Slow Cooker Beef Stew

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This hearty stew produces the most tender and tasty beef. Made with carrots, celery and mushrooms, this healthy meal is perfect in winter.

Beef stew in a blue bowl on a wooden bench.

For a lot of people, a homemade stew is the ultimate comfort food. This hearty Beef Stew made in the slow cooker not only tastes amazing but is full of healthy vegetables. Perfect on a cold winter night.

Ingredients for slow cooker beef stew on a grey bench.

Any type of casserole beef will work in a meal like this. I used chuck steak but you could also use blade steak or skirt steak. I generally buy the cheapest cut available at the supermarket.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew in a blue bowl on a wooden bench.

How to make Slow Cooker Beef Stew:

Coat the diced beef in flour and salt and pepper, then cook in a large frying pan with a little oil. Brown on each side then remove from the heat.

Close up of beef cooking in a black frying pan.

While the meat is cooking, add the remaining ingredients (except the cornflour) to the slow cooker. Add the cooked meat and any cooking juices, then stir to combine.

Chopped vegetables on a board with a bowl of cooked beef in the background.

Cook on high for 4 hours or until the beef is tender. Mix the cornflour with 2 tablespoons of cold water and add to the stew 20 minutes before serving. Stir and leave to thicken up

Serve on top of mashed potatoes and garnish with fresh parsley.

Beef stew ingredients in the slow cooker.

For more comforting meat meals, check out my delicious recipes for Smokey Sausage Casserole and Oven Baked Lamb Curry.

Recipe FAQs:

Does the meat need to be browned first?

Browning the meat first is not essential, however it does add an extra depth of flavour to the stew.

Can this meal be made gluten free?

Yes. Either leave out the flour altogether, or substitute it for standard gluten free flour or rice flour. As always, check the labels on any processed food to ensure they meet your dietary requirements.

Storage:

Store any leftover beef stew in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat until piping hot.

Beef stew is great for freezing. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for up to three months. Defrost completely before reheating.

Leftover Slow Cooker Beef Stew in a glass container on a grey bench.

Top tips:

When browning meat separately, always remember to add the cooking juices to the pan in addition to the meat. There is so much flavour in them!
Pickling onions can be substituted for one large onion cut into chunks.
To turn this stew into a pie filling, make sure you reduce the cooking liquid. This can be done in a pan or in the slow cooker with the lid off.

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