By Becky Hardin
Published Feb 8, 2021
This delicious crockpot beef stew is the perfect winter warmer! I made it in my slow cooker so I could set it in the morning and enjoy a hearty evening meal with no effort at all! Loaded up with tender beef, onions, carrots, potatoes, peas, and a rich and savory broth, this beef stew is sure to fill up the hungriest of bellies.
Beef stew is one of my favorite comfort foods, but I don’t always (ever!) have the time to watch over bubbling pots on the stovetop! That’s where my trusty slow cooker comes in! This crockpot beef stew is such a breeze to make, and I can literally set it and forget it. The beef comes out perfectly tender and the gravy is so flavorful. It’s a great family meal!
What’s in This Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe?
- Beef Stew Meat: I don’t recommend using expensive cuts of beef for this recipe; stew meat works wonderfully and has a great rich flavor.
- Beef Bone Broth: Adds extra dimension and flavor (as well as nutrition!) to the recipe and keeps the meat nice and moist. Regular beef or vegetable broth will also work.
- Tomato Paste: Adds savory depth to the stew.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds umami and tangy flavor to the stew.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Adds richness and tanginess to the stew.
- Garlic: Minced fresh garlic enhances the savory flavor of the stew.
- Thyme: Dried thyme adds a bit of herbal flavor to the stew. I like to garnish mine with a bit of fresh thyme, too, but that’s totally optional.
- Onion : Adds a sweet and earthy flavor to the stew.
- Carrots: Adds sweetness, earthiness, and a pop of color to the stew.
- Potatoes: Add starchiness and richness to the stew. I like Yukon Gold potatoes best since they hold their shape well after a long slow cook.
- Flour: A bit of all-purpose flour helps thicken the stew.
- Frozen Peas: Add a pop of freshness, sweetness, and color.
Tips for Success
- Easily make this stew gluten-free by using a 1:1 GF flour to make the slurry.
- Feel free to add in other veggies you have like sweet potato, mushrooms or bell peppers.
- If you don’t have a crockpot, you can easily make this stew on the stovetop. Follow the recipe as is, but make the stew in a Dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot. Let simmer for around 1-1½ hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender.
How to Store and Reheat
This crockpot beef stew is a great make ahead dinner and can be kept in the fridge or frozen. Let the stew cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well for up to 4 days in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer. Thaw frozen stew in the fridge overnight. Reheat on the stovetop until heated through to serve.
Serving Suggestions
This crockpot beef stew can easily be served on it’s own, or I like to serve it with a dinner roll , over rice or with mashed potatoes for a more substantial meal.
Serve it up with some veggie sides like green beans or asparagus for some extra vegetable goodness.
5-Star Review
“This was delicious!! The best beef stew I’ve had. Thanks for the great recipe.” -Susan
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1-inch pieces
- ▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- ▢ 2 teaspoons ground black pepper divided
- ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ▢ 4 cups beef bone broth
- ▢ 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ▢ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ▢ ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ▢ 5 teaspoons minced garlic
- ▢ 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ▢ 1 large yellow onion diced into 1-inch pieces
- ▢ 6 medium carrots cut into 1-inch pieces
- ▢ 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes diced into 1-inch pieces
- ▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ 12 ounces frozen peas (1 package)
- ▢ Fresh thyme optional, for garnish
Video
Instructions
- Season the beef with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Sear the meat in batches, cooking for about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer the seared beef to the slow cooker. 3 tablespoons olive oil, 3 pounds beef stew meat, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- Pour in the beef bone broth. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, remaining salt and pepper, garlic, and dried thyme. Stir to combine. 4 cups beef bone broth, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 5 teaspoons minced garlic
- Add the diced onion, carrots, and potatoes. Cover and set on low for 8 hours. 1 large yellow onion, 6 medium carrots, 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
- At the end of the cooking time, make a slurry by combining 1 cup of the hot liquid from the crockpot with ¼ cup of all-purpose flour. Stir the slurry until fully combined. Add to the slow cooker, and stir to incorporate. ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Cook for 10 more minutes on high until sauce thickens, then add the frozen peas and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired. 12 ounces frozen peas, Fresh thyme
Equipment
- Crockpot
Becky’s Tips
- Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Crockpot Beef Stew Step by Step
Sear the Beef: Season 3 pounds of beef stew meat cut into 1-inch pieces with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high. Sear the meat in batches, cooking for about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer the seared beef to the slow cooker.
Fill the Crockpot: Pour in 4 cups of beef bone broth. Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, ½ tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 5 teaspoons of minced garlic. Stir to combine.
Add the Veggies: Add 1 large yellow onion diced into 1-inch pieces, 6 medium carrots cut into 1-inch pieces, and 2 pounds of diced Yukon Gold potatoes diced into 1-inch pieces. Cover and set on low for 8 hours.
Make a Slurry: At the end of the cooking time, make a slurry by combining 1 cup of the hot liquid from the crockpot with ¼ cup of all-purpose flour. Stir the slurry until fully combined. Add to the slow cooker, and stir to incorporate.
Thicken and Serve: Cook for 10 more minutes on high until sauce thickens, then add the frozen peas and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired.12 ounces frozen peas,Fresh thyme
More Crockpot Beef Recipes to Try!
Crockpot Goulash
Crockpot Beef Tenderloin
Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
Crockpot Taco Meat
Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper divided
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups beef bone broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 5 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 large yellow onion diced into 1-inch pieces
- 6 medium carrots cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes diced into 1-inch pieces
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 12 ounces frozen peas (1 package)
- Fresh thyme optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Season the beef with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Sear the meat in batches, cooking for about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer the seared beef to the slow cooker. 3 tablespoons olive oil, 3 pounds beef stew meat, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- Pour in the beef bone broth. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, remaining salt and pepper, garlic, and dried thyme. Stir to combine. 4 cups beef bone broth, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 5 teaspoons minced garlic
- Add the diced onion, carrots, and potatoes. Cover and set on low for 8 hours. 1 large yellow onion, 6 medium carrots, 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
- At the end of the cooking time, make a slurry by combining 1 cup of the hot liquid from the crockpot with ¼ cup of all-purpose flour. Stir the slurry until fully combined. Add to the slow cooker, and stir to incorporate. ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Cook for 10 more minutes on high until sauce thickens, then add the frozen peas and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired. 12 ounces frozen peas, Fresh thyme
Video
Notes
- Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
