This Slow Cooker Beef Stew is made by simmering beef, vegetables, and spices together in a crockpot to make a tender and savory soup. It is the definition of comfort food, perfect for warming you up inside and out.
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Unlike our Classic Beef Stew, this is the best Beef Stew made in a Crockpot, which makes it a great set-it-and-forget-it meal! Slow-cook the stew for hours until the beef is fall-apart tender and full of flavor.
This beef stew recipe consists of hearty beef chuck roast and a variety of vegetables that soften to perfection while cooking. The flavors from all the ingredients meld together as the stew simmers low and slow, making the stew exactly what it should be — perfect. Serve this next to our Caesar Salad and Sourdough Bread for a complete dinner.
Ingredients for Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker
It’s so simple to create this savory, filling meal with only a few ingredients tossed into a slow cooker. These beef stew ingredients may surprise you, but trust me, they come together in an irresistible dish!
- Beef Chuck Roast – Cut the roast into chunks using a knife or even kitchen shears, and then be sure they are all similarly sized for even cooking.
- Vegetables – onion, carrots, potatoes
- Apple Cider – This adds the perfect level of sweetness without tasting sweet, but just be sure to use the juice, not the vinegar.
- Broth – tomato paste, beef broth, salt, pepper and bay leaf
Substitutions
If you don’t have the exact ingredients the recipe calls for on hand, here are some alternatives or additions to make your beef stew turn out great regardless.
- Beef: If you don’t have chuck roast, you can substitute rump roast, bottom round, or “beef stew meat.” These cuts are typically more tough and full of connective tissue, but when slow-cooked, they become perfectly tender. Look for a good amount of marbling (fat) in the meat. More marbling means the meat will be melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
- Potatoes: The best potatoes for beef stew are Yukon gold potatoes. Red potatoes and sweet potatoes are also great alternatives as they have less starch and hold up well in a slow cooker. Add them peeled or unpeeled.
- Tomato paste: If you’re out of tomato paste, you have a few options. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce. Or, add an equal amount of ketchup (although ketchup does have a slightly sweeter flavor)
- Vegetables: Add chopped celery and garlic and sauté briefly with the onion to soften and infuse the flavors. Green beans, mushrooms, and frozen peas are also great additions to this hearty stew.
How to Cook Beef Stew in a Crockpot
One of the best parts about this hearty and comforting Slow Cooker Beef Stew is how easy it is to make. This hearty soup is the perfect make-ahead meal. Simply set it to stew in the morning and then walk away, and then it’ll be ready for you just in time for dinner.
- Brown the beef: Preheat a skillet on medium-high heat with oil then brown the beef on all sides, and then, once browned, remove the beef and place it in a separate dish.
- Sauté the onion: In the same skillet, sauté the onion in the leftover oil and beef juices.
- Combine all ingredients: Add soup ingredients into a crockpot. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 7 hours. Beef stew is cooked and ready when the beef is tender and falls apart easily when pierced with a fork.
- Season to taste: Remove bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Why settle on a regular beef stew when you can have an exceptional beef stew? Follow these tips to make your beef stew rich in flavor.
- Brown the beef and onions: For the best flavor and color, make sure to separately sauté and brown the beef and onions over medium-high heat. If the meat seems raw in the center, don’t worry because it will finish cooking while stewing. If you’re pressed for time, you can add these ingredients raw, but browning them really improves the flavor and texture.
- Adjust spices and vegetables: Feel free to add any of your favorite spices or vegetables to diversify the stew. A splash of Worcestershire sauce, a sprinkle of paprika, and sautéed celery are great options. Use what you have in your pantry and refrigerator.
- Avoid rushing the cooking process: For the most tender and flavorful meat, cook the stew long enough, from 4 (on high) to 7 hours (on low). If you’re wondering why beef is still chewy in the slow cooker, it may be because you rushed the cooking process (skip browning the meat or shorten stew cooking time). The meat can remain tough. The longer the stew cooks, the softer the meat will be.
- Limit cooking time: If the stew cooks for too long (such as overnight), the vegetables can become too tender. Overcooked vegetables will fall apart extremely easily and turn your stew into mush. If you plan to leave the stew in the crockpot, place the setting on “keep warm” after the stew has finished cooking.
How to Thicken Beef Stew
To thicken the stew, make a cornstarch slurry (mix 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 Tbsp cold water to start) and add to the crockpot at the end. Mix and stew for about 10 minutes or until thickened. Alternatively, add a tablespoon or two of all-purpose flour when initially browning the meat.
To thin beef stew – add more beef broth and season to taste.
What size crockpot is best for beef stew?
This will fit into a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. We used an 8-quart slow cooker.
To Serve Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Beef stew is incredibly easy to serve because it’s a meal in itself. It is loaded with protein, vegetables, and carbs all in one. To top it off, serve Crusty French Bread or Soft Dinner Rolls on the side and dip the bread slices into the savory stew. Yum!
Alternatively, serve the beef stew as an option in a “soup and salad” dinner. For a salad, try Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad, Cobb Salad or Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad.
Make-Ahead
Crockpot beef stew is a great meal to make ahead, store, and reheat. Prepare the stew in the morning and have the slow cooker do all the hard work for you. You can also prepare it the night prior and follow these tips to store and reheat the leftovers.
- Refrigerator: To store for up to three days, refrigerate cooled beef stew in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Beef stew freezes really well. To freeze for up to four months, pour beef stew into airtight containers, allowing about an inch of space on top to compensate for expansion when freezing.
- Reheating: To reheat from the refrigerator, pour beef stew into a pot and heat over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until the soup is warmed through. Then to reheat from frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge or thaw on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently.
More Hearty Beef Recipes
- Beef Stroganoff
- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce
- Prime Rib Roast
- Beef Barley Soup
- Slow Cooker Beef Roast
- Meatloaf Recipe
- Beef Chili Recipe
- Sloppy Joes
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra light olive oil, or high heat cooking oil
- 3 lb beef chuck roast, cut into 2 inch cubes
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 large carrots, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 lb Yukon potatoes, cut into bite size pieces
- 1/3 cup apple cider juice, (NOT vinegar)
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp fine sea salt, or added to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- parsley, finely chopped, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat a skillet with oil. Once the oil is hot, add the beef in a single layer and saute until browned on both sides. Don't crowd the pan and cook beef in batches if needed. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté the onion until lightly browned, adding more oil if needed.
- Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker. Set it on high for 4 hours or on low for 7 hours.
- Remove bay leaves, season to taste, and serve garnished with parsley if desired.
Notes
- Refrigerate: Refrigerate cooled stew in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Once cooled, store the stew in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 4 months, leaving an inch of space in the container for expansion.
- How to Reheat: Thaw overnight, and then warm in a pot over medium heat until heated through.
Nutrition Per Serving
Natalya Drozhzhin
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
HI Natasha.’ll definitely try this recipe with apple cider..can I add parsley: while the stew is cooking in slow cooker or add it 10mn before end?
Hi Valerie! We love to use it fresh, as a garnish because it’s vibrant and has more flavor that way. It tends to loose its flavor when cooked.
I like the sounds of this recipe, I have not tried it yet because I am not a fan of slow cookers. Wondering how you would make this recipe without a slow cooker?
I haven’t tried another version to advise. I bet that will work but the timing will be different.
Can apple juice be used if you can’t find apple cider ?
Thanks !!
Hi Dale. Yes, that can still work.
Seriously delicious! I followed what you said about adding added a splash of worcestershire and i added about 1/2tsp of sweet Hungarian paprika. it isn’t even fully cooked yet but the broth alone is so good! My family is going to love it.
Question: Is the apple cider juice, the same as the apple cider you would buy at a apple orchard in the fall.Plan on making this for a soup and pie supper our club will be having in October.
Hi Della! Yes, it should be the same. We had to specify “juice” because some viewers had used apple cider vinegar accidentally and we did not want that to happen again. I hope you love this recipe!
Can apple cider be substituted with red wine? Thank you
Hi Viktoriya, I haven’t tried that substitution to advise, but it may work, here’s what one of my readers wrote: ” we prefer it with apple cider juice, but you can try omitting it. Here’s what one of our readers wrote ” I also didn’t have apple cider or tomato paste but used red wine vinegar and 6tbsp tomato sauce instead. Would definitely make again!!” I hope that helps” I hope this is helpful.
Question: is there a substitute for the apple cider?
Hi Danielle, we prefer it with apple cider juice, but you can try omitting it. Here’s what one of our readers wrote ” I also didn’t have apple cider or tomato paste but used red wine vinegar and 6tbsp tomato sauce instead. Would definitely make again!!” I hope that helps.
I only have an instant pot. Will this recipe work in that?
Hi Adriana! I haven’t tested this in instant pot mode, however, some instant pots (newer models) may have a slow cooker option that you can use.
Just making now. I’m sure it will be good! (hence the rating). In case, I don’t know yet, I want to thicken the sauce, should I just use corn starch?
Thanks to others who substituted the apple cider juice. I couldn’t find it anywhere 🙁
I have always dusted my beef before browning with a little flour. Brown in a skillet and add to the crock pot. The amount of flour used will provide a thickening agent for the stew. We like a little “gravy” with our beef stew, too.
Hi Natasha,
Can I make this recipe in a hot pot? Thanks!
Hi Cristina! I haven’t tested that method so I can’t say for sure but let us know if you experiment.
These ingredients are pretty much what I use to make beef stew except I’ve never thought of apple cider….sounds good and can’t wait to try it. I’ll omit the bay leaves.
Let us know what you think of the recipe.
Can you please show what tomato paste , apple cider and beef broth you use
Thank you
HI Maya, for all of these I don’t really stick to any specific brand. I try to buy organic when I can. Tomato paste is usually the one linked “double concentrated”
This is one of the best beef stew recipes my family has ever tried. We all love it! The flavor is phenomenal. Try it. You will not be disappointed!
Hi Ashley! I’m so glad it was enjoyed. Thank you for the wonderful review.