Description
This Slow Cooker Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food—hearty, flavorful, and packed with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and peas in a rich, savory broth. It’s a no-fuss dinner that practically cooks itself while you handle the rest of life.
Ingredients
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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1 to 1 1/2-inch cubes
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Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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1 pound baby new potatoes, halved
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4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch thick pieces
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1 large sweet onion, diced
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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2 cups low-sodium beef broth
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1 cup vegetable juice (like V8)
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3 tablespoons tomato paste
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1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
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1 sprig fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
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1 teaspoon dried oregano
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1 teaspoon smoked paprika
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1 teaspoon mustard seeds
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2 bay leaves
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3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
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2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
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Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season beef with salt and pepper. Sear for 2–3 minutes until browned on all sides.
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Transfer beef to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic.
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In a bowl, whisk together broth, vegetable juice, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, oregano, paprika, and mustard seeds. Pour over the meat and vegetables.
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Add bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours.
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In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of stew liquid with flour to make a slurry. Stir back into the cooker.
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Cook on high for 30 more minutes until thickened.
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Stir in peas during the last 5 minutes. Discard bay leaves and thyme sprig.
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Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Searing the beef adds a lot of depth to the final flavor—don’t skip this step if you have time.
For a gluten-free version, use a cornstarch slurry instead of flour.
Great for freezing: cool fully, then store in freezer-safe containers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg