The Best Slow-Cooked Beef Stew
A hearty, fall-off-the-bone beef stew simmered for hours with vegetables and herbs, creating a rich, comforting dish that's the best comfort food for chilly evenings. This american-inspired beef ready in about 500 minutes pairs cut into 1-inch cubes stew beef, large, diced onion, medium, peeled and sliced carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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, cut into 1-inch cubes stew beef
- 1 large, diced onion
- 3 medium, peeled and sliced carrots
- 2 stalks, diced celery
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp rosemary
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 medium, peeled and cubed potatoes
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Step 1: Season 2 pounds stew beef cubes with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Dredge in 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
- Step 2: In a slow cooker, combine 1 diced onion, 3 sliced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Place the floured beef on top.
- Step 3: Add 4 cups beef broth, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon rosemary. Stir to combine.
- Step 4: Cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in 3 cubed potatoes and cook for an additional 30 minutes. Stir in 1 cup frozen peas and cook for 10 more minutes until vegetables are tender.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does The Best Slow-Cooked Beef Stew take to make?
Total time is about 500 minutes (20 min prep + 480 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 The Best 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 large, diced onion from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in The Best 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 The Best 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 The Best Slow-Cooked Beef Stew?
American beef 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
- ★★★★★
Substituted chicken for tofu and it worked beautifully.
- ★★★★★
Doubled the garlic (as one does) and it was amazing.
- ★★★★☆
Good flavors but the sauce was a bit thin. I'd reduce it longer.
