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The Best Easy & Tender Crockpot Beef Stew for Weeknights

Close-up of a white bowl filled with rich crockpot beef stew featuring tender beef chunks, potatoes, and carrots.
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This slow cooker beef stew delivers ultimate comfort food with minimal hands-on time. You get tender beef and hearty vegetables in a rich, savory broth—the perfect set it and forget it dinner for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2.5 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
  • 1.5 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 1 cup frozen peas (added at the end)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons cold water (for thickening)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry. In a bowl, toss the beef with salt, pepper, and flour until lightly coated.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Remove the browned beef and place it in the bottom of your slow cooker.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Pour the onion and garlic mixture into the slow cooker over the beef.
  5. Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary to the slow cooker. Stir everything together gently.
  6. Place the carrots and potatoes on top of the beef mixture. Do not stir them in completely; this helps them cook evenly.
  7. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3.5 to 4 hours, until the beef is very tender.
  8. About 30 minutes before serving, stir the cornstarch and cold water mixture (this is your slurry) into the stew. Stir well.
  9. Add the frozen peas. Cover and continue cooking on HIGH for the remaining 30 minutes, or until the broth has thickened to your liking.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary before serving this hearty comfort food.

Notes

  • For an even richer flavor, you can sear the flour-coated beef in batches before adding it to the slow cooker.
  • If you prefer a thicker stew without using cornstarch, you can remove about 1 cup of the liquid near the end, mix it with 2 tablespoons of flour, and pour it back in to simmer until thickened.
  • This recipe is excellent for meal prep; it tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hungryhearld.com/crockpot-beef-stew-easy-tender-recipe/