Description
This Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a comforting and easy-to-make dish perfect for cozy nights. Packed with tender beef chuck, flavorful vegetables, and aromatic herbs, this stew simmers slowly to develop rich, deep flavors. It’s an ideal make-ahead meal that requires minimal hands-on time, perfect for busy days when you want a satisfying homemade dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Seasoning
- 2 lbs Beef Chuck (cut into cubes)
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Thyme (dried)
- 1 tsp Rosemary (dried)
Vegetables
- 3 large Carrots (sliced)
- 2 large Potatoes (cubed)
- 1 medium Onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
Liquids and Sauces
- 4 cups Beef Broth
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Season the beef: In a large bowl, combine the beef cubes with salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Toss well to evenly coat the meat with the seasonings.
- Prepare the slow cooker: Place the seasoned beef into the slow cooker pot, spreading it out evenly to create a base layer for cooking.
- Add vegetables: Layer the sliced carrots, cubed potatoes, chopped onion, and minced garlic on top of the beef in the slow cooker.
- Pour liquids: Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce over the meat and vegetables, ensuring everything is evenly covered to infuse flavor during cooking.
- Slow cook the stew: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for 8 hours, allowing the beef to become tender and the flavors to meld. Alternatively, cook on high heat for 4 hours if time is limited.
- Final seasoning and serving: Once cooking is complete, taste the stew and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve the hearty beef stew warm, straight from the slow cooker, ideal for cozy meals.
Notes
- For extra richness, brown the beef cubes in a skillet before adding to the slow cooker.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like celery or peas for added texture and flavor.
- The stew can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Thickening the stew is optional; you can mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with cold water and stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
