Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Deliciously Tender and Flavorful: Slow Cooker Beef Recipe Wins Hearts and Palates!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef stew meat cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 carrots chopped
- 4 potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups beef broth
Instructions
- Season and Sear the Beef: Begin by seasoning the beef stew meat with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the seasoned beef and sear for about 5 minutes, or until it's browned on all sides. This step helps enhance the flavor of the stew. After searing, transfer the beef to your slow cooker.
- Layer the Vegetables: In the slow cooker, add the cubed potatoes, chopped onion, minced garlic, and sliced carrots on top of the seared beef.
- Season with Herbs: Sprinkle the dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary over the vegetables and beef in the slow cooker.
- Mix in Tomato Paste and Broth:Add tomato paste and beef broth until well combined.
- Cook on Low: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to cook on low heat for 5-7 hours. This long cooking time allows the flavors to meld, and the meat and vegetables to become tender.
- Add Frozen Peas: About 1 hour before the stew is finished cooking, add the frozen peas to the slow cooker. Stir gently to incorporate them into the stew.
- Thicken the Stew: In a separate bowl, whisk the flour into some of the juice from the stew until it forms a smooth paste. Slowly pour this paste back into the slow cooker while stirring to thicken the stew. This should take about 15 minutes.
- Adjust Seasonings: Taste the beef stew and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. You can also add more herbs at this point for extra flavor.
- Serve: Once the beef is tender, and the peas are heated through, your hearty slow cooker beef stew is ready to serve. Ladle it into serving bowls and enjoy!
Notes
- Brown the Beef: For an extra layer of flavor, you can brown the seasoned beef in a hot skillet with a bit of oil before adding it to the slow cooker. This step is optional but can enhance the richness of your stew.
- Cut Meat Uniformly: When cutting the beef into pieces, try to make them as uniform as possible. This ensures that they cook evenly.
- Adjust Cooking Time: Cooking times can vary slightly depending on your slow cooker. Check the meat's tenderness after 6 hours, and if it's not quite tender enough, continue cooking for another 1-2 hours.
- Fresh Herbs: If you have fresh herbs on hand, you can use them instead of dried ones. Just remember to use about three times the amount of fresh herbs compared to dried.
- Serve with Crusty Bread: A warm, crusty bread or rice make an excellent accompaniment to delicious stew juices.