Description

A hearty and comforting slow cooker beef stew featuring tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions simmered to perfection in a flavorful tomato and beef broth base. This easy, hands-off recipe is perfect for warming up on chilly days with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Vegetables

2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into chunks
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced

Liquids and Seasoning

4 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

Prepare Ingredients: Peel and dice the potatoes, peel and slice the carrots, chop the onion, and mince the garlic. Cut the beef into stew-sized chunks if not already prepared.
Combine in Slow Cooker: Place the beef stew meat, potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic directly into the slow cooker vessel, layering them evenly.
Add Broth and Seasonings: Stir together the tomato paste and beef broth until well combined, then pour over the meat and vegetables. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top and give the mixture a gentle stir to incorporate the seasonings.
Cook Slowly: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set to low heat. Let it cook undisturbed for approximately 6 to 8 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
Stir Before Serving: About 30 minutes before serving, give the stew a gentle stir to blend all the flavors evenly. Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed.
Serve Warm: Ladle the hearty beef stew into bowls and serve hot, ideally accompanied by crusty bread to soak up the rich broth.

Notes

For best results, use chuck roast or other well-marbled beef stew meat to ensure tenderness after slow cooking.
You can add additional herbs like thyme or bay leaves at the start for more depth of flavor.
To thicken the stew, mix 2 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch with cold water and stir it into the stew in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently on stovetop or microwave.