Description
Hearty Crock Pot Beef Stew delivers comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending tender meat and rich vegetables into a soul-warming meal. Slow-cooked perfection awaits you with minimal effort and maximum flavor in this classic one-pot wonder.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 lbs (907 grams) beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
Vegetables:
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Dust the beef chunks with a seasoned flour mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly and thoroughly coated.
- Warm a skillet with olive oil and sear the meat until a rich, golden-brown crust develops on all surfaces, creating deep flavor foundations.
- Arrange a colorful medley of diced vegetables – potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and minced garlic – in a careful layered arrangement atop the caramelized beef.
- Craft a robust liquid base by whisking together savory beef broth, tangy tomato paste, umami-rich Worcestershire sauce, and aromatic herbs like thyme and rosemary, complemented by a single bay leaf.
- Gently pour the herbed liquid over the meat and vegetable layers, ensuring complete coverage and even distribution of flavors.
- Secure the crock pot lid and allow the stew to simmer slowly, developing complex tastes and tenderizing the meat – approximately 8-10 hours on low temperature or 4-6 hours on high setting.
- During the final half-hour of cooking, introduce vibrant green peas to add a burst of color and freshness to the hearty stew.
- Discard the bay leaf, give the stew a final gentle stir to integrate all elements, and serve piping hot in deep, welcoming bowls.
Notes
- Enhance meat tenderness by selecting chuck roast or stew meat with good marbling for richer flavor and softer texture.
- Searing beef before slow cooking creates a delicious caramelized crust, unlocking deeper taste profiles and improving overall dish complexity.
- Skip flouring meat for gluten-free version by using cornstarch or arrowroot powder as alternative coating.
- Boost vegetable nutrition by adding extra root vegetables like parsnips or turnips for increased fiber and varied taste experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 47 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg