Crockpot Beef Stew (Easy, Hearty & Comforting!) — The Perfect Cozy Dinner

Few meals are as comforting as a warm bowl of beef stew. With melt-in-your-mouth tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a deeply flavorful broth, it’s the kind of dish that feels like a warm hug on a cold day. Crockpot Beef Stew (Easy, Hearty & Comforting!) takes this timeless classic and simplifies the process, letting your slow cooker do all the heavy lifting.

This stew offers everything you want from a cozy dinner: rich flavor, tender texture, and the satisfying feeling that only a home-cooked bowl of stew can give. And thanks to the crockpot, this recipe requires minimal effort — prep it in the morning, and by dinner you have a steaming pot of perfection waiting for you.

Why Crockpot Beef Stew Works So Well

1. Low & Slow Cooking = Tender Beef

Tougher cuts of beef break down into buttery tenderness after hours of gentle cooking.

2. Hearty Vegetables Hold Up Perfectly

Potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions simmer slowly, absorbing all the savory broth.

3. One-Pot Convenience

No constant monitoring. No simmering on the stove. Just set it and walk away.

4. Layers of Deep Flavor

Tomato paste, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs combine into a rich, savory broth that gets better as it cooks.

5. Budget-Friendly & Meal-Prep Friendly

Beef stew makes a large batch, stores well, reheats beautifully, and freezes perfectly.

Ingredients

Beef & Vegetables

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into chunks
• 3 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Flavor Base

• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 bay leaf

Thickener (Optional)

• 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water

Instructions

1. Add beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic to the crockpot.
2. Stir in broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, thyme, paprika, and bay leaf.
3. Cover and cook on LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours, until beef is fall-apart tender.
4. Optional: Stir in cornstarch slurry during last 20 minutes to thicken.
5. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning, and serve hot.

Crockpot Beef Stew (Easy Hearty & Comforting!)

A rich, tender, and comforting beef stew slow-cooked to perfection with hearty vegetables and savory broth.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 hours hrs

Total Time 7 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 6 bowls

Course: Dinner, Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 350

Ingredients

  

Beef & Vegetables

• 2 lbs beef stew meat cut into chunks
• 3 potatoes peeled and diced
• 3 carrots sliced
• 2 stalks celery sliced
• 1 onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced

Flavor Base

• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp thyme dried
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 leaf bay leaf

Optional Thickener

• 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water

Equipment

• Crockpot
• Knife and cutting board
• Skillet (optional for browning)

Method

 

1. Add beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic to the crockpot.
2. Stir in broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, thyme, paprika, and bay leaf.
3. Cook on LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours until beef is tender.
4. Stir in cornstarch slurry during the last 20 minutes if thicker stew is desired.
5. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning, and serve hot.

Notes

Browning beef before adding enhances flavor but is optional.

Tips for Perfect Beef Stew

Brown the Beef (Optional but Recommended)

Searing the beef in a skillet before adding it to the crockpot builds deeper flavor.
Not required — but excellent if you have time.

Use the Right Beef

Chuck roast is the top choice for tenderness.

Cut Veggies Thick

So they hold shape after long cooking.

Add Peas at the End

If you like peas, stir in ½ cup during the last 15 minutes.

Variations

Red Wine Beef Stew

Replace 1 cup broth with red wine.

Rustic Herb Stew

Add rosemary and parsley.

Garlic Lovers Stew

Double the garlic for extra flavor.

Tomato-Rich Stew

Add a can of diced tomatoes.

Mushroom Beef Stew

Add 1 cup sliced mushrooms.

Serving Suggestions

• Warm crusty bread
• Buttermilk biscuits
• Mashed potatoes
• Buttered noodles
• Side salad

Storage & Freezing

Fridge:

4–5 days

Freezer:

Up to 3 months

Reheat:

Simmer on stove until hot, or microwave.