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If you’re craving the ultimate comfort food dinner for a crisp Fall day, this Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew recipe is the answer. Tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a subtle apple cider sweetness come together in a rich, savory broth that’s perfect for warming you up from the inside out. Slow Cooker Apple Cider Beef Stew is an easy crockpot dinner that’s full of comforting flavor and autumn vibes.
Try my Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew if you are looking for a more traditional flavored beef stew recipe.
Table of Contents
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider Beef Stew
- Why You’ll Love This Beef Stew Recipe
- A Tomato-Free Beef Stew You’ll Love
- Ingredients for Crock Pot Apple Cider Beef Stew
- Tips and Variations for Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Apple Cider
- How to Make Apple Cider Beef Stew in the Crockpot
- What to Serve with Autumn Apple Cider Beef Stew
- Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew Storage
- More Savory Fall Dinner Recipes
- Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew Recipe
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Beef Stew
This is not your average beef stew! This Beef Stew has a seasonal twist that makes it extra special.
Apple cider and a fresh chopped apple add a gentle sweetness that pairs beautifully with the savory beef and herbs, giving the broth incredible depth.
The best part? It all simmers together in the crockpot while you go about your day, and by dinnertime you’ve got a warm, hearty meal ready to serve with bread or biscuits.
Why You’ll Love This Beef Stew Recipe
- Perfect for Fall – Apple cider makes this beef stew a little sweet and tart with a fall feel.
- Hearty & Satisfying – Beef, potatoes, carrots, and herbs make a complete, filling meal.
- Easy Slow Cooker Recipe – Minimal prep, a little browning, then your crockpot does the work.
- Family-Friendly – The flavor is rich but mild, making it great for kids and adults.
- Make-Ahead Friendly – Flavors get even better the next day.
A Tomato-Free Beef Stew You’ll Love
Most beef stew recipes use tomatoes or tomato paste for richness, but this Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew takes a different approach.
By leaving out the tomatoes, the natural sweetness of the apple cider really shines through, giving the broth a unique depth of flavor.
It’s a great option if you’re sensitive to tomatoes, or if you just want a delicious beef stew with a slightly sweet, fresh, seasonal twist.
Ingredients for Crock Pot Apple Cider Beef Stew
See the recipe card below for exact amounts in slow cooker beef stew with apple cider.
- Olive Oil
- Beef Stew Meat
- Yellow Onions
- Celery
- Carrots
- Gold Potatoes
- Apple
- Garlic
- Salt, Black Pepper
- Fresh Thyme, Fresh Rosemary, Bay Leaves
- Apple Cider (or juice)
- Beef Broth
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- All-Purpose Flour (to thicken)
Tips and Variations for Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Apple Cider
- Best Apples to Use – Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala work well for a natural sweetness.
- Make It Thicker – Add more flour slurry or mash a few potatoes directly into the broth.
- Wine Option – Swap ½ cup of the beef broth for red wine for a richer flavor.
- Freezer-Friendly – This stew freezes well in portions for up to 3 months.
- Extra Veggies – Parsnips or sweet potatoes are great additions for even more fall flavor.
How to Make Apple Cider Beef Stew in the Crockpot
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and beef cubes. Brown beef on all sides, then transfer to the crockpot.
- In the same skillet, add onions and celery. Sauté until softened, then add to the crockpot.
- Add carrots, potatoes, apple, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Mix well.
- Pour in apple cider, beef broth, and apple cider vinegar.
- Stir everything together.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6–8 hours or High for 4–6 hours, or until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through.
- About 45 minutes before serving, whisk flour with some hot broth (carefully!) from the crockpot until smooth.
- Stir this slurry back into the stew. Continue cooking until thickened and veggies are tender.
- Stir, taste, and adjust seasoning before serving. Add more salt, apple cider vinegar, or apple cider if desired.
- Serve Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew hot with crusty bread, biscuits, or a crisp green salad.
What to Serve with Autumn Apple Cider Beef Stew
- Crusty French bread or dinner rolls
- Homemade biscuits
- A crisp green salad with vinaigrette
- Roasted Brussels sprouts or sautéd green beans
Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew Storage
- Store leftover Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through. Thaw frozen stew overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Savory Fall Dinner Recipes
If you like my Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew, you might also like these easy recipes:
Apple Cider Pot Roast
Instant Pot Pumpkin Chili
Instant Pot Apple Pie Ham
Instant Pot Autumn Apple Pork Chops
I’d love to hear from you if you make this fall beef stew recipe with apple cider. Just leave a comment with a star rating below!
Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 pounds Beef Stew Meat (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 2 large Yellow Onions, diced
- 3 ribs Celery, diced
- 3-4 medium Carrots, diced
- 1 pound Gold Potatoes, diced
- 1 large Apple, (peeled & diced) See note 1
- 5 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 4 sprigs Fresh Thyme (1 teaspoon dried leaves – not ground)
- 2 sprigs Fresh Rosemary (1-2 teaspoons dried) minced
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 3 cups Apple Cider (or juice) See note 2
- 2 cups Beef Broth
- 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar – See note 3
To Thicken
- ⅓ cup All-Purpose Flour
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and the beef cubes., Brown the beef on all sides. Add the beef to the crockpot
- In the same skillet, add the onions and celery. Sauté them until softened a bit. Add them to the crockpot.
- Add the carrots, potatoes, apple, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Mix together.
- Pour in the apple cider, beef broth, and apple cider vinegar. Stir.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours, or High for 4-6 hours, or until the meat is tender and the vegetables are tender, to your liking.
Thicken the Stew
- 45 minutes before serving, to a small bowl, add the flour and some of the hot broth from the crockpot and stir together (carefully) until no lumps remain. Use as much broth as you need to. Then stir this mixture into the stew and continue cooking for the last 45 minutes to thicken and finish cooking.
Serve
- Before serving, stir well, then taste and adjust salt, or add more vinegar or apple cider, if desired.
- Serve with some crusty bread or biscuits, or even a crisp green salad.
Notes
- I like using a sweet apple like Fuji, but you can use any variety.
- Apple juice will be sweeter than apple cider.
- I like more ACV, but you can taste it at the end and add a little extra, or add a few drops to your individual serving, if desired.
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftover beef stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through. Thaw frozen stew overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
