Go Back
Print
Beef Stew in a white bowl on a wooden board next to fresh parsley

Crock Pot Beef Stew

Classic Crock Pot Beef Stew tastes like mom's. This stew is full of great flavor, with tender chunks of beef and lots of veggies. Total comfort food!

Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword crock pot beef stew recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 25 minutes
Servings 8 - 10
Calories 394 kcal
Author Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ - 2 lbs Beef Stew Meat, cubed
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 5 sprigs Fresh Thyme (or 1 ¼ tsp dried)
  • 4 cloves Garlic, pressed or minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt (or 1 tsp table salt)
  • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 3 ribs Celery, chopped
  • 5 Carrots, chopped
  • 5 Potatoes, scrubbed and cubed
  • 8 oz Mushrooms, sliced (optional)
  • 2 medium Onions, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce (or Soy Sauce)
  • 1 cup Beef Broth, low sodium
  • 1 Tablespoon Beef Bouillon
  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • ½ cup Dry Red Wine (or use beef broth)
  • 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

To Thicken - Mix These Together

  • 2 cups Vegetable Juice (such as V8), or tomato juice
  • cup Quick Tapioca Granules (such as Minute® Tapioca)

Instructions

  1. Gather together everything you will need before you begin. This will make the process so much easier! Have your meat cubed and veggies prepped.

  2. You don't have to, but if you want extra flavor, brown the beef cubes in a little olive oil in a large skillet before adding them to the slow cooker.

  3. Add the meat to the slow cooker, then all of the ingredients except the vegetable juice and tapioca granules. Stir well.

  4. Cover and cook on Low for 8-9 hours, or High for 5-6 hours, or until meat is tender and vegetables are also to desired tenderness. Stir halfway through (You will add the thickener about an hour before serving. See below).

Thicken - One Hour Before Serving*

  1. Remove thyme stems and bay leaves, and stir. Taste and adjust salt if needed.

  2. In a bowl or 4-cup measuring cup, stir together the vegetable juice and the tapioca granules. Then pour the mixture into the crockpot and stir. Cover and cook the remaining hour. If not thick enough, see Notes below.

  3. Serve with some crusty bread or fluffy dinner rolls!

Recipe Notes

Thickening

If the stew isn't thick enough for you, try one of these options:

  1. Stir in 2 Tablespoons more of the Instant tapioca granules and let cook a little while longer. Stir well before serving.
  2. Mix together 2 Tablespoons of flour with softened butter really well. Then stir it into the stew until dissolved. Put the lid back on and let it cook a little longer.
  3. Make a cornstarch slurry with 2 Tablespoons cornstarch and 2 Tablespoons cold water, mixing them together well. Stir into the stew very well and let heat and thicken.

If too thick, add some beef broth and stir.