Slow cooker beef stew

🥘 Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Slow cooker beef stew is a classic comfort dish—tender chunks of beef, hearty vegetables, and rich gravy that develops deep flavor over hours of slow cooking. Perfect for busy days when you want a warm, filling meal with minimal hands-on time.

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🧾 Ingredients

• 1–1.5 lbs (450–680g) beef stew meat, cut into cubes
• 4 medium potatoes, chopped
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
• 2–3 tbsp olive oil or butter (for browning, optional)

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🔥 Instructions

1. Optional browning: Heat oil in a skillet and brown the beef cubes for extra flavor.
2. Combine ingredients: Place beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic in the slow cooker.
3. Add liquids & seasonings: Stir in beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, and pepper.
4. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours or high for 4–5 hours, until beef is tender.
5. Thicken (optional): Mix 2 tbsp flour with a bit of cold water and stir into stew 30 minutes before serving. Cook until thickened.
6. Serve hot: Great with crusty bread or over rice.

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💡 Tips

• Add frozen peas or green beans in the last 30 minutes for extra veggies
• Swap potatoes for sweet potatoes for a twist
• Let the stew sit a few minutes before serving—flavors meld even more

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If you want, I can give you a “dump-and-go” version where you don’t even have to brown the meat—super easy for busy days!