Description
This hearty Crock Pot Beef Stew is a comforting, slow-cooked meal perfect for chilly days. Tender cubes of beef simmer slowly with potatoes, carrots, celery, and aromatic herbs in a rich broth, delivering deep flavors and satisfying textures with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into cubes
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional
- 1/4 cup flour (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- Season and coat the beef: In a large bowl, season the beef stew meat generously with salt and pepper. For a thicker stew, toss the beef cubes with flour to lightly coat them, which will help thicken the broth as it cooks.
- Layer ingredients in the Crock Pot: Place the seasoned beef into the Crock Pot first, then add the potatoes, carrots, celery, chopped onion, and minced garlic on top.
- Add liquids and herbs: Pour in the beef broth and water. Sprinkle in the dried thyme, dried rosemary, and add the bay leaf. Stir gently to combine the ingredients evenly within the pot.
- Slow cook the stew: Cover the Crock Pot and cook the stew on low heat for 7 to 8 hours, or on high heat for 4 to 5 hours. This slow cooking allows the beef to become tender and the vegetables to soften, merging the flavors beautifully.
- Finish and season: Once cooking is complete, remove the bay leaf from the stew. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
- Serve warm: Ladle the stew into bowls and serve immediately. Enjoy the rich, comforting flavors of this classic slow-cooked beef stew.
Notes
- For a thicker stew, coat the beef in flour before adding to the Crock Pot.
- You can substitute the beef broth with vegetable broth for a slightly lighter flavor.
- Adding a splash of red wine before cooking enhances the depth of flavor.
- If you prefer firmer vegetables, add them halfway through the cooking time instead of at the beginning.
- This recipe freezes well; store cooled stew in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
