Crockpot Beef Stew

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This soothing classic crockpot beef stew has tender cuts of beef with carrots and red potatoes, all wrapped in a buttery, velvety thick gravy. The longer it cooks, the tastier it becomes. Serve with warm cornbread or garlic toast.

Recipe for a failsafe beef stew

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

How do you make a thick slow cooker beef stew?

Many recipes online just call for butter and flour to thicken the stew. While this butter flour works easily, if you can’t cook the broth, the flour won’t reach its full thickening potential in a slow cooker.

That’s why me Use butter, flour, and a little cornstarch to thicken any sauce while using a crockpot. The butter will melt evenly, spreading the flour and cornstarch evenly with no lumps. The cornstarch goes straight to work, thickening the sauce almost immediately, with the flour adding an extra velvety texture after the last 20 minutes of cooking.

How to Make Crockpot Beef Stew

It only takes a few simple steps and basic ingredients to make this delicious slow cooker beef stew! For full recipe details, including required ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card below.

Prepare vegetables for the crockpot

Chop Onions, carrots and red potatoes and put in a cold Crockpot or slow cooker.

Brown stew meat

pat dry boiled meat as much as possible with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt pepper And Flour and throw to coat evenly. Brown Meat in batches, with a large heavy-bottomed pan And Olive oil. Cook over medium heat to form a brown crust, but do not cook thoroughly. When the meat is browning, add it to the crockpot. Deglaze the pan with it beef broth and pour into the crockpot.

covering + cooking

Fill up with more beef broth, bay leaves, thyme leaves, And Worcester sauce.

Cover and cook 4-5 hours at altitude or until potatoes and carrots are tender and meat is very tender.

Thicken stew

Stew by thickening Mix together the butter, flour and cornstarch together to create a paste. Add the butter and flour mixture to the hot broth in the stew and allow to melt while stirring.

Cook for another 20 minutes to thicken completely.

Serve hot!

Removed bay leaves And sprigs of thyme, add to chopped parsley and serve hot.

How to make a beef stew with more depth of flavor

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

Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste into the broth while cooking.
Don’t skip those Worcester sauce.
Replace something red wine for the beef broth (see below).
Try with Consume beef or beef broth Instead of the beef broth. Makes a big difference!
Taste and add gradually salt as needed.

Can red wine be substituted for beef broth?

You definitely can! Instead of deglazing your pan with beef broth, Use 1-2 cups of red wine. Once that’s done cooking, pour it into the crockpot with the remaining beef broth.

Do I need to add potatoes to my stew?

No, the potatoes do not need to be added. They’re very typical and traditional of any beef stew recipe, but if you cook them too long they’ll start to fall apart, creating a “grainy” texture that you just can’t get rid of. Still perfectly edible, but not in the best of conditions for creating the velvety sauce we all love.

Feel free to omit Add additional carrots or other hearty veggies and serve over mashed potatoes. To be honest, this is my favorite way to enjoy slow cooker beef stew.

Other Vegetables to Add to Your Beef Stew:

Butternut or Acorn Squash
turnip
parsnips
turnip
Hearty green
sweet potatoes
Frozen peas or corn (add at the end of cooking)

Side dishes

Beef stew is already a hearty, comforting meal, so side dishes might be a little overkill for you. But if you’re looking for something to serve with crock pot beef stew, I’ve got you covered.

To dip and enjoy some fresh and warm wholemeal rolls.

Or if rolls aren’t your thing but you still want some carbs, try my mashed potatoes recipe.

To spice up your side dish, you can have some Roasted Brussels Sprouts or a fruit salad recipe for dessert.

Sour cream and/or horseradish pair beautifully with a beef stew.

More soup recipes to try!

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

A comforting classic beef stew recipe – crockpot version! Tender beef cuts with carrots and red potatoes, all coated in a buttery, velvety thick sauce.

instructions

Prepare the beef goulash for the crockpot:

Prepare the onions, carrots and potatoes and add to the cold crockpot.
Dry the stew meat as well as possible with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and flour and spread evenly. Sear the meat in batches, using a large, heavy-bottomed pan with olive oil. Cook over medium heat to form a brown crust, but do not cook thoroughly. When the meat is browning, add it to the crockpot.
Once all of the meat is browned, deglaze the pan with about 2 cups of beef stock and pour into the crockpot. Top up with remaining broth, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and more salt and pepper.
Cover the crockpot and turn it to the highest setting. Cook 4-5 hours or until meat is very tender and carrots and potatoes are tender. Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs.

Thicken beef goulash:

In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, flour, and cornstarch until you have a smooth paste. Add the butter and flour paste to the crockpot and stir gently to melt and distribute evenly throughout the crockpot contents. Cover and cook an additional 20 minutes to fully thicken.
Taste and season as needed. Stir in chopped parsley, if you like. Serve hot.

Nourishment

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