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Crock Pot Beef Stew

Crock Pot beef stew with fall-apart beef, hearty potato cubes, and a deep mahogany broth thickened with a cornstarch slurry. Slow-cooked on Low for 8 hours for tender chunks and a rich, savory finish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 545
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beef and vegetables
  • 2.5 lb beef chuck Cut into 1.5-inch cubes.
  • 1 lb baby potatoes Halved.
  • 3 carrots Cut into thick rounds.
  • 3 celery Sliced.
  • 1 onion Diced.
  • 4 garlic Minced.
Broth and seasonings
  • 2 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup red wine Or use extra beef broth.
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 0.25 salt To taste.
  • 0.25 black pepper To taste.

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Season and layer
  1. Season the beef generously with salt and pepper to ensure every chunk tastes well seasoned.
  2. Add the potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion to the bottom of the slow cooker in an even layer.
  3. Nestle the beef on top, then scatter in the garlic, beef broth, red wine, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and bay leaves.
Slow cook until tender
  1. Cook on Low for 8-10 hours, until the beef is fall-apart tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
Finish and thicken
  1. Remove the bay leaves, then stir the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) into the stew.
  2. Cook on High for 20-30 minutes until the broth thickens to a hearty consistency.
  3. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, then serve hot.

Notes

For best flavor, don’t stir during the long Low cook—let the stew braise until the beef is fork-tender. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to 3-4 days; freezer: yes, freeze up to 3 months. To keep it dairy-free and gluten-free, use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and check that your labels meet your needs.