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Tender Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe with Root Vegetables Easy and Perfect

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A comforting and tender slow cooker beef stew with root vegetables, perfect for cozy dinners. This recipe features melt-in-your-mouth beef and hearty vegetables simmered to perfection.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1½-inch cubes
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup red wine (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or cornstarch for gluten-free)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels. Toss the beef with flour, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. (About 5 minutes)
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches, about 3 minutes per side, until deep mahogany color. Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker. (10-15 minutes total)
  3. In the same skillet, add chopped onion and garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape up browned bits. Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Pour in red wine if using, scraping to deglaze. Let wine reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes. (7 minutes)
  4. Pour the onion, garlic, tomato paste, and wine mixture over the beef in the slow cooker. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves. Stir gently to combine. (5 minutes)
  5. Layer carrots, parsnips, and potatoes on top of the beef and broth. (5 minutes)
  6. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until beef is fork-tender and vegetables are soft but not mushy. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking.
  7. Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves. If stew is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir into stew. Cook on high for 10-15 minutes until thickened. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. (10-15 minutes)
  8. Serve warm, optionally garnished with fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy with crusty bread or a simple green salad.

Notes

Brown the beef before slow cooking to lock in juices and add depth of flavor. Layer root vegetables on top to prevent them from becoming mushy. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to maintain heat. Use cornstarch instead of flour for gluten-free thickening. For alcohol-free version, omit red wine and add extra beef broth with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker beef stew, beef stew recipe, root vegetables stew, easy beef stew, comfort food, slow cooker recipes, hearty stew

Find it online: https://evabake.com/tender-slow-cooker-beef-stew-recipe-with-root-vegetables-easy-and-perfect/