Description
A hearty and flavorful slow cooker beef stew made with tender stew meat, fresh vegetables, and a rich blend of seasonings, perfect for a comforting meal after a long day.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Coating
- 2 lb stew meat
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp sugar
Cooking Fat
- 2 Tbsp canola oil
Vegetables
- 1 (15-oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 to 4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
Seasonings and Thickener
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 5 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp thyme
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 (1-oz) packages brown gravy mix
- 1 Tbsp corn starch
- 2 Tbsp water
Liquid
- 4 cups beef broth
Instructions
- Coat the beef: Place all-purpose flour and sugar in a ziplock bag. Add the stew meat and toss well until the meat is evenly coated with the flour and sugar mixture.
- Brown the beef: Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated stew meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pieces start to brown on all sides. This step helps to lock in flavor. Transfer the browned beef to a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Add vegetables and seasonings: To the slow cooker, add the drained diced tomatoes, chopped celery, peeled and chopped potatoes and carrots, tomato paste, chili powder, thyme, garlic powder, black pepper, brown gravy mix, and beef broth. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Slow cook the stew: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW heat for 8 to 10 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the beef to become tender.
- Add peas: Around the end of the cooking time, add the frozen green peas to the stew and stir them in.
- Thicken the stew: In a small bowl, whisk together the corn starch and water until smooth. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker and stir well. Continue cooking on LOW for an additional 15 minutes until the stew thickens to the desired consistency.
Notes
- Be sure to brown the beef well for the best flavor and texture.
- Using frozen peas toward the end of cooking keeps their color and texture fresh.
- If you prefer a thicker stew, you can add a little more cornstarch slurry as needed.
- This stew is perfect for meal prep and tastes even better the next day.
- You can add other herbs like rosemary or bay leaves for additional depth if desired.
