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The Easiest Ever Crockpot Beef Stew: Tender Beef & Rich Gravy for Stress-Free Weeknights

Close-up of tender chunks of meat and vegetables in a rich gravy, classic crockpot beef stew served in a white bowl.
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Make this hearty, classic beef stew in your slow cooker. You get tender beef and rich gravy with minimal hands-on time, making it a perfect, set-it-and-forget-it weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
  • 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas (added at the end)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for thickening)
  • 1/4 cup cold water (for slurry)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels. Season the beef with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches on all sides. You do not need to cook it through. Place the browned beef into your slow cooker.
  3. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet and add the onion and garlic mixture to the slow cooker.
  4. Pour the beef broth, diced tomatoes (with juice), Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves into the slow cooker. Stir everything together.
  5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
  6. Add the carrots and potatoes to the slow cooker. Stir gently.
  7. Cover and continue cooking on LOW for another 2 to 3 hours, or until the beef and vegetables are fork-tender.
  8. Remove and discard the bay leaves.
  9. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and cold water until smooth to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the stew.
  10. Stir in the frozen peas. Cover and cook on HIGH for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the stew has thickened to your liking.
  11. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving. Serve hot with crusty bread.

Notes

  • For an even richer flavor, you can dredge the beef cubes in flour before browning them in step 2.
  • If you prefer a thicker gravy without making a slurry, mix 1/4 cup of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of cold water and stir it into the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  • This recipe is excellent for meal prep; the flavor deepens overnight.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://fooddexterity.com/crockpot-beef-stew-easy-tender-hearty-dinner/