Crock Pot Beef Stew (Easy Slow Cooker Recipe)

This Crock Pot Beef Stew is a hearty, comforting, flavorful meal that's loaded with beef, and fresh vegetables, in a flavorful gravy. It's simmered low and slow to perfection in the slow cooker making it a complete meal. 

Try pairing this savory stew with some Homemade Cream of Tartar Biscuits or Southern-Style Cornbread, it makes for quite the dish.

At times life can be overwhelming, but I try not to make takeout a daily habit when it comes to feeding my family. 

But a simple and fast meal has become a weeknight must! My slow cooker is certainly a big help with that because I can throw in some ingredients, add liquid, cover, crank that baby up, and forget it. 

I especially love adding beef stew ingredients to the slow cooker first thing in the morning and allowing it to cook low and slow all day. It's the best fuss-free dinner. 

Let's get started!

Best Beef for Beef Stew

When it comes to making beef stew in a crockpot, choosing the right cuts of beef is essential for achieving that tender beef that melts in your mouth. Opt for tougher cuts with plenty of marbling, as these will break down beautifully during the slow cooking process, resulting in rich, tender meat. Some of the best cuts for crockpot beef stew include:

• Chuck Roast: Known for its rich flavor and perfect marbling, boneless chuck roast is a classic choice for beef stew. It becomes incredibly tender when cooked low and slow, making it ideal for crockpot cooking.
• Bottom Round Roast: This cut comes from the rear leg and boasts a robust flavor. While it's leaner than chuck roast, the bottom round still becomes wonderfully tender when cooked in the slow cooker, making it a great option for stew.
• Short Ribs: For a truly indulgent beef stew, consider using beef short ribs. These cuts are loaded with flavor and have a generous amount of fat and connective tissue, which break down beautifully during slow cooking, resulting in succulent, fall-off-the-bone meat.

Best Potatoes for Beef Stew

When selecting potatoes for slow cooker beef stew, it's important to choose waxy varieties that will hold their shape well during the slow cooking process and provide a starchy texture to the dish. 

Among the options available, red potatoes stand out as an excellent choice for their firm texture and ability to hold up to long hours of simmering. Their thin skin adds a pleasant texture and extra flavor to the stew, while their buttery flesh contributes to the overall richness of the dish. Their smaller size also makes them convenient to use, requiring minimal chopping. 

Other options of potato varieties for crockpot beef stew include Yukon Gold and russet potatoes, but red potatoes are my preferred choice for this comforting dish.

Ingredients You'll Need to Make This Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe

1. Beef - Use boneless chuck roast (beef chuck) or stew meat (stew beef) that is already cut into tender chunks of beef. 
2. Celery - Add some aromatics to the stew by roughly slicing up three stalks/ribs of fresh celery. 
3. Carrots - You may use baby carrots or cut some whole carrots into even-sized pieces. Adds another slightly sweet vegetable to the stew. 
4. Onion - Use any thinly sliced onion that you prefer. Selecting yellow onion, white onion, or even red onion will work for this stew recipe. 
5. Potatoes - I prefer to use sliced baby red potatoes, but you could use baby Dutch yellow potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes. 
6. Garlic Salt - Adds a salty garlicky taste to the meat. 
7. Garlic Powder - Gives the beef a dry and pungent flavor. 
8. Oregano - Use dried or freshly chopped oregano to add an earthy and slightly bitter flavor to the beef. 
9. Worcestershire Sauce - Gives the beef a savory and umami flavor, do not skip or substitute this ingredient. 
10. Beef Broth - The base liquid of the stew that helps the meat and vegetables to become tender and flavorful. 
11. Tomato Paste - Adds thickness, acid, and a delicious savory flavor to the stew. 
12. All-Purpose Flour - Combined with cold water to help create the slurry to thicken and finish the stew. You could use cornstarch instead. 
13. Salt - Use any salt that you prefer, brings out the ingredient flavors and prevents the stew from tasting bland. 
14. Ground Black Pepper - Try to use freshly ground black pepper to add spice to the stew. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

Substitutions to Take This Hearty Beef Stew Recipe Up a Notch

This beef stew Crockpot recipe can definitely be changed up a bit. Here are some ideas:

• Swap out the beef broth for beef stock or vegetable broth or stock. Add in some dry red wine such as cabernet sauvignon. 
• Substitute the meat for a cheaper cut. Check out the beef selection at your local grocery store and opt for a beef stew mix that is more affordable.
• Don’t have tomato paste? Use some tomato sauce and double the amount.
• Want some more vegetables? Mushrooms, frozen peas, green beans, chopped green bell pepper, and corn will all make for some great additions.
• For some additional spice flavor, add in some bay leaves, Italian seasoning, or seasoning salt. 

How to Make Crock Pot Beef Stew 

Grab your slow cooker, crock pot, or pressure cooker with a slow cooker setting. Generously season the raw beef with salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, garlic salt, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce. 

Add it evenly to the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with an even layer of sliced onion.  

On top of the onion, add the potatoes, carrots, and celery. 

Add the tomato paste and beef broth. 

Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours or high for 3 to 6 hours, depending on your particular slow cooker. Check it and stir it occasionally. 

About 20 minutes before serving, prepare the slurry to thicken the stew. In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and water until combined. Pour the flour mixture into the stew and stir to combine. This will thicken the stew. 

Serve the stew warm in a big bowl with a side of cornbread, or crusty bread, and a dash or two of hot sauce. Enjoy!

Tips for Making the Best Beef Stew

This delicious recipe can be made even better. Here are some ideas for making some mouth-watering Crockpot beef stew:

• Sear the meat in a large skillet or stockpot before placing it into the Crockpot. This adds extra texture and flavor to the meat.
• Cook the onions before adding them to the Crockpot. Again, this is optional but will add some additional flavor.
• Do not rush! This recipe is best done when you have the time to follow every step and stir it now and then. 
• Keep an eye on the cooking time. You don’t want the veggies getting too soft! They should be fork tender. 
• If you like a thicker sauce, make up a cornstarch slurry and add it at the end of the cooking time. Stir the stew for about 10-15 minutes and watch it thicken up.

Storage Tips 

Storage. If you have any leftover beef stew, allow it time to cool to room temperature before storing it for later. Place the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. 

Reheat. When ready to serve the stew again, heat it on the stove-top in a saucepan over medium-low heat until warm. You can also reheat in the microwave for a quicker option. 

Freezing. This recipe may be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. Place the cooked and cooled to room temperature stew into a freezer-safe container and place it into the freezer. When ready to serve again, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat on the stovetop in a saucepan over low heat until warm. 

More Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love 

• Spicy Pop Pulled Pork
• Philly Cheese Chicken Sandwich
• Meatball Sub Sandwich
• Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this Easy Beef Stew Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 01/17/2014. Updated 03/15/2024.