Comforting Beef Crockpot Stew Recipe
A classic and cozy beef stew with tender beef, carrots, and potatoes in a tomato-based herb sauce.
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds beef chuck roast cut into 1.5-inch chunks
- 1 onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks
- 2 russet or Yukon gold potatoes cut into 2-inch chunks
- 2 ½ cups beef stock
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or fresh thyme, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 small bay leaves
- ¼ cup parsley finely chopped, divided
- 1 teaspoon beef bouillon
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and prep vegetables. Dice onion, mince garlic, cut carrots and potatoes into 2-inch chunks.
- Rinse and pat dry beef with a paper towel. Cut into 1.5 inch chunks and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Heat up a large skillet on the stovetop on medium-high/high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sear the beef in batches until browned on all sides. Transfer the browned beef to the crockpot.
- Using the same skillet that was used to brown the meat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and saute the onion for 3 minutes on medium-low. Add the garlic and saute for another minute. Transfer onion mixture to the crockpot.
- Now add the beef stock to the skillet and simmer. This will pick up any flavor left behind from the meat and onion. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to incorporate. *Use a mesh strainer and whisk to ensure there are no clumps of flour. Simmer for two minutes then transfer the stock mixture to the crockpot.
- These final steps occur in the crockpot. Add the beef bouillon, thyme, rosemary, parsley, tomato paste, bay leaves, and Worcestershire sauce to the crockpot and stir well to combine.
- Add in the carrots and potatoes. Put the lid on.
- Cook on the high heat setting for 6 hours or the low heat setting for 8 hours. Stir once in the middle of the cooking time (if possible).
- Season with salt and pepper, if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve on its own, with a roll, mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.
- Enjoy!
Notes
The steps before adding the ingredients to the crockpot are essential to elevating the flavors of the stew so don't skip them! Especially browning the meat and sauteing the onion and garlic.