Description
A comforting slow cooker beef stew with rich flavors, tender meat, and hearty vegetables.
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
- Dried thyme: 1 teaspoon
- Bay leaves: 2
- Salt: 1 teaspoon (or to taste)
- Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste)
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons (for browning the beef)
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients by washing, peeling, and chopping vegetables.
- Brown the beef in a skillet with olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Add chopped onions and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté until translucent.
- Transfer the browned beef, onions, garlic, carrots, and potatoes to the slow cooker.
- Pour in the beef broth and add thyme and bay leaves, stirring gently.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
- Remove bay leaves and thicken the stew if desired before serving.
Notes
- For a thicker stew, mix cornstarch with cold water and stir into the stew.
- Feel free to add optional ingredients like red wine or mushrooms for extra flavor.
- Adjust seasoning to taste as the stew cooks.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
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