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–+ servings

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This slow cooker beef stew is a hands-off, comforting dinner filled with tender beef, carrots, and potatoes, simmered in a savory broth.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Serving Size 6 servings

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • 2 pounds stew meat (chuck or round) Brown first for extra flavor if desired.
  • 4 large carrots, sliced Peeled or scrubbed.
  • 4 medium potatoes, chopped Cut into 1–1½ inch pieces (Yukon gold or russet).
  • 1 medium onion, chopped Yellow or sweet.
  • 4 cups beef broth Low-sodium if preferred.
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced Or 1 tsp granulated garlic.
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Preparation

  • Place the stew meat, sliced carrots, chopped potatoes, and chopped onion into the slow cooker. Distribute the vegetables around and on top of the meat.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the beef broth, minced garlic, salt, pepper, dried thyme, and Worcestershire sauce until combined. Pour this mixture over the meat and vegetables.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours (or HIGH for 4–5 hours) until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes are cooked through. Check seasoning toward the end and add more salt or pepper if needed.
  • Serve the stew hot, ladled into bowls. If you prefer a thicker stew, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) into the hot stew and let it cook for 10–15 minutes to thicken.

Notes

For a deeper flavor, swap 1 cup of the broth for dry red wine. For a gluten-free version, confirm your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free or use tamari. Optionally add dumplings in the last hour for a hearty twist.