Searching for a delicious beef stew that is a piece of cake to make? Grab your slow cooker and whip up something truly incredible!
This cooking method allows the flavors of the ingredients to meld together, resulting in a rich and flavorful stew that everyone will love.
Why it’s necessary to use a slow cooker?
There are several reasons why you might want to use a slow cooker to make beef stew.
First, it’s easy to cook the stew without watching it closely or stirring it often.
This frees up your time to do other things while the stew is cooking.
Another reason to use a slow cooker is that it can help tenderize the beef, making it more flavorful and easier to eat when beef is simmered over low heat.
The collagen and connective tissue break down, resulting in a more tender final product.
And finally, slow cookers are simply convenient.
You can set them up in the morning before you leave for work and come home to a delicious and hearty stew that’s ready to eat.
Why does this recipe work?
There are a few reasons why this recipe works so well.
First, the beef is browned before adding to the slow cooker.
This helps to give it more flavor and helps to seal in the juices.
Next, red wine is added to the pot.
This not only adds flavor but also helps to tenderize the beef.
Finally, the vegetables are added in at the end to avoid getting overcooked.
This ensures that they’re still crisp and full of flavor.
How to Make Delicious Beef Stew using a Slow Cooker?
You’ll want to use a relatively lean cut of beef such as chuck roast or stew meat for this recipe.
These cuts of beef are ideal because they have enough fat to keep them moist and flavorful, but not so much fat that the stew will be greasy.
Now that you know why this recipe works let’s get down to the details.
To make beef stew in a slow cooker, you’ll need the following ingredients:
What You’ll Need:
To make beef stew in a slow cooker, you’ll need a few key ingredients:
- Beef chuck roast: This is the best type of beef for stew because it’s relatively inexpensive and has a good amount of fat marbling.
- This fat will help to keep the beef moist and flavorful as it cooks.
- Onion: You’ll need one large onion, diced, for this recipe.
- Carrots: You’ll need about 1-2 cups of carrots, diced.
- Potatoes: You’ll need 1-2 cups of diced potatoes.
- Beef broth: You’ll need about 4 cups of beef broth to cover the ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Tomato paste: You’ll need about 2 tablespoons of tomato paste to add some depth of flavor to the stew.
- Garlic: You’ll need two cloves of garlic minced.
- Thyme: You’ll need 1 teaspoon of dried thyme leaves.
- Rosemary: You’ll need 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary leaves.
- Salt and pepper: You’ll need to season the stew with salt and pepper to taste.
Here’s how you can make a delicious beef stew using a slow cooker:
- Making beef stew in a slow cooker is easy.
- Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Then, set the cooker to low and cook for 6-8 hours, or until the beef is cooked through and very tender.
- Once the beef stew is done cooking, you can ladle it into bowls and enjoy.
- This stew is best served with some crusty bread for dipping.
- It’s perfect for a winter day, and it’s sure to become a family favorite.
- Give it a try today!
Variations
There are a few ways to change this recipe to suit your taste.
If you like your beef stew to be more thick and hearty, you can add some additional diced potatoes or even some peeled and cubed turnips.
If you prefer a more traditional beef stew, you can omit the red wine from the recipe.
And, if you’re looking for a bit of heat, you can add some diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the stew.
Sweet Potato Stew
This beef stew recipe can easily be transformed into a delicious sweet potato stew.
Swap out the regular potatoes for sweet potatoes.
You may need to add more beef broth to cover the sweet potatoes.
Onion Soup Mix
If you want to give your beef stew even more flavor, you can add a packet of onion soup mix to the slow cooker and the other ingredients.
While this recipe is delicious, feel free to experiment and make it your own.
Enjoy!
No potato stew
If you avoid potatoes or want to lighten up the recipe, you can omit them altogether.
Just add an extra cup of carrots or another vegetable of your choice.
Gluten-free
This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
However, if you are serving it to someone with a gluten allergy, use gluten-free beef broth.
Paleo-friendly
If you follow a paleo diet, you can omit the potatoes and use sweet potatoes instead.
You’ll also need to use gluten-free beef broth.
Instant Pot Beef Stew
If you prefer, you can make this recipe in an Instant Pot.
Add all ingredients to the pot and set it to stew/meat for 30 minutes.
Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quickly release any remaining pressure.
Follow these tips, and you’ll have a delicious beef stew that is sure to please.
Cauliflower Stew
If you’re looking for a lighter option, you can omit the potatoes and carrots and swap in some chopped cauliflower.
This will still give you a delicious and hearty stew but with fewer calories.
Serving Suggestions
Beef stew is a great meal to serve on a cold day.
Serve it with some crusty bread for dipping and a simple green salad on the side.
If you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal, this beef stew can be served over some cooked egg noodles or rice.
It can also be frozen in individual portions and enjoyed later.
Reheat in the microwave or stovetop until heated through.
This beef stew is a hit no matter how you make it!
Try it today and see for yourself!
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, you can easily make this recipe ahead of time.
Brown the beef and add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker.
Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Set the slow cooker to low and cook as directed when ready to cook.
Can I freeze this beef stew?
Yes, you can freeze this beef stew.
Let it cool completely, and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stove or in the microwave when ready to eat.
What if I don’t have a slow cooker?
If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can easily make this beef stew on the stove.
Brown the beef and then add all ingredients to a large pot.
Bring the mixture to a simmer and then cook for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is cooked through and very tender.
What should I serve with beef stew?
There are a few different things that you can serve with beef stew.
You’ll want to have some bread on the side, as this is perfect for dipping into the stew.
Other than that, you could also serve a simple green salad or some roasted vegetables.
Anything goes!
This dish is so hearty and filling that you don’t need to worry about serving many sides.
Mashed potatoes are always a classic option, or you could try serving them over rice or egg noodles.
You could also enjoy it as is, with a side of crusty bread for dipping.
I hope you enjoy this recipe for beef stew.
It’s the perfect comfort food for a cold day, and it’s sure to become a family favorite.
Thanks for reading, and happy cooking!
How does it improve your health?
This recipe is not only delicious, but it’s also healthy.
The beef and vegetables are packed with nutrients essential for good health, and the slow cooking process helps retain these nutrients.
Beef is a good source of protein, iron, and B vitamins, essential for maintaining energy levels and preventing anemia.
It’s also a good source of zinc, which is essential for a robust immune system.
The vegetables in this recipe are also packed with nutrients.
Potatoes are a good source of fiber, essential for digestive health.
The carrots are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage.
The peas are a good source of vitamins A and C, essential for immunity.
The vegetables in this recipe are also packed with essential nutrients.
Carrots are a good source of beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body and is essential for vision and immunity.
Potatoes are a good source of potassium, essential for blood pressure control.
And green beans are a good source of fiber, which is essential for digestive health.
So this recipe is delicious, but it’s also packed with nutrients essential for good health.
Will it help lose weight?
This recipe is delicious, but it’s also healthy and can help with weight loss.
The beef and vegetables are packed with nutrients essential for good health, and the slow cooking process helps retain these nutrients.
Beef is a good source of protein, which is essential for building muscle mass and preventing hunger.
It’s also a good source of iron, essential for maintaining energy levels.
The vegetables in this recipe are also packed with nutrients and fiber, essential for keeping you feeling full.
So, this recipe is delicious, but it’s also healthy and can help with weight loss.
Make Delicious Beef Stew using a Slow Cooker
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- Beef chuck roast
- 1 large onion
- 2 cups carrots
- 2 cups potatoes diced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomatoes
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
- Salt pepper
Instructions
- Making beef stew in a slow cooker is easy.
- Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Then, set the cooker to low and cook for 6-8 hours, or until the beef is cooked through and very tender.
- Once the beef stew is done cooking, you can ladle it into bowls and enjoy.
- This stew is best served with some crusty bread for dipping.
- It’s perfect for a winter day, and it’s sure to become a family favorite.
- Give it a try today!
Video
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