Print

Hearty Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 105 reviews

This hearty crockpot beef stew is a comforting and flavorful dish, perfect for a cozy meal. It slow-cooks tender beef chuck with potatoes, carrots, pearl onions, and celery in a rich beef stock, infused with bay leaves and simple seasonings. The stew develops deep flavors over 8 hours in the crockpot, resulting in a satisfying, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a deliciously warming broth.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Vegetables

  • 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1‑inch cubes
  • 4 russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1‑inch chunks
  • 3 carrots, sliced into 1/4‑inch coins
  • 12 pearl onions, whole
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped

Liquid and Seasonings

  • 4 cups beef stock
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. Season the beef: Season the beef cubes evenly with the kosher salt and cracked black pepper to ensure they are well-flavored before cooking.
  2. Layer vegetables: Place the seasoned beef cubes into the crockpot, then add the diced potatoes, carrot coins, whole pearl onions, and chopped celery on top of the meat, distributing them evenly.
  3. Add beef stock: Pour the beef stock over the ingredients in the crockpot, making sure that everything is just covered by the liquid to allow proper cooking.
  4. Add bay leaves and stir: Tuck the two dried bay leaves into the liquid, then gently stir the contents to distribute seasonings without disturbing the layering too much.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender and the vegetables become soft and cooked through.
  6. Adjust broth consistency: In the last 30 minutes of cooking, check the broth. If it seems too thin, remove the lid to allow the liquid to gently reduce and thicken slightly.
  7. Season to taste: Before serving, taste the stew and adjust seasoning by adding a pinch more salt or pepper as needed to enhance flavors.
  8. Serve: Serve the stew hot, optionally garnished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a fresh color and flavor boost.

Notes

  • This stew can be made the day before and reheated, as flavors deepen with time.
  • For a thicker stew, you can add a slurry of cornstarch and water during the last 30 minutes of cooking and allow it to cook until thickened.
  • Feel free to add other root vegetables such as parsnips or turnips for variety.
  • Use homemade or low-sodium beef stock to better control the salt content.
  • To peel pearl onions easily, blanch them briefly in boiling water, then shock in ice water and pinch off the skins.

Keywords: crockpot beef stew, slow cooker stew, hearty beef stew, comfort food, easy beef stew

Find it online: https://foodbylina.com/hearty-crockpot-beef-stew-recipe/