Johnson's Slow-Cooked Beef Stew
A deeply flavorful stew with fall-apart tender beef, root vegetables, and a rich broth, slow-cooked to develop complex savory notes. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 175 minutes pairs beef chuck, potatoes, carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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
- 2 lbs beef chuck
- 2 cups potatoes
- 2 cups carrots
- 1 cup onion
- 1 cup celery
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 bay leaf
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 2 lbs cubed beef chuck dry with paper towels, then season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and sear beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply browned.
- Step 2: Add 1 cup chopped onion and 1 cup diced celery to the Dutch oven, sautéing for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste and cook for 1 minute until fragrant and darkened.
- Step 3: Add 2 cups diced potatoes, 2 cups diced carrots, 4 cups beef broth, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, and 2 bay leaves. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 2.5 hours until beef is fork-tender.
- Step 4: Discard bay leaves, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with crusty bread.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Johnson's Slow-Cooked Beef Stew take to make?
Total time is about 175 minutes (25 min prep + 150 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 Johnson's 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 beef chuck from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Johnson's 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 Johnson's Slow-Cooked Beef 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 Johnson's 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
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★☆☆
Okay for a quick meal. I've had better slow cooker dishes though.
- ★★☆☆☆
Followed exactly and it was underwhelming. Maybe my expectations were too high.
