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There is nothing better on a cold day than comfort food. Our go to comfort food is this Quick & Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe and its one of my favorite slow cooker recipes.

Beef Stew in a black bowl
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I love making stews in the Fall and Winter time but they can be a lot of work to make on the stove top.  Making a beef stew in the crock pot is simple and easy to do and the flavor is even better!

This was SO good! Quite possibly the best thing we’ve made in our crock pot yet. We’ll definitely do this again.

-Elissa P

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It is a simple beef stew that can be thrown in the crock pot and slow cooked all day. You come home to a house smelling of this amazing crock pot recipe full of tender chunks of beef and tender veggies. It is the perfect meal on a cold and chilly day. My family loves this recipe because of the way it taste, savory flavors and the fork tender veggies and meat.

If you like this recipe, make this Irish Beef Stew Recipe.

Ingredients

Ingredients - Stew meat, green beans, carrots, russet potatoes, onion, bay leaves, crushed tomatoes, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper
  • Stew Meat – The best meat for this stew is chuck steak. I like finding the stew meat that is already cut up, and it will specifically say on the package stew meat.
  • Frozen Green Beans – You can also use frozen peas.
  • Whole Carrots – Chopped in bite size pieces. You can also use the baby carrots.
  • Russet Potatoes – Cut in small pieces. You can also use red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes. But we think the best potatoes are Russet.
  • Onion, chopped – You can chop these onions in smaller pieces or larger slices. It is up to you. My kids prefer that they are cut in smaller pieces.
  • Crushed Tomatoes – You can also stew tomatoes as well. Use what you have.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – This adds a some extra flavor. You can always omit this ingredient if you don’t have any.

That is all you need to make this delicious and easy crock pot beef stew. Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

How to Make Easy Crockpot Beef Stew

A slow cooker, perfect for a delicious Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe, is filled with chopped carrots, onions, and green peppers. Nearby sit small dishes of pepper and bay leaves, a can of tomatoes, a glass of water, and a bowl of dark sauce on the dark surface.

Step 1 – First in a 6 quart crock pot, place the stew meat and the potatoes on the bottom. Then place the green beans, onions, and carrots on top.

A slow cooker filled with fresh ingredients, including raw carrot sticks, diced tomatoes, spices, and additional vegetables for a hearty Crock Pot beef stew recipe. A small white dish with a bay leaf is placed nearby on the dark countertop.

Step 2 – Pour the crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce  and the water  on top.  Next season all the ingredients with the salt and pepper. Stir in the bay leaves.

A slow cooker filled with chopped carrots, onions, tomatoes, and seasonings, just right for a Crock Pot beef stew recipe. It has a black exterior and a glass lid that reveals the colorful ingredients inside. The cooker sits on a dark countertop, ready to transform these components into culinary delight.

Step 3 – Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.  Each crock pot cooks differently so watch it closely toward the end of the cover cooking time.  You’ll know it’s ready when the beef is tender and the potatoes are soft.

A black slow cooker showcases a delicious Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe, with tender chunks of beef, carrots, potatoes, and green beans all mingling in a rich broth. The ingredients are beautifully mixed and visible from above.

Step 4 – Allow the beef stew to sit in the crock pot  for a few minutes before serving. Remove the bay leaves. Serve warm and enjoy.  That’s all that is needed to make this quick and best beef stew recipe.

Beef Stew in the slow cooker with a wooden spoon
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Beef Stew in a bowl

Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe

4.93 from 177 votes
Quick & Easy Crock pot Beef Stew Recipe – A Simple beef stew recipe that is packed with flavor. Try this easy beef stew crock pot recipe.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6
Cuisine American
Course Crock Pot, Main Course, Soup
Calories 422
Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • In a 6 quart crock pot, place the stew meat and the potatoes on the bottom.
  • Place the green beans, onions, and carrots on top.
  • Pour the crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce and the water on top. Season with the salt and pepper. Stir in the bay leaves.
  • Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or high for 3.5-4 hours.
  • Allow it to sit for a few minutes and remove the bay leaves. Serve warm and enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

To make it even better, serve it along side some delicious homemade cornbread.

Tips and Tricks

  • Type of Beef – I usually use stew meat for this recipe, but you can also use beef chuck roast diced into 1 inch pieces if you your grocery store is out of stew meat.
  • Vegetables – Also, use whatever veggies you love and have on hand.  I love using carrots, potatoes and green beans.  But this recipe would also be delicious with sweet potatoes, celery or peas instead.  
  • Prepare Vegetables – Try to cut the vegetables about the same size so they cook evenly and do not become mushy.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 422kcal, Carbohydrates 36g, Protein 47g, Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 3g, Cholesterol 117mg, Sodium 541mg, Potassium 1673mg, Fiber 6g, Sugar 9g, Vitamin A 5816IU, Vitamin C 26mg, Calcium 132mg, Iron 7mg

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Serving Suggestions

I love serving this delicious and easy beef stew recipe with my easy cornbread recipe. This recipe is simple to throw together in no time at all.  There is nothing better than serving a perfect beef stew over a piece of cornbread.

I love cornbread so I have more than just one recipe.

Here are some other delicious and easy cornbread recipes that you can make to go with this stew recipe.

However, if you’re not a fan of cornbread, this would also be delicious served with homemade dinner rolls or these delicious Kings Hawaiian Rolls.

Storage and Reheating Tips

  • Fridge – We love leftover slow cooker beef stew. I think all the flavors really marinate well together making the next day beef stew even better. The beef stew will last about 3-4 days in the refrigerator in a airtight container.
  • Freezer – Yes, you can also freeze your leftovers in a freezer safe container. I try to plan for extras as the beef stew makes for a great lunch for my husband. It will last about 4 months in the freezer so I know that I can plan on him having a great lunch. See Crockpot Freezer Meals for all the tips.
  • Reheating – We like to reheat the stew on the stovetop if I am reheating a large quantity. You will simmer in a saucepan over medium heat until it is heat thoroughly.
  • If I am heating a bowl for myself, I will just reheat in the microwave. It takes about 2 minutes and I can enjoy a warm beef stew.
Beef Stew in a bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need to Brown Meat First?

The meat does not need to be browned before it’s added to the slow cooker.  Some people  think that coating the stew meat in a flour mixture and browning it (and deglazing the pan) before adding it to the crock pot adds a flavor to the stew and the flour thickens the sauce.
I have tried it both ways and I don’t think it’s worth the time and dishes that it takes to brown the meat before adding it to the crock pot, so I skip this step.
If you have a multi-cooker slow cooker that works as a stove top and crock pot than it would be easy to brown the meat on the sauté setting, then add in the other ingredients after you have browned the beef and switch it to the slow cooker setting.

How Much Water Do I Need To Add?

I use 2 cups of water in the slow cooker for this easy beef stew recipe.  I don’t like my stews to be soupy but I do want some liquid in the meal so through trial and error I have found that this is the just the right amount of liquid for the stews I’ve made.
This recipe is packed with flavor so I generally just use water for this recipe. However, its a great idea to add in beef broth, beef bouillon, or red wine to add more flavor to this stew recipe.

Is it Better to Cook Stew on Low or High in Slow Cooker?

We like to cook on low because we think it helps to tenderize the meat. But if you are short on time, cooking on high works great too.

How to Thicken Beef Stew

Once the stew is done, if the gravy is too watery, add a cornstarch slurry to the crock pot to thicken beef stew.  To make the corn starch slurry, I combine approximately ¼ cup of cold water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.
Then stir this mixture into the beef stew, cover and cook on high for 30 minutes to thicken the stew. Then serve the thickened beef stew over your favorite corn bread and enjoy!

Can I Make Beef Stew in the Instant Pot?

This recipe can be made in an electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe is perfect for when you forget to throw the ingredients in the crock pot that morning. We have even made it in a dutch oven over medium-high heat.

More Easy Stew Recipes

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.

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Comments

  1. Linda says:

    You list 2 bay leaves in the ingredients but you don’t say to add them in the instructions. Just thought I would let you know. I’m making this tonight for Halloween and having friends over. Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      Linda – Thank you so much for letting me know! I have updated the recipe and I hope you enjoyed it on Halloween!

      Reply
  2. Rachel Fiechter says:

    I only have canned green beans. Will this change the timing?

    Reply
    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      Rachel – Canned green beans will get soften quicker in the crock pot. I recommend adding them in for the last 30 minutes of the cooking time only so that they still hold their shape and are heated through.

      Reply
  3. Amy says:

    Coukd you use beef broth in place of the water?

    Reply
    1. Kathy - Eating on a Dime Team says:

      Hey Amy! yes, you can swap the water for broth.

      Reply

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