Print

Easy Crockpot Beef Stew: Best Set-and-Forget Dinner

easy crockpot beef stew - featured image
Print Recipe

This easy crockpot beef stew is the ultimate set-and-forget dinner. Simply toss ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning and come home to tender beef, rich broth, and perfectly cooked vegetables without any browning or fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2–3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 2 medium yellow onions, roughly chopped
  • 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 3 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
  • Salt and black pepper to taste (about 1.5 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper)
  • 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels. Cut into 1.5-inch cubes, trimming large fat pieces but leaving some for flavor. Season generously with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Peel and chop the onions into rough chunks. Peel the carrots and cut into 1-inch pieces. Slice the celery into 1/2-inch pieces. Peel and cube the potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Mince the garlic.
  3. Coat the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with olive oil. Layer onions, carrots, and celery on the bottom. Add cubed beef on top. Scatter minced garlic over the beef. Add potatoes on top. Do not stir.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together beef broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce until mostly dissolved. Pour over everything in the slow cooker. Sprinkle dried thyme and crushed rosemary on top. Tuck bay leaves into the liquid. Do not stir.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours. For most tender beef, use LOW. Meat should be fall-apart tender when poked with a fork.
  6. About 30 minutes before serving, mix cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Ladle about 1 cup of hot liquid from the slow cooker into the cornstarch mixture and whisk to temper. Pour slurry back into the stew and stir gently. Let simmer for 30 minutes to thicken.
  7. Stir in frozen peas during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
  8. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

For best results, cook on LOW for 8 hours. Prep vegetables the night before to save time. Do not lift the lid during cooking. The stew thickens as it cools. For a thicker broth, repeat the cornstarch slurry with an additional tablespoon of cornstarch.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot beef stew, easy beef stew, slow cooker beef stew, set-and-forget dinner, comfort food, beef stew recipe

Find it online: https://evabake.com/easy-crockpot-beef-stew-best-set-and-forget-dinner/