Slow Cooked Beef Stew

This Slow Cooked Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food for cold weather, offering a rich and savory flavor that will warm you to the core. Packed with tender beef and a variety of vegetables, it’s a one-pot meal that guarantees satisfaction for even the pickiest eaters. Serve this delicious stew with crusty bread for dipping to soak up every drop of its flavorful gravy. Perfect for family dinners or meal prepping, this dish is sure to become a go-to for cozy nights.

Easy Slow Cooked Beef Stew Recipe

Slow cooker meals are absolute lifesavers on busy days, and this Slow Cooker Beef Stew is no exception. With just a little prep, you can let your slow cooker do the work while you focus on other things. This recipe features tender beef and a medley of vegetables, all simmered to perfection in a rich, flavorful sauce. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld together, creating a stew that’s as comforting as it is delicious.

For a complete meal, I like to serve this hearty stew with a side of freshly baked cornbread, a scoop of fluffy rice, or creamy grits to soak up all the savory sauce. Whether you’re serving it for a cozy family dinner or meal prepping for the week, this stew is sure to become a go-to recipe. It’s perfect for those chilly evenings when you want a warm, satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make Southern Beef Stew Recipe Crockpot: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Beef – Beef stew meat or cubed chuck roast for a tender fall apart texture.
• Seasoned Flour – All purpose flour, steak seasoning (I used Meat Magic), garlic salt, black pepper, dried thyme and paprika.
• Oil – Olive oil to brown the beef.
• Onion and Garlic – Sweet onions and garlic cloves enhance the flavor.
• Mushrooms – Baby portabella mushrooms expand the flavor profile. You can omit them, if desired.
• Carrots and Celery – Baby carrots or 2-inch pieces of peeled raw carrots and celery.
• Liquid – Low sodium beef stock and Worcestershire sauce add moisture.
• Potatoes – Small red potatoes or russet potatoes cut into cubes.

How to Make the BEST Slow Cooked Beef Stew

• Make the Seasoned Flour – Mix together flour, steak seasoning, garlic salt and paprika.
• Coat Beef – Place cubed beef in a large plastic storage bag with flour mixture. Shake until coated on all sides.
• Brown the Beef on the Stovetop – Work in batches to brown beef on all sides. Arrange the meat onto the bottom of the slow cooker.
• Deglaze Pan – To the pan add the Worcestershire sauce, mushrooms, celery, minced garlic, steak or meat seasoning, thyme and cayenne. Scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan, then add beef stock. Mix well, remove from the heat.
• Vegetables – Arrange the carrots and onion over meat cubes in slow cooker. Season additional garlic salt, black pepper and steak seasoning. Pour the broth and mushroom mixture over the top.
• Lock Lid in Place – Cook per the cooking time in the recipe, adding potatoes.
• Serve hot with rice, grits or cornbread.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Slow Cooker Beef Stew

• 6 quart slow cooker or crockpot.
• Chopping board and knife.
• Small bowl and whisk.
• Large Ziploc bag or large bowl.
• Large skillet.
• Measuring cups and spoons.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Beef – You can use either beef stew meat or chuck roast for this recipe. When prepping the beef, make sure the pieces are similar size for even cooking.
• Browning the Beef – I I know the appeal of slow cooking is no fuss. I completely understand I feel the same way. That said, there is a depth of flavor that comes with taking a few minutes to brown the beef prior to slow cooking. It’s well worth the small amount of effort it takes and adds a layer of flavor you’d miss otherwise. If time is a factor, you can skip this step but still coat the beef with seasoned flour per the recipe.
• Beef Stock – You can use beef stock, bone broth or beef broth in this recipe.
• Seasonings – You can use your favorite steak seasoning in this recipe. Depending on the brand, they can vary in sodium content. So adjust the salt to your taste based on the spice you choose to use. I used Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Meat Magic.
• Veggies – At the end of cooking you could add 1 cup of peas.
• Adjust the Cooking Time – This recipe was made in a 6 quart slow cooker so, the times are adjusted to that shape appliance. You may cook this in any size slow cooker that you have. Know how your appliance cooks and adjust the cook time accordingly.
• Serving Options – Serve this beef stew alone with garlic bread for dipping, over a slice of buttered cornbread, or with a scoop of saffron rice as pictured. This beef stew is also delicious served with a generous helping of cheddar grits. I like to serve this with a scoop of rice, and a sprinkle of parsley, but, a close favorite would also be to serve it over egg noodles, I always have a basket of crusty garlic bread to dip in the rich gravy

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store Slow Cooked Beef Stew in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating – Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat or gently in the microwave in single servings.
• Freezer – You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Slow Cooker Recipes to Make

• Slow Cooked Turkey Breast will free up the oven on busy cooking days.
• Slow Cooked Cheesy Ranch Potatoes come together in no time flat and the slow cooker does the work.
• Slow Cooked Sweet and Sour Chicken is a lighter version of the popular takeout version.
• Slow Cooked Dr Pepper Barbecue Beef is tender and full flavored.
• Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil recipe makes it possible to throw down a shrimp boil any night of the week.
• Slow Cooked Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham is ideal for holiday celebrations.
• Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken from Buns in My Oven.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Slow Cooker
• Kitchen Utensils
• Knives and Chopping Board
• Measuring Set