Add 2 pounds stew meat, 16 oz frozen mixed vegetables, 1 cup chopped celery, ½ diced onion, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, 2 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 bay leaf, 3–4 peeled and diced potatoes, and 3 cups beef broth to the crock pot.
Stir everything together until well combined.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
One hour before the cooking time is complete, whisk together 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp water in a small bowl until smooth.
Stir the cornstarch mixture into the crock pot to thicken the broth.
Cover and continue cooking for the remaining 1 hour.
If using biscuits, bake 1 can (16.3 oz) refrigerated biscuits according to the package instructions.
Ladle the beef stew into serving bowls and top each serving with a baked biscuit, if desired.