Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever
Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever. After making this countless times, I’ve discovered the trick to the most tender, flavorful beef stew in your slow cooker. Jump to Recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta and Loaded Potato Taco Bowl.
Why This Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever Is Pure Comfort
- Easy to prep in the morning
- Comforting and hearty for cold nights
- Flavorful without needing to babysit
What You'll Need for Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- beef stew meat
- potatoes
- carrots
- onion
- tomato paste
- beef broth
- worcestershire sauce
- thyme
- bay leaves
- salt
- pepper
- Optional: fresh parsley
- Optional: sour cream
📝 Ingredient Notes
- beef stew meat: Cut into 1-inch pieces for even cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Cooks tender beef and vegetables while you're away. → See on Amazon
- Meat Tenderizer — Breaks down tough connective tissues for more tender beef. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever
- Step 1: Place beef stew meat in the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 2: Add potatoes, carrots, onion, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
- Step 4: Serve with fresh parsley and sour cream (optional).
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever
- Time-saving tip: Prepare the night before and refrigerate the ingredients in the slow cooker insert. In the morning, place it in the slow cooker and turn it on.
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the slow cooker. If you're using a smaller slow cooker, consider halving the recipe or cooking in batches.
- Make it heartier: Add a cup of frozen peas or corn during the last hour of cooking.
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño to the slow cooker.
Storing & Reheating Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the night before and refrigerate the ingredients in the slow cooker insert. In the morning, place it in the slow cooker and turn it on.
Freezing Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever
Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For even more flavor, sear the beef stew meat in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Best substitution: Substitute the beef stew meat with chicken thighs for a different protein option.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the night before and refrigerate the ingredients in the slow cooker insert. In the morning, place it in the slow cooker and turn it on.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the stew is too thick, thin it out with a little beef broth. If it's too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir it into the stew. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until thickened.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant Pot — Pressure cooks beef stew in just 30 minutes for a quick weeknight meal. → Check price on Amazon
Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- beef stew meat
- potatoes
- carrots
- onion
- tomato paste
Seasonings
- beef broth
- worcestershire sauce
- thyme
- bay leaves
- salt
- pepper
Optional Toppings
- fresh parsley
- sour cream
Instructions
- Step 1: Place beef stew meat in the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 2: Add potatoes, carrots, onion, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
- Step 4: Serve with fresh parsley and sour cream (optional).
Notes
- Chef tip: For even more flavor, sear the beef stew meat in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Best substitution: Substitute the beef stew meat with chicken thighs for a different protein option.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the night before and refrigerate the ingredients in the slow cooker insert. In the morning, place it in the slow cooker and turn it on.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the stew is too thick, thin it out with a little beef broth. If it's too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir it into the stew. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until thickened.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: Prepare the night before and refrigerate the ingredients in the slow cooker insert. In the morning, place it in the slow cooker and turn it on.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 3g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the ingredients the night before and refrigerate them in the slow cooker insert. In the morning, place it in the slow cooker and turn it on.
Beef stew meat can be tough if it's not cooked long enough or if it's overcooked. Make sure to cook it on low for at least 8 hours or high for at least 4-5 hours.
Yes, you can make this beef stew in the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
Beef stew is better in the crock pot because it cooks low and slow, resulting in tender beef and vegetables. The oven can dry out the stew if not monitored closely.
Yes, you can freeze this beef stew for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easiest Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe Ever and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
