Crock Pot Beef Stew

Tender, juicy stew meat with potatoes and carrots make this the best Crock Pot Beef Stew! This stew is rich, chunky and hearty. Perfect for curling up with on a cold winter night. Throw it in your slow cooker for a quick and easy dinner today!

The winters are tough here in Minnesota but things like this Crock Pot Beef Stew make it a little easier! Well, that and lighting a toasty fire in our fireplace, curling up on the couch in my favorite hoodie and sweats and staying nice and cozy – those things help, too!

Having a hearty stew simmering in the slow cooker all day is our favorite way to warm up when it’s cold. I mean, what’s not to love about a rich and savory stew with tender beef and chunky vegetables? It’s even better when it’s easy to make and this beef stew recipe I’m sharing today definitely is. All you need is 15 minutes in the morning and then you just set it and forget it.

It’s probably no surprise I LOVE crock pot recipes. I use mine all year, but I especially love it in the winter. We love hearty comfort food but I don’t have time to stand at the stove or oven all day babysitting our dinner! I’m guessing you don’t either – we’re all busy, right? Thank goodness for the slow cooker – I use mine to make pot roast, pork loin, and even meatloaf! They are all amazing winter dinners that are so easy to make.

But today it’s all about this Beef Stew! Serve it with some cheddar biscuits or homemade crescent rolls to soak up all the delicious sauce! If you’re craving something hearty and comforting you have to give this Crock Pot Beef Stew a try!

How to Prep the Beef for Crock Pot Beef Stew

For this recipe, all of the work happens in the morning – once you’ve prepped the ingredients you just leave it and serve it after it’s simmered all day! Instead of just tossing the beef in the slow cooker I like to coat it in a seasoned flour mixture first. This will season the beef and also help thicken your stew as it cooks.

Here’s what you’ll need to prep the beef!

• Stew meat cut into 1″ pieces
• All-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper

Combine the ingredients together in a large ziplock bag. Add the stew meat, close the bag, and shake it to coat the beef evenly. Place the floured beef in the slow cooker.

Add the rest of the Ingredients

Once the prepared stew meat is in the slow cooker, all you do is add the rest of the ingredients!

• Minced garlic – Grab the pre-minced jar of garlic at the grocery store so you have it handy in your fridge!
• Paprika – I mix it up with smoked paprika sometimes!
• Worcestershire sauce
• Beef broth – I always use low-sodium broths!
• Tomato sauce
• Diced yellow onion – My secret is to buy pre-diced frozen yellow onion and keep it in the freezer so I never have to chop my onions!
• Diced potatoes – My favorite type of potato to use is a Yukon Gold Potato. You can also use a red potato, but do not use a russet potato as it will break down when cooking this long.
• Diced carrots

Stir it all together, cover the crock pot with the lid and simmer your stew on low for eight to ten hours. When it’s time for dinner, give the stew a stir and ladle into bowls. That’s it! Easiest beef stew ever.

Do I have to brown the beef first?

For this recipe, you don’t have to brown the beef before you put it in the slow cooker. Of course, you can if you want to but I’ve tried it both ways and I really can’t tell the difference so I skip that step. I’m all about easy in the kitchen!

What potatoes are best for beef stew?

I think the best potatoes for this recipe are Yukon gold potatoes. They are waxy and hold their shape even if you cook them for several hours. Potatoes that have more starch, like russets, sometimes fall apart when you cook them for too long.

Can I cook the stew on high in the crock pot?

I prefer to cook this stew on low because the beef gets really nice and tender. I haven’t tested it using the higher setting, but if you try it I recommend cooking it high for four to five hours. You know when the beef is done when you can easily pull a piece apart with a fork. It’s shouldn’t be chewy – it should be nice and tender!

So cozy, so delicious, and so EASY! Make it for a cozy weeknight dinner or a family dinner on Sunday! If you’re like me, you’ll want to make this Crock Pot Beef Stew all winter long! I have a lot of other easy slow cooker recipes you might like, too, so be sure to check out these other amazing dinners!

More Crock Pot Recipes

• Another cozy and hearty slow cooker soup recipe is my white chicken chili. It has a spicy kick and I like to serve it with all the toppings!
• My meat and potatoes family loves BBQ brisket and during the winter I use my crock pot to make it – it’s so tender!
• Crock pot chicken teriyaki is always a hit when I make it! It’s so simple to make.
• Want even more ideas? I wrote a post with 62 of the Best Crock Pot Recipes all in one place – you’ll want to try them all!

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Crock Pot Beef Stew

Tender, juicy stew meat with potatoes and carrots make this stew is rich, chunky and hearty. Perfect for curling up with on a cold winter night.

4.18 from 17 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 340.5kcal

Author: Julie Evink

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef stew meat cut into 1 in cubes
• 1/4 c. all purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 3 clove garlic minced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 1/2 c. beef broth
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 3 potatoes diced
• 4 carrots sliced

Instructions

• In a gallon size zip lock bag mix together flour, salt and pepper. Dump in the meat and shake until coated. Place in crock pot.
• Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
• Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Notes

• Minced garlic – Grab the pre-minced jar of garlic at the grocery store so you have it handy in your fridge!
• Paprika – I mix it up with smoked paprika sometimes!
• Beef broth – I always use low-sodium broths!
• Diced yellow onion – My secret is to buy pre-diced frozen yellow onion and keep it in the freezer so I never have to chop my onions!
• Diced potatoes – My favorite type of potato to use is a Yukon Gold Potato. You can also use a red potato, but do not use a russet potato as it will break down when cooking this long.

DO I HAVE TO BROWN THE BEEF FIRST?

For this recipe, you don’t have to brown the beef before you put it in the slow cooker. Of course, you can if you want to but I’ve tried it both ways and I really can’t tell the difference so I skip that step. I’m all about easy in the kitchen!

CAN I COOK THE STEW ON HIGH IN THE CROCK POT?

I prefer to cook this stew on low because the beef gets really nice and tender. I haven’t tested it using the higher setting, but if you try it I recommend cooking it high for four to five hours. You know when the beef is done when you can easily pull a piece apart with a fork. It’s shouldn’t be chewy – it should be nice and tender!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 340.5kcal | Carbohydrates: 26.79g | Protein: 39.25g | Fat: 8.12g | Saturated Fat: 2.76g | Cholesterol: 93.74mg | Sodium: 1137.91mg | Potassium: 1350.39mg | Fiber: 4.98g | Sugar: 4.95g | Vitamin A: 7121.63IU | Vitamin C: 19.75mg | Calcium: 98.01mg | Iron: 7.89mg

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