Description
A comforting and hearty slow cooker beef stew recipe that brings warmth and joy to the dinner table.
Ingredients
- Beef chuck: 2 lbs, cut into 1-inch cubes
- Carrots: 4 medium, sliced into rounds
- Potatoes: 4 medium, peeled and diced
- Onions: 2 medium, chopped
- Garlic: 4 cloves, minced
- Beef broth: 4 cups
- Tomato paste: 2 tablespoons
- Worcestershire sauce: 2 tablespoons
- Dried thyme: 1 teaspoon
- Bay leaves: 2
- Salt: 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)
- Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon (adjust to taste)
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons (for browning the beef)
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients by cutting the beef, slicing the carrots, peeling and dicing the potatoes, chopping the onions, and mincing the garlic.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat, season beef with salt and pepper, and brown the beef on all sides for about 5-7 minutes.
- Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker.
- Sauté onions and garlic in the same skillet for 2-3 minutes until translucent, then add to the slow cooker along with carrots and potatoes.
- Mix beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves in a bowl, then pour over the ingredients in the slow cooker and stir gently.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through. Remove bay leaves before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding a splash of red wine or fresh herbs before serving.
- Let the stew sit for 30 minutes after cooking to allow flavors to meld.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: slow cooker, beef stew, comfort food, hearty meal