Genuine Slow-Cooked Beef Stew
A deeply flavorful stew with fall-apart beef and root vegetables, made with no artificial shortcuts to capture true comfort. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 370 minutes pairs Chuck roast, medium Carrots, Rounded potatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Chuck roast
- 4 medium Carrots
- 1 lb Rounded potatoes
- 2 large Yellow onions
- 4 Garlic cloves
- 4 cups Beef broth
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dried thyme
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tbsp All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 2 lbs chuck roast dry with paper towels, then season with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering, then sear beef for 5 minutes per side until deeply browned.
- Step 2: Remove beef and set aside. Add 4 medium sliced carrots, 2 large chopped onions, and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes until onions are translucent and fragrant, stirring constantly.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute until darkened, then add 4 cups beef broth, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tsp dried thyme. Return beef to pot and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Step 4: Cover and simmer on low heat for 3 hours, then add 1 lb peeled and cubed potatoes. Cover and cook for 45 more minutes until potatoes are tender. For thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp all-purpose flour with 2 tbsp cold water, stir into stew, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until glossy and thickened.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Genuine Slow-Cooked Beef Stew take to make?
Total time is about 370 minutes (25 min prep + 345 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Genuine Slow-Cooked Beef Stew?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep chuck roast from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Genuine Slow-Cooked Beef Stew?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Genuine Slow-Cooked Beef Stew for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Genuine Slow-Cooked Beef Stew?
American slow cooker like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Kids gobbled it up without complaints — that's a 5-star in my book.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★☆☆☆
Didn't come together the way I expected. Flavors were flat.
