Description
This hearty slow cooker beef stew recipe brings comfort from the first spoonful to the last. Rich beef, tender vegetables, and savory broth create a satisfying meal you’ll savor with joy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 cups beef broth
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsps olive oil (for searing)
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- 2 tbsps water (for thickening, optional)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly coat beef cubes with seasoned flour, ensuring comprehensive coverage for maximum flavor absorption and ideal textural development.
- Searing: Heat olive oil in a skillet and meticulously brown beef chunks, creating a caramelized exterior that intensifies the stew’s depth and complexity.
- Layering: Strategically arrange carrots, potatoes, onions, and minced garlic in the slow cooker, distributing aromatic ingredients to ensure balanced flavor throughout the dish.
- Flavor Enhancement: Blend tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, fresh thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf into the mixture, amplifying the meat’s inherent richness and creating a sophisticated flavor profile.
- Liquid Integration: Gently pour beef broth over the ingredients, delicately stirring to harmonize all components and establish a robust cooking foundation.
- Slow Cooking: Simmer the stew on low temperature for 7-8 hours, allowing meat fibers to break down completely and develop intensely mellow, complex flavors.
- Finishing Touches: Introduce a cornstarch slurry to incrementally thicken the stew, transforming the liquid into a luxurious, silky consistency while stirring gently.
- Final Addition: Incorporate frozen peas during the last cooking moments, infusing the dish with vibrant color and a burst of fresh flavor.
- Presentation: Extract the bay leaf and garnish with freshly chopped parsley, creating a visually stunning and aromatic meal perfect for serving with crusty artisan bread.
Notes
- Select Meat Wisely: Choose chuck roast or stew meat with good marbling for maximum tenderness and rich flavor during slow cooking.
- Flour Coating Technique: Pat beef dry before flouring to ensure crisp, even browning and prevent soggy texture in the final stew.
- Searing is Crucial: Never skip the browning step, as it develops complex caramelized flavors that transform the entire dish from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Liquid Balance: Use just enough broth to cover ingredients, preventing a watery consistency and maintaining intense flavor concentration.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg