Description
This hearty Crockpot Beef Stew is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for cozy meals. Tender beef stew meat simmered slowly with red potatoes, carrots, celery, and aromatic herbs in a rich broth infused with Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce creates a classic, savory stew that’s easy to prepare and satisfying.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 2 lbs. red potatoes, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 4 stalks celery, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Beef and Seasoning
- 1.5 lbs. beef stew meat
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Other Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 tsp brown sugar
- 1.5 tsp dried rosemary
- 1.5 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Dice the onion and red potatoes, slice the carrots and celery, and mince the garlic. Place all prepared vegetables into a four or five quart slow cooker.
- Coat the Beef: In a bowl, toss the beef stew meat with flour, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated. This helps thicken the stew and season the meat.
- Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the cooking oil. Once hot, add the coated beef without stirring to brown one side. Stir and brown on the second side. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker.
- Prepare Broth Mixture: Reduce skillet heat to medium-low. Add beef broth, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, dried rosemary, and dried thyme. Stir and cook, scraping the skillet to loosen browned bits, adding flavor to the broth.
- Combine and Cook: Pour the broth mixture over the contents in the slow cooker and stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Slow Cook the Stew: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours until the meat and vegetables are tender.
- Final Touches: Stir the stew to allow the potatoes to break down slightly and thicken the gravy. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired. Serve hot and enjoy.
Notes
- For a thicker stew, you can mash some of the potatoes against the side of the slow cooker before serving.
- If you prefer, sear the beef in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet, ensuring better browning.
- Adjust herbs according to your preference; fresh herbs can be added near the end of cooking for a brighter flavor.
- Use gluten-free flour to make this recipe gluten-free if needed.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Stew
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
