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Wholesome Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe

Wholesome Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 17 reviews

This Wholesome Crockpot Beef Stew is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for slow-cooked rich flavors. Tender beef cubes are seared to lock in juices, then slow-cooked with savory vegetables, wine, and a blend of herbs to create a deeply flavorful stew. Finished with a silky butter swirl and optional color enhancer, it’s an ideal meal for cozy gatherings or weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Seasonings

  • 2 ½ pounds stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ teaspoon celery salt
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 3–6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons chilled butter (split into 1 tbsp and 2 tbsp portions)

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 2 cups chopped yellow onions
  • 4 minced garlic cloves
  • 5 medium carrots, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 pound baby Yukon gold potatoes, halved or quartered
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Liquids and Flavor Enhancers

  • 1 cup cabernet sauvignon or merlot wine
  • 4 cups beef stock
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tablespoons tomato concentrate (tomato paste)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 rosemary sprig
  • ¼ cup cold water mixed with 3 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
  • 2–3 drops Gravy Master (optional, for deeper color)

Instructions

  1. Prepare and Season the Meat: Cut the stew meat into 1-inch cubes, removing any large pieces of fat but leaving marbled fat intact for flavor. Season evenly with black pepper, garlic salt, and celery salt. Sprinkle with flour and toss until meat cubes are evenly coated.
  2. Sear the Meat: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef cubes in batches to avoid overcrowding and brown each side for about 45 seconds. Add more oil as needed. Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker to start building stew flavors.
  3. Sauté the Onions and Deglaze the Pan: Reduce skillet heat to medium and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add chopped onions and cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in a splash of wine and use a silicone spatula to deglaze, scraping up browned bits. Transfer this mixture to the slow cooker.
  4. Cook the Stew: Add carrots, potatoes, beef stock, beef bouillon cubes, Worcestershire sauce, tomato concentrate, bay leaves, and rosemary sprig to the slow cooker with the meat and onion mixture. Stir well to combine. Cover and cook on low for 7½ to 8 hours or on high for 3½ to 4 hours, until vegetables are tender and potatoes can be pierced easily with a fork.
  5. Add Final Ingredients and Thicken: During the last 15 minutes of cooking, stir in the frozen peas. Remove bay leaves and rosemary sprig. If a thicker stew is desired, mix ¼ cup cold water with 3 tablespoons cornstarch to form a slurry and slowly stir into the hot stew, allowing it to thicken as it stands.
  6. Finish and Serve: Turn off the heat once your stew is perfectly thickened and all ingredients are tender. Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons of cold butter to give the stew a smooth and velvety finish, known as Monter au Beurre. Optionally, add 2-3 drops of Gravy Master for a richer, deeper color before serving.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, allow the stew to rest for 20 minutes before serving to let flavors meld.
  • If you prefer a thicker stew, the cornstarch slurry is highly recommended but optional.
  • Substitute red wine with additional beef stock if avoiding alcohol, though wine adds depth.
  • Baby Yukon gold potatoes are preferred for their creamy texture, but you can substitute with red potatoes or russets.
  • It is important not to overcrowd the pan when searing meat to achieve a good brown crust.
  • Monter au Beurre (swirling in cold butter at finish) enriches the stew and adds a luxurious mouthfeel.
  • Gravy Master is optional and mainly for enhancing color but does not affect flavor significantly.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef stew, crockpot stew, slow cooker beef stew, hearty stew recipe, comfort food, easy stew, beef and vegetable stew

Find it online: https://hannahdelgado.com/wholesome-crockpot-beef-stew-recipe/