This Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipes is loaded with tender chunks of beef, hearty vegetables, and a rich gravy thatโs pure comfort in a bowl. And the best part? Itโs as easy as can beโjust toss everything in the Crock Pot and let it work its magic!

Thereโs nothing quite like coming home to the smell of a hearty beef stew simmering away in the CrockPot. Itโs like a big ol’ hug after a long day! This recipe is packed with fork tender beef, chunky veggies, and a rich gravy thatโll have everyone asking for seconds. And, guess what? You donโt even have to babysit itโit practically cooks itself!

Why Youโll Love This Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Itโsย super easyย to make. Just set it and forget it.
- Loaded withย crazy tender beef, hearty veggies, and savory gravy, itโs perfect for chilly evenings.
- Great forย meal prepโit tastes even better the next day.
- Family-friendly and perfect for bothย weeknight suppersย and lazy weekends.

Recipe FAQs
Q: Do I have to brown the meat before adding it to the slow cooker?ย
Technically, no. But if you want that deep, rich flavor, browning is the way to go. Skipping this step means you’ll miss out on those yummy caramelized bits that make beef stew next-level delicious.
Q: Can I throw in frozen veggies?ย
Sure thing! Just keep in mind that frozen veggies, like frozen peas, might get a little mushier than fresh ones. If that doesnโt bother you, go for it! Add them in during the last hour or so to keep them from disintegrating into stew soup.
Q: Whatโs the best cut of beef for stew?ย
I love the convenience of using stew meat for the best beef stew. It’s affordable and already cut into chunks. The problem, of course, is that it can be a little inconsistently sized and isn’t always the best cuts of beef. Neither of these things negates the use of stew meat in my book because the long, slow cook tenderizes it all beautifully. However, you can absolutely opt for a beef chuck roast and cut it into chunks yourself. With that being said, any tougher cut, like brisket or round, works well because the low and slow cooking breaks down all those fibers, turning them tender and juicy.
Q: Can I use water instead of broth?ย
You can, but I wouldnโt recommend it. Beef broth adds so much more flavor! If youโre in a pinch, water with a bouillon cube or beef base can work as a substitute.
Q: Why is my gravy too thin?ย
If your stew is looking more like soup, you can thicken it by mixing a little flour or cornstarch with water and stirring it in during the last 30 minutes. Or just let it cook uncovered for a bit longer to reduce the liquid.
Q: Can I make this ahead of time?ย
Absolutely! Beef stew only gets better as it sits. Make it a day ahead and store it in the fridgeโjust reheat it gently when youโre ready to serve. It also freezes beautifully for up to three months in an airtight container.

Serving Suggestions
- Serve withย crusty breadย orย buttermilk cornbreadย to soak up all that delicious broth.
- Aย fresh green saladย on the side makes it a complete meal.

Storage and Reheating Tips
- Fridge:ย Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up toย 4 days.
- Freezer:ย This stew freezes beautifully. Cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up toย 3 months.
- Reheating:ย Gently reheat on the stovetop over low heat, or pop a bowl in the microwave.

This Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe is everything comfort food should beโeasy, hearty, and packed with flavor. Whether youโre making it for a laid-back weekend supper or meal prepping for the week, itโs a recipe youโll come back to again and again. Itโs a reminder that sometimes the simplest things bring us the most comfort.
Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat
- salt
- pepper
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large potatoes (peeled and chopped)
- 4 large carrots (peeled and chopped)
- 3 ribs celery (chopped)
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 (.87 to 1.0-ounce) packets brown gravy mix
Instructions
- Add the beef to a large zip-top bag. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Add the flour to the bag, close, and toss to coat.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Work in batches to sear the beef on all sides. Set aside.
- Spray the slow cooker nonstick cooking spray. Place potatoes on bottom, then layer carrots, then celery, browned meat, and then onions on top.
- In another bowl whisk the gravy packets and garlic powder with beef broth. Pour mixture into crock.
- Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours, stirring once in the last hour.
Notes
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Linda
Cooking in the crockpot now.
2nd time making it. A delicious recipe. This time I’m going to add some peas during the last hr of cook time. Thanks for all the recipes ๐.
Sounds like a great addition! Hope you enjoy it just as much this time!
Darah
Very good and so tender! I agree with other comments – onion soup mix would be a good addition, and a cup or so of frozen peas the last hour would perk it up a bit. I myself added a few drops of worcestershire a small handful of chopped parsley and the chopped celery leaves from the chopped celery at the end. A keeper!
Thanks, Darrah! And I agree!
Tracy Hardage
I made this and it is very good. I followed other than adding a couple of tablespoons of Lipton’s onion soup mix to the gravy mixture. It was a little thin and I added some flour mixed with water the last 15 minutes or so and it thickened up perfectly. Another great and easy recipe from Stacey. I probably could have turned off at six hours as I think my Crock pot runs a bit hot on low setting. Thanks Stacey!
You’re so welcome! I love the flavor of the onion soup mix, so I’ll have to try that next time.
Myrna
Stacey, the older I become, the lazier I become. I am hooked on slow cooker liners. Best thing ever. Can I cook something like soup or stew using a liner ?
They’re so convenient! Yes, the liners will work just fine with this recipe.
Linda Hammond
Have to watch sodium. What can I use besides the brown gravy packets?
I’m not sure of a great substitution to get all the flavor. They do make low sodium gravy mixes. Could that be an option for you?
Dee
S
Hi Stacey, I have not tried this recipe yet. I love all your recipes that I have tried so far. I enjoy Southern cooking. I recently had a craving for stew, but the beef is so expensive, so I used pork cut up. You cannot tell the difference with all the other delicious flavors. My family has always added canned green beans and peas, with the carrots celery, onions.
Thank you for your delicious recipes from your kitchen!!!
Great tip, Dee! Thanks for sharing with us!
Susan
This looks so good! I have a difficult time peeling potatoes due to arthritis. What about using those small round potatoes that generally donโt have to be peeled? Would that work and, if so, how much would I need? Thanks so much!
Absolutely! I’d think about 1 pound of the small potatoes would be perfect.
Larry McCain
Best beef stew Iโve ever had, keep the recipes coming, I enjoy your recipes no complaints hereโฆ.. thanks Stacy
You bet! Appreciate you, Larry!
Linda G
Made this yesterday for supper and it was delicious. Thanks for all the good recipes! Guess what I’m having for supper tonight? Left overs!
Looks perfect! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Nancy Jane Hall
This was perfect, loved it. Will make again.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Denise Bauer
Hello sweetheart came across your recipe and I’m making it right now just one question instead of cooking it on low for 8 hours would I be able to cook it on high for 4 to 6 hours or four to eight I’ll let you know how it turns out thank you for the recipe
Denise, 4 hours on high should work fine!
Rachel
I made this last night and it was so good! My husband (who doesnโt typically like beef stew) even said it was โpretty goodโ lol is there anyway I can get nutrition facts on this version?
Hey Rachel! SO glad y’all enjoyed it! With the variation in the brands of different products, I don’t keep track of nutritional info as it can vary widely depending on which brands you choose to use. I would recommend using the super easy calculators on sites like myfitensspal.com using the exact ingredients you plan to use. Enjoy!
Betty Boop
I found you in the picture and you look 50!
Haha, just kidding.
Dee
Was so excited to try this. Was super easy and I had all the ingredients… too bad it has no taste. I feel like I just wasted a bunched of perfectly good food. I’m hoping dumping ketchup in will help give it flavour
Goodness. So many times it’s all in the ingredients.
Dorothy Dunton
Hey Stacey! I have beef burgundy going right now. I use a combination of beef broth and red wine in my stews. I have never been bothered by birthdays. You are only as old as you think you are and my mind is much younger than the image I see in the mirror! When my son turned thirty he said “Mom, I’m getting old” and my reply was add thirty-five years to that and you will know how I feel! He just laughed!
LOL! ๐
Sharon Carson
Good Afternoon Stacey! I made your beef stew yesterday and it was very good and very filling! My husband sent me a text from home yesterday while it was cooking in the crockpot, and told me the stew smelled “awesome”! I took some of it to our 86-year-old aunt who lives up the road, and her text read: “so good!”. So, you got good reviews all around up here in southern New Jersey. Couldn’t have found this recipe at a better time – it has been so darn cold in these parts! I served it with homemade buttermilk biscuits and applesauce. Yum! Thanks for another good recipe!
Sounds delicious! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it!!
josee
looks so good, can’t wait to try it ๐
Hope you’ll enjoy it!
Tara from New Zealand
Hi Stacey, just came across your site today. I have your beef stew in my slow cooker right now. It smells delicious. Have followed on Facebook, thanks for sharing.
Hello there! Welcome! I hope you enjoyed the stew!
jan from Alabama
Could you put the No. of servings with the recipes?
Jamie
How big of a slow cooker did you use for this recipe? Looks wonderful!!!
I used a 4-quart for this recipe.
Kim Houston
Try using beer half and half with broth. Yum
Sounds like a great idea!!
heston
you know another important thing, beside your son and wife? the fact that you know what your have and are thankful for it! so many people aren’t until something bad happens or they are old and full of regret for the things they should of done….knowing when you are blessed is a wonderful thing…really enjoying your recipes too
Thanks and you are so correct! It’s amazing sometimes to just stop and take it all in.
Liz Schneider
Funny my dad posted! NExt time you have this try putting in cut up rutabaga in leu of some or all of the potatoes. An older man at publix told me to try it in my stews/pot roasts and it is AMAZING! You can also use turnip roots. Usually the grocery store only has one or the other.
Anyways we had this tonight with the rutabagas and it was SOOOOO GOOD! Zach even ate it without complaining!
Sounds great! I love any root vegetable. I’m sure it’s delish!
Beth Whatley
Hi Stacey! This recipe looks great. I’m looking for something to take to share/feed my connect group from church. How many adults would this serve? Just wondering how much I would need to add to it.
thanks!! I am loving your blog!
Hmmm, I’m never good at this. Portion size varies so much from family to family. I would guess that this would feed 5 to 6 people depending on serving size. Adding extra veggies is the most cost effective way to stretch a meal like this. So glad you’re enjoying the blog!
Elizabeth
You must feel blessed in all your accomplishments you have encountered over the past 10 years. Being blessed in your marriage and having a baby changes everything. God’s gift of a precious baby to love and watch him on his journey as he grows is sure enough a “miracle.” A family is God’s gift. He knows the path he wants us to take as he gives it to us. Age is just health years so we can enjoy the things that make us happy without worry, then life repeats itself. My son is 46 and I have watched life repeat itself, and it is beautiful. Happy Birthday and enjoy your 30th to the fullest.
I’m going to save this delicious recipe to make on a cold wintery night to sit by a cozy fireplace and have a nice bowl of stew. Yummy!
Jamie
Sounds great and I can’t wait to fix it for the hubby! Funny how you think that you are taking a picture so no one will see you and oops! there you are – those pesky spoons! LOL
Tina
Looks delicious and just like the stew I remember my Mom making!
Loved your retrospect…and the quote! We have 2 sons (28 and 31) and have had the pleasure to watch them become husbands, home owners, and fathers of sons while in their 20’s! What joy!
Thanks for taking us (your readers) along on your journey! May God bless you as you celebrate your 30th!!
Sabrina
I wish I had a big bowl of it right now. Looks delicious! 30 didn’t bother me a bit. 40, well that’s another story…..Haha!
Dan Estes
I love the slow cooker beef stew recipe! I asked my 82 year old mother, and she advised that it is just like the one she was given as a girl, just cooked in a iron dutch oven.
Thanks for the good info!!!!!
Dan Estes