Mom's best ever slow cooker beef stew recipe cooked to perfection with dry red wine, plenty of garlic & herbs and tender carrots and potatoes. This easy beef stew recipe is just like the classic one you grew up with and makes a delicious, protein-packed dinner the whole family will love!
3poundsbeef chuck, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1 inch pieces (about 2 1/2 pounds when done)
Freshly ground salt and pepper
1 ½cupsbeef broth (or beef bone broth)
1cupdry red wine (or sub extra beef broth)
2tablespoonstomato paste
1tablespoonworcestershire sauce
½tablespoonbalsamic vinegar
1teaspoondried thyme
1teaspoonsalt
Lots of freshly ground black pepper
6garlic cloves, minced
1large yellow onion, cut into chunks
4large carrots (or 5 medium), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch diagonal slices
1poundyukon gold potatoes, diced into ½ inch cubes
¼cupall purpose flour (or sub all purpose gluten free flour)
1cupfrozen peas
Instructions
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large skillet and place over medium high heat. Add beef, season with salt and pepper and brown in batches, so that you give the meat room for a nice sear. This should take about 5 minute per batch of meat. Transfer to large 6 or 8-quart slow cooker.
Next add in beef broth, dry red wine, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, thyme and salt and pepper. Stir together with the beef until combined, then add in garlic, onion chunks, carrots and diced potatoes. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. I prefer to cook this slow and low so that the beef become really tender and the flavors have time to meld together.
Next, remove 1 cup of beef broth from the slow cooker and transfer to a medium bowl. Whisk in ¼ cup flour until there aren’t any lumps remaining. Add back to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Add in frozen peas and cook uncovered on HIGH for 10-15 more minutes until beef stew thickens up a bit. Serve immediately with toasted french bread, cornbread, crackers, or biscuits. Serves 6.
Notes
Feel free to use beef broth instead of red wine if that's what you prefer.To store: store any leftover crock pot beef stew in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop.To freeze: let the beef stew cool completely, transfer it to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, let the slow cooker beef stew thaw in the refrigerator overnight before heating it in the microwave or on the stovetop.