Hearty Slow-Cooked Beef & Vegetable Stew
A deeply flavorful stew with tender beef, root vegetables, and aromatic herbs, simmered to perfection in your slow cooker for a comforting weeknight meal. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 375 minutes pairs stew beef, all-purpose flour, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, 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
- 1.5 lbs stew beef
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, diced onion
- 3, peeled and sliced carrots
- 3 stalks, sliced celery
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 cup (canned, undrained) diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2, peeled and cubed potatoes
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat stew beef dry with paper towels, then season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Toss with 3 tbsp all-purpose flour until evenly coated.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear beef in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until browned, then transfer to slow cooker.
- Step 3: Add diced onion to skillet, sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in sliced carrots, celery, and minced garlic, cooking for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Step 4: Pour beef broth and diced tomatoes (with juice) into skillet, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute, then pour over beef in slow cooker.
- Step 5: Add dried thyme, bay leaf, and remaining 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Stir in cubed potatoes, cover, and cook on low for 6 hours.
- Step 6: Discard bay leaf, stir in frozen peas, and cook for 15 minutes more until peas are heated through and potatoes are tender.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Hearty Slow-Cooked Beef & Vegetable Stew take to make?
Total time is about 375 minutes (15 min prep + 360 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 Hearty Slow-Cooked Beef & Vegetable 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 stew beef from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Hearty Slow-Cooked Beef & Vegetable 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 Hearty Slow-Cooked Beef & Vegetable Stew for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 Hearty Slow-Cooked Beef & Vegetable 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
- ★★★★★
My partner, who's usually picky, absolutely loved this.
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★★
Brought this to a potluck and it was the first dish to disappear.
