Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (2024)

posted by The Bewitchin Kitchen on June 5, 2009

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Nothing is as easy as throwing a bunch of ingredients in a slow cooker and calling it a day. This classic CrockPot Beef Stew is one of the best recipes I have in my recipe box. It’s simple comfort food recipe that has no fuss.

Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (1)

Update: It’s 7 years later and I’m finally updating this Crockpot Beef Stew recipe with an image! (I guess you can say that I’m a little behind on updating my blog.)

CrockPot Beef Stew

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I’m so excited to share this easy CrockPot beef stew recipe with you guys today.

Why?

Because not only is this a great recipe but it’s the recipe that I grew up on, so in my mind, it’s a classic beef stew recipe that is timeless. I hope you guys like it.

It’s a chilly day (pun intended) here in central Alberta and with the leaves changing color I have immediately converted my cooking style.

We’ve been having a lot of comfort food lately and one of my favorites is CrockPot beef stew. As I mentioned before, this particular recipe is the one that I grew up on, and it’s incredibly easy.

Throw it in the slow cooker and let it do its thing, kind of easy.

Heaven knows how much I love my CrockPot.

Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (2)

I love how I can toss all of the ingredients into the slow cooker, walk away and go live life. (Whether that means I’m working, spending the day with my family, running errands or vegging on the sofa (and watching Netflix).)

The CrockPot is heaven sent (here is the one that I have), I bought it from Costco but you can get it anywhere.

Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (3)

If you’re looking for another amazing stew recipe, you should check out this Red WineBeef Stew. It’s my favorite stew recipe, and I love serving it over creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Plus it’s another way to get rid of leftover red wine that’s sitting in your fridge (I know, what’s that?).

Gluten Free Beef Stew

To make this beef stew gluten free, you just have to switch out the all purpose flour for a gluten free friendly version,

My personalfavorite is arrowroot flour or tapioca flour.

However, you can use an all purpose gluten free flour if you would like as well (here’s how to make it).

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (4)

Whether you cook this classic stew recipe on high for 4-6 hours or low on 8-10 hours. One thing to make sureis that the meat is so tender that it falls apart. I usually wing the amount of Worcestershire sauce, but I’m guessing it’s about 2 tbsps.

TBK’s Pro Tip: When it doubt, go small and adjust and taste towards the end.

Don’t forget to check out the Instant Pot Gluten Free Beef Stew.

Beef Stew Ingredients

  • 1lb stew meat
  • All purpose flour (or arrowroot for gluten-free)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Potatoes (russet or baby potatoes work best)
  • Carrots
  • Celery stalks
  • Onion
  • Bay leaves
  • Beef broth (if you don’t have a carton at home make it with this beef base).
  • Worcestershire sauce

This crock pot beef stew recipe has such simple meat and vegetables as ingredients, but together they make a delicious meal.

How to Make CrockPot Beef Stew

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”wrWz4prc” upload-date=”2017-11-07T16:26:55.000Z” name=”Crockpot Beef Stew” description=”Classic and simple comfort food at it’s finest. This Crockpot Beef Stew only has a few ingredients and a slow cooker!” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]
If you’re like me and are more of a visual learner, watch the CrockPot Beef Stew recipe video!

This beef stew recipe is perfect for those busy nights. There are only two steps to this favorite comfort food recipe:

  • Dump the ingredients in the slow cooker.
  • Cover and cook, then walk away.

I understand that most stews typically start with browning the meat, but it’s not needed with this recipes. The beef falls apart after that many hours in the slow cooker, it’s to die for.

Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (5)
TBK’s Pro Tip: If you want to save some money, you can buy a chuck roast and cut it into chunks yourself for the stew meat. You’ll have plenty leftover that you can freeze for next time.

Leave me a comment and answer this question for me:What’s your favorite go-to CrockPot creation?

More Easy CrockPot Recipes

  • 7 Easy Crockpot Dinner Recipes for Busy Weekdays
  • Crockpot Ribs
  • Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana
  • Crockpot French Onion Soup

Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (6)

Print Pin

3.89 from 9 votes

CrockPot Beef Stew

A classic beef stew recipe using one of my favorite kitchen tools - a CrockPot.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword crockpot beef stew, slow cooker beef stew

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 hours hours

Total Time 8 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 317kcal

Author The Bewitchin Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 1 lb stew meat
  • 1-2 tbsps AP flour
  • 1 tsp Salt and pepper each
  • 3 potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 2 carrots peeled and sliced
  • 2-3 celery stalks diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 small bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 1-2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add the stew meat to the bottom of your Crockpot/slow cooker and toss with the flour, salt, and pepper. Add the rest of the ingredients.

  • Cover and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 8-10 hours.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 44.6g | Protein: 22.5g | Fat: 5.7g | Saturated Fat: 2.1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 244.1mg | Fiber: 4.3g | Sugar: 6.5g

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Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (7)

Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (8)

Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (9)

posted in Dairy Free, Dinner, Recipes, Slow Cooker, Soups and Stews

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Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What gives beef stew the best flavor? ›

There are flavors in tomatoes that are alcohol-soluble, so adding red wine along with tomato paste also helps to enhance beef stew." Laurence has a few other tricks I've borrowed to create the best beef stew, including adding Worcestershire, which gets a serious umami punch from anchovies.

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours. Chuck meat is your best bet for beef stew, but it's also a pretty tough cut so it needs time to break down and become tender.

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

While many slow cooker recipes can be made on high for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend cooking this beef stew on low for the full 7-8 hours. This will ensure that the beef gets nice and tender. Thicken your stew properly.

Should stew be covered with liquid in slow cooker? ›

Because your slow cooker will have a tightly sealed lid, the liquid won't evaporate so if you're adapting a standard recipe, it's best to reduce the liquid by roughly a third. It should just cover the meat and vegetables.

How to deepen the flavor of beef stew? ›

How do you deepen beef stew flavor? Brown your meat, use red wine, and add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, or mushroom powder for a richer flavor. Instead of wine, you can use beer, like we do in this Guinness Beef Stew.

Why put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

What is the secret to good stew? ›

"Soups and stews really need to simmer for long periods to allow the ingredients to meld together. Taking that a step further, most soups and stews are better if you prepare them the day before serving. Allowing them to cool and then reheating them really helps bring out the flavors and textures."

What thickens stew in slow cooker? ›

Use cornstarch to thicken your stew towards the end of cooking, as cooking it for a long time can break down the starch and your stew will thin out again.

Can you overcook beef stew in a slow cooker? ›

Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of meat in a crockpot? ›

Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

How do you make stew meat more flavorful? ›

Sear the meat well.

Searing meat takes a long time, and it's tempting to skip it. Don't. Searing the meat until it develops a dark brown crust and a sticky “fond” starts to glaze over the bottom of the pan are both key to creating the kind of rich, caramelized flavors that make stews irresistibly good.

What enhances the flavor of beef? ›

Because of beef's hearty, robust nature, flavor-forward spices like garlic and onion or herbs like rosemary and oregano are the best choices for an unforgettable beef dinner. An important thing to consider when selecting seasonings for your meal is that you should be seasoning beef based on the cut.

How do you spice up bland stew? ›

From boring to brilliant: Five easy ways to fix a bland recipe
  1. Salt. Advertisem*nt. ...
  2. Acid. One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. ...
  3. Chilli peppers. Adding something spicy is a sure way to transform an underseasoned dish. ...
  4. Sugar. ...
  5. Fresh herbs.
Mar 13, 2023

What is the best thickening agent for beef stew? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

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