A hearty, tender beef stew made in a Crock Pot is the ultimate comfort food! It’s super easy to make, and the slow cooking makes the beef melt-in-your-mouth tender. Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for you:
Easy, Hearty Beef Stew in a Crock Pot
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs beef stew meat (chuck roast or sirloin, cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 4 large carrots, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup red wine (optional, can be substituted with more beef broth)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (with juices)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup flour (for dredging)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for searing beef)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (optional, for extra umami flavor)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Beef:
In a bowl, toss the beef stew meat with flour, salt, and pepper until the meat is coated evenly. - Sear the Beef (Optional, but adds great flavor):
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches, searing each side for about 2-3 minutes. This step helps to lock in the flavor and gives the stew a rich base. - Add Ingredients to the Crock Pot:
Once the beef is browned, transfer it to your Crock Pot. Add the carrots, potatoes, onion, garlic, and diced tomatoes (with juices). - Prepare the Liquid:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the beef broth, red wine (or additional beef broth), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce (if using), thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Pour the mixture over the ingredients in the Crock Pot. - Cook the Stew:
Stir everything together to combine. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through. - Final Adjustments:
About 30 minutes before serving, taste the stew and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaves. - Serve:
Ladle the stew into bowls, and enjoy with a slice of crusty bread or some biscuits to soak up all the flavorful broth!
Tips for the Perfect Beef Stew:
- Cut the beef into uniform pieces: This ensures that all the beef cooks evenly and becomes tender at the same time.
- Use marbled beef: Chuck roast is ideal because it’s full of flavor and becomes wonderfully tender when slow-cooked.
- Thickening the stew: If you prefer a thicker stew, you can whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into a little cold water and stir it into the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Frozen vegetables: If you’re in a hurry, you can use frozen carrots and peas instead of fresh ones.
- Add a splash of balsamic vinegar: For extra depth of flavor, add a splash of balsamic vinegar at the end of cooking!
This recipe is guaranteed to be comforting, and the slow cooking really helps the flavors develop. You can also customize it by adding mushrooms or parsnips, depending on your preferences. Let me know if you try it!
