This hearty crockpot meal is always a family favorite for busy weeknights! A packet of onion soup mix makes all the difference!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- This slow cooker beef stew recipe is a perfect dinner to have on busy weeknights. It is essentially a dump-and-go meal with simple ingredients.
- One great thing about this easy recipe is that you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand.
- It's is a hearty recipe with a ton of flavor during the winter months AND it's budget-friendly.
Who doesn't love hearty comfort food in the colder months of the year? This slow cooker stew uses a packet of Lipton onion soup mix to create even more rich flavor!
This works for a classic pot roast, too!
🧾 Ingredients
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- beef stew meat
- flour
- Tony Chachere's Cajun Spice Mix
- baby carrots
- thin-skinned or creamer potatoes
- onion
- stewed tomatoes
- beefy onion soup mix
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions for crock pot beef stew. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- Combine beef and flour in a medium mixing bowl and mix with your hands until the beef is well coated.
- Add the carrots, potatoes, and onion to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place meat over the vegetables.
- Mix the onion soup mix with the water. Pour the onion soup and tomatoes on top of the beef.
🥄 Equipment
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- large bowl
- slow cooker
🥫 Storage
To store your leftover beef stew, let it cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.
You can also freeze this recipe. Just be sure to leave some space at the top to allow it to expand in the freezer.
📖 Variations
- If you would like your beef stew to be a bit spicier can try adding your favorite hot sauce, jalapenos, or other spicy peppers.
- Substitute a few pounds of beef chuck roast for the stew meat. Use what's on sale at the grocery store!
- Try caramelizing the onions before placing them in the slow cooker and topping the beef with some bay leaves for an extra burst of flavor.
- Instead of carrots and potatoes, add other root vegetables that you like, such as yams, parsnips, or beats. You can also add celery and fresh green beans.
- Make a low-carb version of this crockpot beef stew by replacing the potatoes with radishes or cauliflower.
- If you prefer a creamy stew to a brothy one try mixing in a can of cream of celery soup to the water and onion soup mix.
- Add a sprig of fresh rosemary to kick up the flavor.
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: After you've dredged the beef in the flour sear it in a skillet with a little hot oil. The caramelization on the meat will add even more flavor to your stew.
- Check the temperature of your beef with a meat thermometer before serving to ensure that it has reached at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you are not planning to serve immediately after it is finished cooking, you may safely place it on the warm setting for up to 4 hours.
- For a bit of extra flavor, try adding a bit of Worcestershire sauce to the broth before cooking.
- Cut the sodium by using a low sodium beef broth and a low sodium onion soup mix.
- The flavor of this stew is even better the second day!
👩🍳 FAQs
You can add anything you like! Making it taste better just depends on your preferences.
For instance, you can add more veggies such as mushrooms, green peppers, or tomatoes. You can also add extra spices such as oregano, marjoram, or thyme.
Yes, you can! It is safe to cook raw beef in your slow cooker. However, it is best to completely thaw it first to ensure that it reaches the proper temperature to be cooked properly.
To thicken you can add a tablespoon of cornstarch for each cup of broth or water. This will give it a medium thickness consistency. This works best by combining the cornstarch and broth in a separate bowl and whisking it together to make a slurry. Then pour your slurry into the hot beef stew about 30 minutes before it's done and stir well.
📚 Related recipes
- Crockpot cajun pot roast is a slightly spicy take on classic pot roast.
- We love this classic pot roast over jalapeno cheese grits.
- Slow cooker Italian beef is SO good for hearty beef sandwiches!
🍽️ Serve with...
- There's nothing more perfect than delicious homemade yeast rolls to serve as a side with this hearty beef stew.
- Satisfy your after-dinner sweet tooth by serving this heavenly cinnamon roll cheesecake after your meal.
📞 The last word
Imagine coming come after a long day - cold, tired, and hungry - and when you open the door and walk in to your house the heady smell of oniony, beefy goodness rushes out to meet you.
This easy slow cooker beef stew is my favorite for those kinds of days! The dry onion soup mix adds a rich, warm flavor that I especially love for the colder months.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon Tony Chachere's Cajun Spice Mix
- 1 pound baby carrots
- 2 pounds potatoes, thin skinned or creamer potatoes
- 1 onion
- 28 ounces stewed tomatoes
- ½ cup water
- 1 ounce beefy onion soup mix
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Instructions
- Put the beef in a large bowl.
- Add the flour and spice mix and mix well. Set aside.
- Add the carrots, potatoes, and onion to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Top with the beef mixture.
- Mix the onion soup mix with the water and pour over the beef.
- Pour the tomatoes over all.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
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