Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (1)

Rblair

Rating: 5 stars

06/24/2016

Made this tonight for friends and it was s huge hit!!! Everyone had seconds, the kids even loved it! Served with some country bread and wine...so delicious! Followed the recipe and added just a splash of worsteshire sauce...will keep this recipe to make again and again!!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (2)

JennSF

Rating: 4 stars

03/22/2014

My husband is SUPER picky about beef stews and crock pot recipes and he LOVED this! It tasted a little heavy on the red wine flavor, but we didn't mind. That's the only reason I didn't give 5 stars. My husband is low-carb so we left out the potatoes and subbed more carrots- I did use the flour but probably could use half the amount next time. I set it to high for 5-6 hours, then on low for an hour or so more. It's a keeper!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (3)

Jaimem03

Rating: 5 stars

02/09/2014

The only beef stew I ever cook!!! I use dry thyme and cut out the peas but everything else I keep to par! My boyfriend is a trainer and loves hardy stuff and he asks for this on a regular basis! I pair it with a nice glass of red wine and broil crunchy bread with butter and serve!!! It makes my mouth water... It's in my crock pot as I write!!!!!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (4)

Carmel2377

Rating: 5 stars

10/18/2013

This was far and away my favorite beef stew recipe! My family didn't go back just for seconds but thirds too! I added some corn and garlic powder (personal preference) and followed the rest of the recipe to the letter. This was absolutely delicious!!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (5)

GoneSewing

Rating: 5 stars

05/16/2013

I have been doing this recipe for a few months now and it is just amazing. It is my go-to recipe when I have a busy day and don't have any time to cook. I don't brown the meat, just put it in and cover with a bit of flour. I also use a bouillon container (the concentrated stuff) instead of a broth. I also put in a bit of paprika and this reminds me of the amazing swiss steak my mom makes ;). I also use a lot less salt. I serve it with fresh bread and top with a bit of shredded cheese. And like a previous review said I cook it for a lot longer to make sure the meat is tender (I skip the wine part too).

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (6)

goldengirl1

Rating: 4 stars

01/21/2013

This is the best beef stew recipe I have made in a while. My husband loved it!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (7)

Janewensley

Rating: 4 stars

01/12/2013

Really tender and hearty. Cooked all day on low in the slow cooker. Didn't add peas, just carrots, potatoes and added mushrooms.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (8)

Dean4033

Rating: 4 stars

11/09/2012

Very simple and tasty. Will make agin.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (9)

Beaker30

Rating: 4 stars

11/05/2012

I jazzed it up a bit, I must admit. I looked at the seasonings and knew it needed more. I made half the recipe (just me this week) and doubled the seasonings--threw in herbs d'provence, as well as thyme, cracked pepper and some parsley. Salted and peppered meat as well before I started. And it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Beautiful (added green beans too) and savory. Perfect for a fall night alone or with family/friends.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (10)

chark86

Rating: 5 stars

03/24/2012

I simplified the preparation by skipping the browning on the stove. I just put everything except the peas in the crock pot and cooked it on low for about 8 hours, putting the peas in for the last hour. I left out the flour and olive oil (no longer needed). I also changed a few ingredients for personal taste. The meat comes out very tender and it tastes great.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (11)

NellyG

Rating: 4 stars

02/22/2012

This was a great dinner. Added cauliflower in the pot as well as mushrooms at the end and extra broth. Will definitely make again!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (12)

NativeTexan

Rating: 4 stars

02/17/2012

This will be one of my two favorite stew recipes. My family enjoyed it--even my kids, who are not usually thrilled with stew.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (13)

Mamato2

Rating: 4 stars

11/17/2011

so yummy with fresh butter on crusty bread!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (14)

DenverGirl

Rating: 3 stars

11/08/2011

This was good and had great flavor but I must've done something wrong because this stew had almost no sauce consistency to it at all. I was expecting a little bit of broth or juice to sop up with crusty bread but all of the juices were absorbed by the meat, potatoes, etc during cooking in the crock pot. I will add extra broth next time.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (15)

GailWJ

Rating: 3 stars

10/31/2011

I've found out that I'm not a big fan of tomato paste in stew. Tomato paste was over powering. Otherwise, this was pretty good.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (16)

Cellia

Rating: 4 stars

10/31/2011

This stew is delicious and easy to make! My family loved it. I did add garlic powder, cut the tomato paste in half and added mushrooms, tho. It's a keeper!

Rating: 4 stars

07/20/2011

This had really excellent flavor. I didn't use quite as much meat but I still used the rest of the ingredients to make a lot of sauce. I also left out the potatoes and placed the meat/carrots over egg noodles. I used chicken broth instead of beef just because it was what I had. We all enjoyed it, even my 1 and 3 year old. Also super easy to throw together at nap time and ready for dinner!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (18)

justanoli

Rating: 5 stars

07/11/2011

Fantastic stew. Maybe a little tomato heavy with the paste, but not so much it really messes with the taste. I might try replacing that with a thick beef gravy next time.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (19)

sarasane

Rating: 5 stars

02/18/2011

Loved this recipe! It's dark, rich and flavorful. I made it with pre-cut stew meat, red cooking wine and used dried thyme. I think next time I'll use Herbes de Provence. 11/13/11: This has become our favorite stew and the best recipe I've found on the site. I like more vegetables than called for so I double the carrots & potatoes, increase the beef stock to 3 cups (more luscious gravy!), and put a teaspoon of Herbes de Provence in the flour to coat the beef. I also find that it takes more like 5-6 hours on high to tenderize the meat and veggies.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (20)

Morrigan0905

Rating: 3 stars

01/23/2011

Good hearty recipe. I, however, am not a fan of tomato sauce, so that ingrediant had a negative affect in my view. I think it would be five stars if it were cooked with a gravy-like souce/soup. As is, it is excellent for those who love tomatoes.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (21)

SanDiegoJes

Rating: 4 stars

01/09/2011

I made this recipe last night for my family, it was a nice warm meal for a cold winter night. The prep in the morning took over thirty minutes which I wasn't really expecting but the result was pretty good. For as long as the stew cooked (7 1/2 hrs) I was expecting the meat to be more tender, other than that I was pretty pleased...people went back for seconds and requested the left overs for lunch. I served the stew with a crusty baked french baguette.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (22)

KatieLR

Rating: 2 stars

12/04/2010

I made it exactly according to the directions and found it pretty bland.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (23)

Janice424

Rating: 2 stars

08/27/2010

Thought this would be good. In reality, it tastes bland besides the wine which overpowers the broth. I say broth, because the consistency came out nothing like a stew. Don't know how others got it to come out so well. This needs more seasoning, possibly adding linguica to add more depth of flavor. Would not make again.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (24)

RamblinRose

Rating: 4 stars

02/28/2010

Very tasty, but all the prep work defeats the purpose of using the crock pot. I expect a crock pot recipe to be quick and easy - this took the whole morning. It also needed to be served over something. I used rice and then pasta when we had leftovers and both worked well. Would only make it again if I had lots of time to fiddle in the kitchen!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (25)

EllenFL

Rating: 5 stars

02/02/2010

The beef stew recipe I've been looking for. Really good. Not sure why my carrots weren't done on low for 71/2 hours tho. Maybe something with my cooker?

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (26)

kellergirl

Rating: 3 stars

01/08/2010

Good, solid recipe. Perfect for this cold weather. Husband liked, will make again. Did not add tomato paste. Did add frozen corn at the end. Definitely better 2nd day. Might use less potato next time, or add some sweet potatoes. Also think green beans would be good. Will add more carrot next time, too.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (27)

corinneja

Rating: 5 stars

11/13/2009

Both my husband and I (and our guest) found this recipe incredible. The only thing we changed was the meat - we used elk instead of beef. It took me about 45 minutes to get into the slow cooker and I cooked it on high for 4 hours. I didn't bother thawing the peas before I tossed them in - frozen peas cook pretty quickly. This recipe was worth every second of prep and wait time! I served it with a loaf of french bread - perfect, and made excellent leftovers.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (28)

doodles

Rating: 5 stars

11/04/2009

Excellent! My husband loves beef stew and this recipe topped all. I did add some canned sliced mushrooms. Like all stews and soups..taste better the next day. I served warmed up corn bread and cole slaw.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (29)

oscotty78

Rating: 5 stars

10/25/2009

wow this was so tasty. I made this for me and my hubby so I cut the recipe in half. Nice flavor, sauce was perfect consistency and was so easy to make. I am a mom with a six month old so it was perfect. I served it over rice and had some rolls with it. I would make this again

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (30)

jmwagner

Rating: 3 stars

10/09/2009

great recipe! easy to throw together and let go in the slow cooker all day when you have a busy schedule...

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (31)

EmRem24

Rating: 4 stars

09/14/2009

I halved this and cooked it on low for 8 hours. Subbed ketchup for tomato paste (was out), used shredded carrots instead of baby, and added a can of diced tomatoes with garlic and quartered baby bellas. I used a can of corn at the end instead of peas. Delicious. Good flavor and thick brown gravy.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (32)

ywacker

Rating: 5 stars

06/24/2009

The recipe was easy to make and delicious!

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (33)

GoTigers

Rating: 4 stars

12/11/2008

The best beef stew ever. We've tried several different recipes over the years and this is the one to keep. Added a little balsamic with the wine. The taste was rich a hearty.

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should stew be covered with liquid in slow cooker? ›

Because your slow cooker will have a tightly sealed lid, the liquid won't evaporate so if you're adapting a standard recipe, it's best to reduce the liquid by roughly a third. It should just cover the meat and vegetables.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

Avoid These Common Mistakes When Making Beef Stew
  1. Using the wrong cut of meat. ...
  2. Not searing the meat. ...
  3. Cooking your veggies for too long. ...
  4. Dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning. ...
  5. Over-thickening the stew. ...
  6. Using water as a base. ...
  7. Not enough or wrong seasonings. ...
  8. Adding salt at the end of cooking.
17 hours ago

Can you cook beef stew too long in slow cooker? ›

You could, but it probably wouldn't be good. You want to cook stew meat long enough for the meat to become tender, but even when immersed in liquid, if it cooks too long it basically just loses all its texture and disintegrates.

Does beef stew get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

What is the best liquid for stew? ›

Water or store-bought broth will do just fine in a pinch, but really flavorful stew recipes start with homemade broth. Making it yourself lets you control the sodium level and flavor.

When should I add vegetables to beef stew? ›

After about 1 1/2 hours of cooking, add roasted veggies and potatoes to the pot and finish cooking. Remove thyme and rosemary bundle and bay leaves, discard.

Should I add tomato paste to beef stew? ›

What does tomato paste do for beef stew? It definitely gives another layer of flavor and can thicken up your gravy. But it can also be very acidic so you might want to simmer finally chopped carrots in your sauce to give it some sweetness. And for me, there is nothing like fresh basil, parsley, and oregano.

When should I add potatoes to stew? ›

The secret to tender and flavorful potatoes in your stew lies in low and slow cooking. Here's how you can achieve the best results: Add the potatoes to the stew during the last hour of cooking. This timing will prevent them from becoming mushy.

Why is my beef still tough after 8 hours in the slow cooker? ›

The meat was overcooked: Slow cookers are known for their ability to tenderize meat, but if the meat is cooked for too long, it can become overcooked and tough.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Should I stir my slow cooker stew? ›

Due to the nature of a slow cooker, there is no need to stir the food unless it specifically says to in your recipe. In fact, taking the lid off to stir food causes the slow cooker to lose a significant amount of heat, extending the cooking time required. Therefore, it is best not to remove the lid for stirring.

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The secret to tender beef stew is to keep the pot at a gentle simmer the entire time so the connective tissues in the beef have a chance to break down and soften.

Why add vinegar to beef stew? ›

Tough stew meat will take a couple of hours to get tender, and the vinegar helps this happen as well as add special flavor. Then add the onions, carrots, celery, Brussels sprouts etc and cook until the vegetables are the way you like them.

Should beef stew be thick or soupy? ›

Even the best home cook has stared down into a simmering pot of stew and realized it looked more like soup! Sure, a bowl of soup can be comforting, but a true stew in all its glory should be rich and thick in consistency.

Does liquid need to cover in slow cooker? ›

There is no need to cover the meat in liquid when cooking with a slow cooker, you only need enough liquid to cover the base of the slow cooker as the meat and vegetables will release liquid as they cook.

Does all food need to be covered in liquid in slow cooker? ›

A slow cooker does not need any liquid added at the beginning of the cooking process, because it will generate steam, which will become liquid in the bowl. For recipes that use liquid, and have not been written specifically for a slow cooker it make sense to reduce the amount of liquid by half.

Does a stew need to be covered with water? ›

For stews that will be simmered on the stove or in the oven, you'll want enough liquid to cover the ingredients in the pot by about an inch. If preparing in a slow-cooker or multi-cooker, you can add less liquid since the tight seal on the lid reduces evaporation.

Does beef stew need to be covered in liquid? ›

This is a slow-cooking method, similar to braising, with the key difference being the beef is covered in liquid. Stewing is best done in a heavy stockpot or Dutch oven on the stovetop or in the oven, or in a slow-cooker.

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