pot beef stew. The long, slow cooking time shreds the meat perfectly, resulting in deliciously tender steak bites.

Other cuts of beef that work include roast beef, roast beef, or brisket!

How to make beef stew

This easy beef stew only takes 10 minutes to make! Once everything is combined, you can walk away and return to the perfect home-cooked meal!

1. Roast the beef: Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat, then add the beef. Fry until browned on each side.
2. Combine the ingredients for the stew: In the crockpot, combine meat, vegetables, broth, tomato paste, flour, and spices. Mix well.
3. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, then serve hot.

How to thicken beef stew

There are a few ways you can ensure you cook up the perfect thick and hearty Irish beef stew:

• Flour: The tapioca flour in this recipe will help soak up some of the moisture and create a thicker stew texture.
• Potatoes: The starch in the potatoes naturally helps thicken the stew. Of course, that only applies if you choose potatoes. If you’re not using potatoes, you might want to add less broth.
• Cooling: The stew will naturally thicken as it sits and cools.

If your stew is done in the crockpot but isn’t as thick as you’d like, you can either mash up some of the potatoes or add them to a large stockpot and simmer, uncovered, on the stovetop until it reaches your desired texture.

Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker?

You definitely can, but for this recipe I recommend searing it first! This is not for food safety, just for taste and texture.

Searing the meat gives the steak cuts the perfect crispy exterior and adds another layer of richness and flavor.

Is it better to cook stew in the slow cooker on low or high?

Low! This Irish stew needs this longer, shorter and slower cooking time to get the beef perfectly tender and juicy.

serving suggestions

This Irish Beef Stew makes an excellent hearty dinner for any regular night of the week, but it’s also the perfect accompaniment to a St Patrick’s Day feast!

No matter when you want to serve it, these dishes are the perfect way to round off your meal:

How to save

Leftover beef goulash will keep in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat, thaw the stew overnight in the refrigerator if frozen, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop on low until heated through.

Tools used to prepare this Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe:

• Slow Cooker: Cheap and works great. I’ve had mine for years!
• Cast Iron Skillet: I love a nice, hot cast iron skillet to sear our stew meat!
• Chef’s knife: My favorite chef’s knife. Use what you have on hand!
• Tongs: For easy turning of the meat when searing.
• Cutting board: A good cutting board, of course! To chop all the veggies!

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