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Old Fashioned Crockpot Beef Stew

In this post I’m sharing how to make Old Fashioned Crockpot Beef Stew.

Beef stew is a classic comfort food and it couldn’t be easier to make than letting your slow cooker do most of the work for you.

Wouldn’t it be nice to come home after a long day and have dinner ready for you when you get there?

This time of year as the days get shorter and we’re heading into fall seems to put folks in the mood for good old fashioned comfort food.

Beef stew happens to be one of the hubs favorite meals, in particular his sisters beef stew, which is very delicious. I can’t compete with it so I set out to make my own version, a slow cooker version, and I must say it turned out well.

 

 

Crockpot Beef Stew with Gravy

Ultimate slow cooker beef stew with gravy

Beef stew cooks to perfection in the slow cooker and on the back end you add a bit of a thickening slurry to make a nice gravy sauce that we’ve all come to love about this stew.

Can you put raw beef in the slow cooker? You can but in keeping with a traditional beef stew recipe, the beef in my recipe is dredged in seasoned flour and browned in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker.

Can you overcook beef stew? It is easier to overcook beef stew when cooking in a dutch oven than a slow cooker. The vegetables hold up better in your slow cooker and don’t get mushy. 

How do you make beef stew meat tender? Cutting up a chuck roast, which has a good fat ratio, ensures tender meat bites in this stew.

Best Ever Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Classic old fashioned beef stew recipe cooked in a Crockpot

I consider beef stew to be a complete meal and enjoy it with a side of fresh baked cornbread. The hubs prefers it served over white rice.

Since there are just two of us, we usually enjoy leftovers the next day and I freeze whatever is left in portions for additional meals.

How do I thicken my slow cooker stew? You’ll use a slurry mixture, just as you would when cooking on the stove top, during the last half hour of cooking to thicken the stew.

Old Fashioned Beef Stew Slow Cooker

How to make the best slow cooker beef stew recipe

Old Fashioned Crockpot Beef Stew

Ultimate slow cooker beef stew recipe made the old fashioned way

Old fashioned beef stew recipe prepared in a slow cooker

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 c All Purpose Flour
  • 2 lb Chuck Roast, cut into 1" pieces
  • 3 tbs Shortening or Cooking Oil
  • 5 Medium Carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 Medium Russet Potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 14.5 oz Canned Diced Tomatoes, with the juice
  • 14.5 oz Canned Cut Green Beans, drained
  • 1/2 c Diced Onion
  • 1/4 c Chopped Celery
  • 12 oz Chili Sauce (can substitute ketchup if needed)
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1 tsp Fresh Thyme Leaves
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • 2.5 c Water, divided

Instructions

  1. Cut the roast, removing any excess fat if needed.
  2. Add the flour to a large plastic food storage bag, season with salt and pepper, then add the meat pieces. Close the bag and shake to dredge.
  3. Next, add the shortening to a large skillet and heat over medium.
  4. Brown the meat pieces on all sides, in batches, then add to the Crockpot.
  5. Reserve the excess flour to thicken the stew at the end of cooking.
  6. Next, add the canned tomatoes, green beans, carrots, potatoes, celery, bay leaf, thyme and chili sauce to the Crockpot.
  7. Season the stew mixture with salt and pepper. Stir to combine the ingredients together.
  8. Add 2 cups of water to the stew mixture then cover and turn the Crockpot on the low setting and cook 8-10 hours.
  9. The last 30 minutes of cooking, combine 1/4 cup of the reserved flour mixture with 1/2 cup of water and whisk to form a slurry mixture then pour into the stew mixture. Stir to combine and allow to simmer until thickened.

Notes

Stew may be cooled and frozen in portions for additional meals.

Recipe may be cooked in the slow cooker on a high setting for 4-5 hours or until the vegetables are tender.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 580Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 1067mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 8gSugar: 20gProtein: 44g

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy a warm bowl of this Old Fashioned Crockpot Beef Stew soon. Be sure to share the recipe and sign up for our newsletter so you never miss a new recipe post.

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See this recipe shared at: Weekend Potluck and Meal Plan Monday.

Meet Julia

Author of Julia's Simply Southern

Sharing is Caring

Barbara Miller

Sunday 13th of August 2023

I would never have thought to use the chili sauce. I'll be giving this a try soon. All of your recipes are so yummy. TY

Julia Jordan

Monday 14th of August 2023

Thank you so much, Barbara! It is a great old timey stew and I hope that you enjoy it.

Miz Helen

Tuesday 24th of September 2019

Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,450. Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us soon! Miz Helen

Mary

Sunday 22nd of September 2019

I have never put chili sauce or ketchup in my beef stew. What does it do for the taste?

Julia Jordan

Sunday 22nd of September 2019

The chili sauce (or ketchup) adds additional rich flavor to the stew and gravy sauce. It's worth a try if you've never made it that way, although if you prefer not to use that ingredient you don't have to.

Carlee

Saturday 21st of September 2019

Mmm! A bowl of beef stew and a nice biscuit sounds delicious right about now. I am so ready for soup and stew season.

Jan

Monday 23rd of September 2019

Love beef stew! My recipe is pretty much same ad yours, except I use a little dash or two of worchestershire sauce and substitute beef broth along with a couple of tbsp of tomato paste stirred up in the broth. Gives stew a great flavor. Can't beat it on a cold day!

Julia Jordan

Sunday 22nd of September 2019

I'm so ready for all of the comforting foods of fall myself.

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