Description
This hearty slow cooker beef stew combines tender beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, and flavorful herbs and spices. Perfect for a comforting meal, this easy recipe requires minimal prep and uses the slow cooker to ensure rich, melt-in-your-mouth beef with well-cooked vegetables.
Ingredients
Beef and Coating
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Vegetables and Broth
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 4 medium carrots, sliced
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 large bay leaf
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all ingredients needed for the stew to ensure smooth preparation.
- Prepare Beef: Place the beef stew meat into the slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix the flour, salt, and black pepper; then pour this mixture over the beef and stir well to coat all meat pieces evenly.
- Add Vegetables and Broth: Add the beef broth, sliced carrots, diced potatoes, chopped onion, chopped celery, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, minced garlic, and bay leaf into the slow cooker. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on Low heat setting for 8 to 12 hours or on High for 4 to 6 hours. Check periodically and stir to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. Meat should be tender enough to cut with a spoon.
- Serve: Once the beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through, remove the bay leaf and serve the stew hot. Enjoy your comforting meal!
Notes
- Cooking time on Low can range from 8 to 12 hours, adjust based on your slow cooker and desired tenderness.
- Top cooking results were found at 8 hours on Low or 4 hours on High.
- Remember to stir occasionally and check for doneness if possible.
- This stew can be thickened further by removing the lid near the end of cooking or adding a cornstarch slurry if desired.
- For a richer flavor, brown the beef before adding to the slow cooker (optional).
