slow cooker beef stew
Warm, hearty, and full of rich flavors, this slow cooker beef stew melds tender meat with carrots, potatoes, and herbs. Perfect for busy days when you want a homestyle meal without the hassle.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup yellow onion diced
- 3 pieces carrots sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
- 4 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
- 4 cups beef broth
- 0.5 cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef stew meat in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat on all sides, about 5 minutes total. Transfer to slow cooker.
- Add diced onion to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Transfer to slow cooker with meat.
- Place sliced carrots and cubed potatoes into the slow cooker. In a separate bowl, whisk together beef broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.
- Pour mixture over ingredients in the slow cooker. Add thyme and rosemary. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours (or on high for 2 hours), or until beef and vegetables are tender.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving to let flavors settle.
Notes
For extra richness, add 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour when browning the meat to help thicken the stew. You can also top with fresh chopped parsley before serving.