Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew (Thick & Chunky Recipe)


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Evelyn Marcella Rivera
  • Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Description

What You’ll Need: Ingredients. Classic, hearty vegetables and chuck beef slow-cooked in a rich broth (with optional red wine) for a deeply flavorful, thick and chunky stew.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Beef Stew Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean chuck beef, cubed (room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for dredging)
  • 2-3 Tbsp olive oil (for searing)
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 carrots, sliced
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1/2 cup roasted bell peppers, chopped
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 2 tsp dried)
  • 4 cups rich beef broth
  • 1 cup dry red wine (optional) (Cabernet or Merlot)
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Prep & dredge beef: Pat beef dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish and lightly dredge beef cubes, shaking off excess.
  2. Brown for flavor: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear beef in batches without overcrowding until deeply browned on all sides; transfer to slow cooker.
  3. Load the slow cooker: Add onion, carrots, celery, roasted bell peppers, potatoes, and garlic to the cooker. Tuck in bay leaf and thyme.
  4. Add liquids & cook: Pour in beef broth and optional red wine. Stir gently to combine. Cover and cook on LOW 6–8 hours (best tenderness) or HIGH 3–4 hours.
  5. Finish & serve: Remove bay leaf and thyme stems. Taste and adjust salt/pepper. Ladle thick, chunky stew into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

Pro Tip: Longer LOW cooking yields the most tender beef. For an even thicker stew, mash a few potato cubes in the cooker during the last 30 minutes.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 hours
  • Category: Main Course, stew
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 480
  • Fat: 20
  • Saturated Fat: 7
  • Carbohydrates: 35
  • Protein: 30