Slow Cooker Old Fashioned Beef Stew

By: Deborah

Make this easy slow cooker old fashioned beef stew with tender beef, potatoes and carrots in a rich, savoury gravy. Perfect comfort food for chilly days.

PREP: 25

Slow Cooker on Low: 12 20

COOK: 6 20

TOTAL: 19 5

Servings: 6 people

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Equipment

Ingredients

3 tbsp vegetable oil
130 g (4.6 oz) onion thinly sliced
100 g (3.5 oz) celery trimmed and thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic crushed
750 g (1.7 lb) stewing, braising or chuck steak cut into 3cm chunks
salt and freshly ground black pepper
450 g (1 lb) baby potatoes halved
4 carrots (approx. 480g) peeled and cut into 2.5 to 3.5cm pieces
900 g (4 cups) beef stock made using 2 stock cubes or pots
2 tbsp tomato puree
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried thyme
0.25 tsp black pepper
34 g (1.2 oz) plain flour
45 g (1.6 oz) butter softened
210 g (7.4 oz) frozen peas or petit pois

Instructions

In a large frying pan or skillet heat 1 tbsp of the oil over a medium heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Season the meat with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat another tbsp of oil in the frying pan or skillet over a medium to high heat. Add half of the meat and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned. Transfer to the slow cooker with the onion mixture. Repeat with the remaining oil and meat and transfer it to the slow cooker with the rest of the meat and onion mixture.
Add the potatoes, carrots and stir in the stock, tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours, or high for 5 to 6 hours, until the meat and vegetables are tender. If cooking on low, turn the slow cooker on to high.
In a small bowl combine the flour and butter. Stir the butter mixture and peas into the beef mixture. Cover and cook for 10 to 20 minutes, until thickened. Season to taste, and serve.

Notes

Optional variations:
- Beef stew with red wine - replace part of the stock with red wine.
- Beef and mushroom stew - add sliced chestnut mushrooms for extra savoury depth.
- Beef stew with root vegetables - swap out some of the carrots for chunks of parsnips or swede.
- Beef stew with dumplings - cook dumplings in the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes.
- Gluten-free beef stew - use gluten-free stock and a suitable gluten-free thickener.
- Beef stew without potatoes - leave out the potatoes and serve the stew with mashed potatoes or crusty bread instead.
- Richer beef stew - add a little chilli powder or smoked paprika for a warmer, more robust flavour.
This slow cooker old fashioned beef stew recipe is easily halved if you’re cooking for less people.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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