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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Featured in Hands-Off Cooking, Full-On Flavor.

This luxurious beef stew elevates the comfort food classic through chef-inspired techniques that develop incredible flavor and texture. It starts with carefully browning chuck roast to create that essential caramelization, then slow cooks with robust red wine and fresh vegetables until the meat becomes meltingly tender. Each vegetable is added at just the right time to maintain perfect texture, while a finishing touch of butter creates silky richness. The result is a stew that's deeply satisfying with restaurant-quality depth of flavor in every spoonful.
A smiling woman in a chef's jacket stands in a commercial kitchen, looking at the camera with various food containers and utensils in the background.
Updated on Tue, 14 Jan 2025 23:06:38 GMT
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A bowl of hearty beef stew featuring tender chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and green vegetables in a rich broth. Pin it
A bowl of hearty beef stew featuring tender chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and green vegetables in a rich broth. | tasteofcook.com

My Slow Cooker Beef Stew brings all the comfort of grandma's kitchen with none of the fuss. Those tender beef chunks rich golden potatoes sweet carrots and peas swimming in that flavorful broth just warm you from the inside out. Perfect with some warm biscuits or over creamy mashed potatoes when you need a hug in a bowl.

Pure Comfort

What makes this stew special is how simple ingredients become something magical in your slow cooker. That splash of red wine deepens all the flavors while everything cooks to perfect tenderness. Easy to find ingredients transform into pure comfort food perfect for busy family dinners or meal prep.

What You'll Need

  • Beef Chuck: Cut into nice chunks nice marbling makes it tender.
  • Fresh Veggies: Potatoes carrots onions peas make it hearty.
  • Good Broth: Rich beef broth creates our base.
  • Red Wine: Optional but adds amazing depth.
  • Seasonings: Garlic herbs salt pepper keep it classic.
  • Tomato Paste: Just a touch deepens everything.
  • Fresh Herbs: Thyme rosemary make it special.

Let's Make Stew

  1. Prep Your Ingredients: Season beef veggies ready to go.
  2. Layer With Love: Everything in the pot beef broth wine herbs.
  3. Let It Work: Low and slow makes everything perfect.
  4. Final Touch: Check seasoning add butter if you like makes it silky.

Kitchen Secrets

Handle that beef gentle keeps it tender. Little butter at the end makes everything rich. Short on time? Skip searing works fine. No wine? Try Guinness or extra broth with splash of vinegar.

Keep It Fresh

Keeps beautiful 3 days in the fridge. Freezes up to 3 months perfect for busy days. Warm it gentle add splash of broth if needed.

Helpful Tools

Good slow cooker makes all the difference. Heavy skillet if you're searing. Nice deep bowls for serving. Get some good containers keeps leftovers perfect.

Mix It Up

Add different veggies green beans parsnips sweet potatoes. Try lamb or turkey makes it new. Play with herbs thyme parsley bay leaves. Want Irish style? Use Guinness instead of wine.

A close-up of a hearty beef stew with shredded meat, potatoes, carrots, and herbs in a dark broth, served in a black bowl with a spoon. Pin it
A close-up of a hearty beef stew with shredded meat, potatoes, carrots, and herbs in a dark broth, served in a black bowl with a spoon. | tasteofcook.com

Perfect Partners

Crusty bread or warm biscuits catch all that good sauce. Over mashed potatoes pure heaven. Light salad keeps everything balanced.

Classic Comfort

This stew never fails to make everyone happy. That perfect mix of tender beef rich broth colorful veggies comes out right every time. Whether for cozy dinner or meal prep it's always a winner.

Save Some For Later

Pack it up keeps 3 days no problem. Freeze single servings for easy meals later. Warm slow and gentle stir now and then add broth if needed.

Make It Perfect

Gentle with that meat keeps all the juices. Butter at the end makes it velvety smooth. Low and slow develops best flavor. Too thin? Little cornstarch fixes that.

Why We Love It

Easy prep let it cook while you live your life. Pure comfort food when you need it most. Rich savory flavors tender meat perfect veggies. Makes everyone happy goes with everything what's not to love?

A close-up view of a hearty beef stew with chunks of meat, carrots, and potatoes, garnished with fresh parsley in a black slow cooker. Pin it
A close-up view of a hearty beef stew with chunks of meat, carrots, and potatoes, garnished with fresh parsley in a black slow cooker. | tasteofcook.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What's the best cut of beef to use?
Chuck roast is optimal, followed by rump roast or bottom round. The marbling and connective tissue break down during slow cooking.
→ Can I skip the wine?
Substitute with beef broth or grape juice plus 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar. For Irish style, use Guinness instead.
→ Why add butter at the end?
This chef technique, called Monter au Beurre, creates a velvety, smooth finish to the gravy.
→ How do I store leftovers?
Keep in airtight container for 3 days in fridge or 3 months in freezer.
→ Can I add other vegetables?
Celery, green beans, parsnips, and sweet potatoes work well as additions.

Conclusion

Rich beef stew featuring tender chuck roast, vegetables, and red wine, slow cooked to perfection. Features chef techniques like browning meat and finishing with butter.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Traditional beef stew with tender meat, potatoes, carrots and peas in a rich wine-infused broth, made easy in the slow cooker.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
240 Minutes
Total Time
260 Minutes


Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (6 servings)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 Stew meat - 2 1/2 pounds.
02 Flour - 1/4 cup.
03 Olive oil - 3-6 tablespoons.
04 Butter - 3 tablespoons.
05 Yellow onions, diced - 2 cups.
06 Garlic, minced - 4 cloves.
07 Red wine - 1 cup.
08 Beef broth - 4 cups.
09 Beef bouillon cubes - 2.
10 Worcestershire sauce - 2 tablespoons.
11 Tomato paste - 3 tablespoons.
12 Carrots, chunked - 5 medium.
13 Yukon gold potatoes - 1 pound.
14 Bay leaves - 2.
15 Rosemary - 1 sprig.
16 Frozen peas - 1 cup.
17 Cornstarch - 3 tablespoons.

Instructions

Step 01

Cut beef into 1-inch cubes. Season with salt and pepper mixture, coat with flour.

Step 02

Brown meat in batches in hot oil. Transfer to slow cooker.

Step 03

Cook onions in butter, add garlic. Deglaze with wine. Add to slow cooker.

Step 04

Add remaining ingredients except peas, cornstarch, and finishing butter. Cook low 8 hours or high 4 hours.

Step 05

Add peas in last 15 minutes. Optionally thicken with cornstarch. Finish with butter.

Notes

  1. Chuck roast works best.
  2. Can substitute wine with broth.
  3. Freezes well up to 3 months.

Tools You'll Need

  • Slow cooker.
  • Large skillet.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 507
  • Total Fat: 18 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 35 g
  • Protein: 49 g