Slow Cooker Beef Stew

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This slow cooker beef stew is tasty comfort food, especially for those cold nights. It’s also great source of protein and fiber! Just dump and go! It’s SO easy to make and loaded with flavor. Try my Instant Pot baked potatoes or my light and fluffy sweet potato biscuits as a side.

Everything You Need to Know About Slow Cooker Beef Stew

1. Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

2. Ingredients for Beef Stew Crock Pot

3. What is the best cut of beef for old fashioned slow cooker beef stew?

4. A Quick Note on the Beef

5. How to Make Beef Stew for Slow Cooker

6. FAQs for Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe

7. Tricks for Beef Stew Crock Pot

8. What to serve with the Best Ever Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe?

9. More Slow Cooker Recipes

10. Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Instant Pot Beef Stew is a staple on my menu year round – no matter if it’s warm or cool outside – because it’s just so easy, and so good! This is definitely on my list of comfort foods.

But if my Instant Pot is busy… making Instant Pot White Rice or Instant Pot Brown Rice or even Instant Pot Chicken Stock, then I need another way to make Beef Stew.

Enter the Slow Cooker Beef Stew!

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

I sometimes feel like making slow cooker beef stew is cheating on dinner because it’s SO easy to make. You literally dump everything in and hit go!

Plus it’s a great meal for the freezer – anytime I make slow cooker beef stew, I measure the same ingredients into a freezer-safe reusable bag or a freezer-safe container and tuck it away for a future busy night.

Ingredients for Beef Stew Crock Pot

Fresh cut turnips, parsnips, and whole baby carrots are in the crock pot. These are some of the ingredients needed for this slow cooker beef stew.

beef or chicken stock
beef stew meat (or roast, cubed)
dried thyme
marjoram
salt
minced garlic
tomato paste
coconut aminos (or soy sauce)
onion, diced
baby carrots
parsnips, peeled and cut into 1″ pieces
turnips, peeled and cut into 1″ pieces
frozen peas

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What is the best cut of beef for old fashioned slow cooker beef stew?

I used to think that you HAD to use “stew beef” to make slow cooker beef stew, but that’s not true! I’ve tested this recipe using various types of meat, and they’ve all turned out delicious.

Stew meat
Sliced steaks (usually flank steak)
Sliced roasts (bottom round or shoulder roast)

I suggest using the cut of meat you have on hand, or what’s on sale at the store.

Some recipes call for red wine, saying it’s more sophisticated or grown up. Call me old fashioned, I like this recipe just the way it is – it reminds me of my youth and family dinners at grandma’s house!

A Quick Note on the Beef

Chunks of meat, beef stock, and tomato paste are all mixed together in the crock pot.

Grass-fed beef is very important to my family, so we’re members of Butcher Box. Butcher Box delivers grass-fed beef, pasture-raised and organic chicken, and heritage pork directly to your front door each month, saving me the hassle of driving all over town trying to find the cuts of meat I want on my meal plan!

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How to Make Beef Stew for Slow Cooker

Step 1. Combine all ingredients in a 6-quart slow cooker.

There is cut turnips, parsnips, carrots, and beef stock in the crock pot.

Step 2. Set cook time to low for 8-10 hours.

All of the ingredients for this slow cooker beef stew are in the crock pot. Pictured are frozen peas, carrots, parsnips, and turnips.

Step 3. Stir and use your ladle to pour the finished stew into bowls and serve hot!

This slow cooker beef stew is ready! There is cut beef, parsnips, turnips, carrots, and peas in the crock pot.

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge!

FAQs for Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe

Can you put raw beef in slow cooker?

Yes, there is nothing wrong or unsafe with putting raw beef in a slow cooker.

Can you overcook beef in a slow cooker?

Maybe if you cooked it for 12+ hours, but I’ve cooked beef for over 10 hours and haven’t had a bad meal yet.

Do you need to brown stew before slow cooker?

No! Many crockpot beef stew recipes say you need to, that it adds caramelization and color. Honestly, I don’t think that step is necessary. Just toss the meat into the slow cooker and let the machine do its job!

How much water do you put in a slow cooker for stew?

I add about 1 cup of beef broth to my beef stew and then when it’s done cooking, I thicken the juices with a cornstarch slurry.

Tricks for Beef Stew Crock Pot

Slow cooker beef stew is all done! This is an up close view of cut beef, parsnips, turnips, carrots, and peas in the crock pot.

Make One Freeze One (MOFO) – anytime you make one in the slow cooker, measure the same ingredients into a freezer-safe bag for an easy, fast meal later!
If you don’t have stew meat, try flank steak or a beef chuck roast cut up into bite-sized pieces!
This recipe easily halves or doubles – just make sure you have the right sized slow cooker.

What to serve with the Best Ever Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe?

Because this recipe is already heavy on the vegetables, I don’t usually worry too much about side dishes. We may do Instant Pot Baked Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, or perhaps a side salad.

However, you could serve egg noodles or herbed rice or even No-knead Artisan Bread alongside the beef stew. All would be delicious!