Description
This Wholesome Crockpot Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food—tender beef, hearty potatoes, sweet carrots, and peas simmered in a rich, flavorful broth. A cozy, fuss-free dinner the whole family will love.
Ingredients
2 ½ pounds stew meat
½ teaspoon each: black pepper, garlic salt, celery salt
¼ cup flour
3–6 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons chilled butter (split)
2 cups yellow onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup cabernet sauvignon or merlot wine
4 cups beef stock
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons tomato concentrate
5 medium carrots, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 pound baby Yukon gold potatoes, halved or quartered
2 bay leaves
1 rosemary sprig
1 cup frozen peas
¼ cup cold water mixed with 3 tablespoons cornstarch (optional)
2–3 drops Gravy Master (optional for color)
Instructions
Prepare the Beef: Cut stew meat into 1-inch cubes, trimming excess fat but leaving marbling. Season with black pepper, garlic salt, and celery salt. Toss with flour to coat.
Sear the Meat: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high. Brown beef in batches (about 45 seconds per side). Transfer to the slow cooker.
Sauté Aromatics: Lower heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter, cook onions until soft. Add garlic for 1 minute. Deglaze pan with wine, scraping brown bits. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Slow Cook: Add beef stock, bouillon cubes, Worcestershire, tomato concentrate, carrots, potatoes, bay leaves, and rosemary. Stir well. Cook on Low 7½–8 hours or High 3½–4 hours.
Finish the Stew: In the last 15 minutes, stir in peas. Remove bay leaves and rosemary. If desired, add cornstarch slurry to thicken.
Velvety Finish: Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter before serving. Add Gravy Master for deeper color, if desired.
Notes
Swap wine with extra beef stock for a non-alcoholic version.
Stew thickens as it cools—add slurry for an extra hearty texture.
Leftovers taste even better the next day!
Freezer-friendly: Store in airtight containers up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (low)
- Category: Dinner, Slow Cooker Meals
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg