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Crock Pot Beef Stew is full of flavor, packed with meat and veggies, and an absolute must in the fall or winter. For an easy meal that is also hearty and delicious try this crock pot beef stew.

 

 

Seared beef, onions, potatoes, carrots, and celery all blend together perfectly to create the best beef stew in a crock pot you could imagine.

This isn’t beef soup. Beef soup has more liquid than ingredients per bite.

This isn’t pot roast. Although made with similar ingredients, pot roast must be eaten with a fork.

This is beef stew. Hearty enough to not be soup and thin enough to need a spoon. 

Crockpot beef stew is the perfect blend of ingredients, liquid, and flavor.

I love that this crockpot beef stew recipe is a set it and forget it meal. 

I’m busy. You’re busy. Let’s just take a small breather and put dinner in the crockpot.

I also love that this is a one pot meal. 

Although I often serve it with a side of Homemade Crescent Rolls, it’s filling enough to be eaten on it’s own.

I often make crockpot beef stew as a make-ahead freezer meal.

And since it’s so easy to double I always make sure to have enough for leftovers.

 

 

Ingredients in Crock Pot Beef Stew

• Flour: All purpose white flour used for coating the beef.
• Seasoning Salt: Lots of different brands out there, choose your favorite.
• Beef Stew Meat: You can purchase this already cut up or buy the meat and cut it up yourself.
• Black Pepper: For seasoning the stew.
• Olive Oil: Could also substitute this with avocado oil.
• Onion: Diced by hand or with a food processor.
• Water: You could easily increase or decrease the amount to your desired level of liquid.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a very delicious flavor to the stew.
• Beef Demi-Glaze: Pick this up from any grocery store or substitute with Swanson Beef Flavor Boost.
• Potatoes: Red potatoes hold up well to the low cooking heat and long cooking time.
• Carrots: Cut the carrots up into bite sized pieces.
• Celery: Celery adds a lot of flavor when combined with the other ingredients.
• Bay Leaves: Use whole or crushed.

Pro Tip: Cut all the veggies the night before so everything will be ready to toss in when you need it.

 

 

How to Make Beef Stew in Crock Pot

• Sear the Meat: Once the meat is flavored it should be seared. This adds A LOT of flavor to the stew so I don’t recommend skipping, though in a rush you can toss the meat directly into the crock pot.
• Sauté: Don’t toss the fat left in the pan after searing the meat! You’ll use it to flavor the onion and create a broth mixture.
• Add the Veggies: Only the onion should be soft before adding to the crock pot. The rest of the vegetables will soften while cooking in the pot.
• Cook: This is a non step. Read a book. Play a game. Enjoy. That’s the benefit of the crock pot.

 

 

How to Thicken Beef Stew

Crock pot beef stew is already pretty thick but there is an easy way to thicken it if you want more.

Simply mix a small amount of flour or cornstarch with water.

The amount of water should be slightly more than the flour to allow the flour to mix in effectively.

Then add the flour/water or cornstarch/water mixture into the beef stew.

Allow it to fully mix in. That will give the beef stew time to thicken.

Pro Tip: Never add more than a tablespoon of flour or cornstarch at a time. You don’t want the beef stew to get too thick.

 

 

Can You Freeze Beef Stew?

Yes. Crock pot beef stew can be frozen before or after cooking.

Because you can freeze beef stew before putting it in the crockpot it makes an excellent freezer meal.

1. Do all of the pre-crock pot cooking of the beef stew.
2. Allow the beef stew to cool completely then freeze.
3. When you are ready to eat, put the beef stew in the fridge to thaw for 24 hours.
4. Toss it in the crock pot and cook.

Pro Tip: Never put anything in your freezer that doesn’t have the name, date, and how to cook it written on the bag. Then you’ll never be left confused about the stuff in your freezer.

 

 

What is Stewing Beef?

You can buy beef from the store that is already cut to go right into a stew.

It is actually regular beef normally made from chuck, rump, or bottom rounds of beef.

I like using stewing beef in crock pot beef stew because it makes an already simple recipe even easier.

 

 

What Beef Goes Best in Beef Stew?

Chuck Roast is your best bet. 

Chuck roast tends to be tough when cooked too quickly. But cooked slowly it becomes extremely tender.

Other options that go well in crock pot beef stew are rump roasts and bottom rounds.

 

 

How to Store Leftover Beef Stew

First allow the stew to cool completely.

Then place the beef stew in an airtight container or bag.

Keeping it in the fridge or freezer will keep it from going bad.

 

 

How Long Does Beef Stew Last?

Beef stew will stay good in the fridge for up to five days or the freezer for up to three months.

What Goes With Beef Stew?

• Bread: Any bread! Think Homemade Crescent Rolls or Maple Syrup Cornbread.
• Salad: Stews and salads are an easy and natural pairing. A simple Winter Fruit and Cashew Salad would be great.
• Dessert: Soft and sweet desserts like Pear Hand Pies or Coconut Lime Bars are excellent choices.

 

 

Is Beef Stew Healthy?

Yes!

Beef stew is loaded with lots of hearty vegetables and meat.

Not only is the crock pot beef stew healthy but it’s easy too!

 

 

More Recipes to make with Stew Meat…

• Beef Paprikash
• Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff
• Crock Pot Polynesian Beef
• Pepper Steak Recipe

More Soup Recipes You’ll Love…

• Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup
• Black Bean and Corn Chowder
• Ham and Potato Soup
• Cowboy Soup
• Mexican Street Corn Chowder
• Taco Soup Recipe
• Traditional Borscht Recipe
• Velveeta Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Old Fashioned Turkey Soup

Crock Pot Beef Stew is a wonderfully easy, hearty, and delicious meal. Tender beef, perfectly cooked vegetables, and choice spices create the perfect traditional fall and winter meal.

 

Originally Posted: January 13, 2014

Photos & Text Updated: November 16, 2021

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