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Soups and stews are some of the most popular dishes to cook in a Crockpot. This chunky slow cooker beef stew makes a cozy, tasty, and hearty meal the whole family will enjoy. Tender bites of juicy beef and vegetables are the stars of the dish, along with flavors like mustard, paprika, garlic, oregano, thyme, and mushroom soup. This classic winter warmer dish is something you’ll crave again and again, as it’s so flavorful and satisfying. You will love digging into this classic comfort food after a long day!

Treat your taste buds to this rich and hearty slow cooker beef stew. It’s super-simple to make and boasts the most amazing flavors in every bite.
Also try this slow cooker chicken stew, Mexican shredded beef, a meatball stew or this mouthwatering Italian pasta and chickpea stew.
Why You’ll Love It
So easy to make: There isn’t much more to do than simply brown your beef and add it to the crockpot with the other ingredients. It’s such a straightforward stew recipe to make.
Offers hearty, rich flavors: This is the kind of meal it’s always nice to cozy up with. Beef stew in a crockpot is a popular comfort food.
A seasonal favorite: When it’s cold outside, beef stew is one of the best dishes to warm you back up.
Crowd-pleasing: Make a big crockpot full of beef stew if you have guests coming over. The whole family will love this tasty beef stew, even the pickier ones!
Crockpot Beef Stew Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Beef chuck: Beef chuck works well in traditional beef stew but you can use any kind of stew meat you want.
Seasonings: Mustard, garlic and paprika add plenty of flavor to the stew.
Chicken broth: Chicken broth (or chicken stock) are used in this recipe rather than beef broth or beef stock because it has a lighter flavor. You can use beef broth instead if you want to.
Potatoes: Red potatoes are good, or you can use golden potatoes or russet potatoes.
Carrots: I peel mine but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.
Celery: You can omit this if you aren’t a fan.
Red onion: Use red or yellow onion, whichever you have.
Mushroom soup: To add flavor and also make the stew’s sauce. Feel free to use different soup if you prefer, although I find the combo of golden mushroom and beefy mushroom works really well.
Oregano and thyme: These robust-tasting dried herbs add flavor.
Worcestershire sauce: This adds a meaty flavor.
How to Make This Easy Beef Stew Recipe
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Coat and brown the beef: Toss the beef cubes in flour and then in the mustard, garlic, salt, paprika, and black pepper. Brown (in oil if needed) in a skillet for a few minutes and then transfer into a bowl.
Deglaze the skillet: Add some of the chicken broth to the skillet and scrape up any stuck-on bits using a wooden spoon.
Add ingredients to the crockpot: Add the onion, carrot, celery, and potatoes to your slow cooker. Add the browned beef on top. Pour over the mixture from the skillet. Add the soups, Worcestershire sauce and dried herbs.
Cook the crock pot beef stew: Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 5 to 6 hours.
Thicken the stew: This step is optional. Make a cornstarch slurry and mix it into the stew, then cook on high until thickened. Serve hot.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free soups. Cornstarch is naturally gluten-free.
Different vegetables: Turnips, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, acorn squash, pumpkin, and radishes all work in this stew, so choose whichever you prefer. You could add some frozen peas or green beans.
Tomato paste: A tablespoon of tomato paste adds a tomato flavor to the delicious beef stew.
Another kind of meat: Any stew meat, beef or otherwise, will work.
Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes, chili powder or a splash of hot sauce.
Add bacon: Add some bacon bits (kids love this variation!)
Make it deluxe: Serve with freshly sauteed mushrooms and onions.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Start your meal with cowboy sliders or this farinata flatbread.
Side dishes: Serve the crockpot beef stew with roasted Brussels sprouts and crusty bread.
Desserts: Finish your meal with s’mores brownies or some fun waffle cookies.
How to Store Beef Stew
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove.
Top Tips
Don’t skip browning the beef: This adds a crust to each chunk of beef which enhances the beefy taste, sealing in the seasonings and moisture. Browning the meat is optional but I recommend you do it, for the tastiest beef stew.
Brown the meat in batches if you need to: Don’t overcrowd the skillet, otherwise the beef won’t brown all over.
Deglaze the pan: There will be some stuck-on bits on the pan. Deglazing means adding liquid and using a wooden spoon to scrape up all those stuck-on flavorful bits!
Slow Cooker Beef Stew FAQs
If you’re using a nonstick pan you don’t have to use oil. If not, it’s best to use oil so it doesn’t stick too much. You can use any kind of cooking oil.
It will have reached 165°F and no longer be tough and chewy. I usually just taste a piece or see if I can pierce it easily with a knife.
No, this is an optional step. Some people prefer their stew thicker, so use your own judgement. You can mix corn starch and water to make a cornstarch slurry. This works as a thickener in many slow cooker recipes.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Equipment
- Pot Large
Ingredients
- 1 or 2 Tablespoons oil, optional
- 2½ Pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 Teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon ground paprika
- ¼ Teaspoon ground black pepper, optional
- 4 Cups chicken broth
- 4 carrots, medium, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 red onion, large, cut into wedges
- 3 Sticks celery, cut into chunks
- 2 Pounds red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch pieces or quarters depending on size
- 10½ Ounces golden mushroom soup
- 10½ Ounces beefy mushroom soup
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ Teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ Teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch, optional
Instructions
- Put the cubed beef in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the flour and toss to coat every piece.
- Sprinkle in the dry mustard, garlic powder, salt, paprika, and pepper, and mix to coat.
- In a large skillet, over a medium-high heat, brown the meat for 1½ to 2 minutes per side (you can use oil or not – your choice).
- Once the beef is all browned, transfer it into a bowl or plate and set aside.
- Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth and simmer briefly to deglaze the pan, scraping up any stuck-on bits with a wooden spoon.
- Add the onion, carrots, celery, and potatoes to the slow cooker.
- Add the beef on top of the vegetables.
- Pour in the chicken broth mixture from the pan.
- In a small bowl, mix the golden mushroom and beef mushroom soups with the Worcestershire sauce, oregano, and thyme.
- Pour this mixture over the beef in the slow cooker and mix.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 5 or 6 hours.
- Once the meat is cooked (check it’s above 165°F) and the potatoes and vegetables are tender, you can serve the stew or thicken it up.
- To thicken it up, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of hot water. Add this to the slow cooker, mix well and let it cook, uncovered, for an additional 15 minutes on high.
Notes
Brown the meat in batches if you need to: Don’t overcrowd the skillet, otherwise the beef won’t brown all over.
Deglaze the pan: There will be some stuck-on bits on the pan. Deglazing means adding liquid and using a wooden spoon to scrape up all those stuck-on flavorful bits!
Nutrition
Making beef stew in a slow cooker is so easy and this mouthwatering slow cooker beef stew is sure to be a hit at the dinner table. It’s full of rich and hearty flavors, tender meat and veggies, which the whole family will love, and is definitely one of the best beef stew recipes. Serve this beef stew with crusty bread or any other sides you want. A bowl of beef stew is a lovely, cozy dish for a chilly evening.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Why would you use chicken broth in a beef dish? Not a bad dish, it tastes good. but it needs more vegies(cabage, fresh mushrooms) and some tomato paste will thicken it without the starch.
I’ve tried it both ways and like both, although I especially like the way chicken broth gives the dish a lighter overall flavor. Thanks for the tips, it’s always fun to experiment and make recipes your own.
This beef stew was perfect for a cozy night in. My family couldn’t get enough!
The slow cooker beef stew was amazing—so hearty and flavorful! Definitely making it this winter.
So easy to throw together before going to work. I was worried it would be salty but it wasn’t at all. Delish!