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.

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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.

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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.

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Old Fashioned Beef Stew Slow Cooker

How to make the best slow cooker beef stew recipe

Ultimate slow cooker beef stew recipe made the old fashioned way

4.36 from 17 votes

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Old Fashioned Crockpot Beef Stew

Old fashioned beef stew recipe prepared in a slow cooker

Prep Time20

Cook Time8

Total Time8 20

Calories: 580kcal

Author: Julia Jordan | Julia’s Simply Southern

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

Cut the roast, removing any excess fat if needed.
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.
Next, add the shortening to a large skillet and heat over medium.
Brown the meat pieces on all sides, in batches, then add to the Crockpot.
Reserve the excess flour to thicken the stew at the end of cooking.
Next, add the canned tomatoes, green beans, carrots, potatoes, celery, bay leaf, thyme and chili sauce to the Crockpot.
Season the stew mixture with salt and pepper. Stir to combine the ingredients together.
Add 2 cups of water to the stew mixture then cover and turn the Crockpot on the low setting and cook 8-10 hours.
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.

Recommended Products

Soup Crocks with Handles, Ceramic Make, Soup, Chilli, by KooK, 22oz, Set of 4 (White)

Heinz Chili Sauce,12oz, (Pack of 3)

Crock-Pot SCV800-B, 8-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Black

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

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

Julia - author and publisher of Julia's Simply Southern Food Blog Recipes

About Julia

Hey Y’all! I’m Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia’s Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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