This Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe is plump full of onions, carrots, potatoes, celery, garlic and tender beef stew meat all nested together in a red wine reduction sauce with just a small kick of spice. I love to serve it with Best Cornbread Recipe or Cheddar Pull Apart Bread. This recipe was written for two hearty servings but it can certainly be doubled or tripled to suit your needs.
The crock pot is such an asset in the kitchen anytime of year. In the relentless warmth of the summer it can keep you from heating up your kitchen with your stove. In the dead of the winter it can provide you with wonderful warm cozy meals like this Crock Pot Beef Stew for Two. A great recipe is always a good reason to turn on the crock pot.
This savory Crock Pot Beef Stew is chock full of hearty flavor and goodness. Tender beef, carrots, potatoes, and onions come together in a rich flavorful gravy. Perfect over egg noodles or served by itself with a crusty piece of French bread. Boy food doesn’t get much better than this. I love crock pot cooking. The crock pot “cooks all day while the cooks away. ” Now this savory recipe is perfect for a couple. I cook it in my smaller crock pot but it can easily be doubled or even tripled in a larger crock pot.
How do you make Crock Pot Beef Stew?
First in a large Ziploc bag combine the flour, pepper, salt and garlic powder. Add the stew meat and shake well to coat. Heat a little vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the coated stew meat and cook to brown on all sides. Remove from the heat and add to the bottom of the crock pot.
Now heat a little more olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until lightly browned on the edges stirring several times. Add the garlic and cook for about one minute stirring constantly. Add to the crock pot on top of the beef.
Using the same skillet add the wine over medium low heat. Using a spoon loosen the browned bits on the bottom of the skillet. Reduce the wine by half while continuing to stir. Now add Worcestershire sauce. beef broth, Cajun seasoning, cumin and bay leaf. Simmer for about five minutes to meld all the flavors together. Pour wine/broth mixture over the beef and onions. Cook covered on low for eight to ten hours or high for four to five hours adding the carrots, potatoes and celery halfway through the cooking process. Remove the bay leaf prior to serving. If desired serve over egg noodles, rice or mashed potatoes.
Helpful tips for making Crock Pot Beef Stew
- If time allows do not skip the flouring and browning of the stew meat. It adds flavor, dimension and really helps thicken the sauce.
- You can substitute more low sodium beef broth in place of the wine however keep in mind that it will take longer to reduce.
- Cajun seasoning adds a lot of flavor without being overly spicy nonetheless if you have a sensitive palate reduce to 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon.
- Need to add everything at the same time? Then add the potatoes, carrots and celery to the crock pot at the same time that you add the beef. They will be pretty soft at the end of the cooking cycle but they will still be delicious.
- When your meat and vegetables turn tender move the temperature to warm to keep from overcooking your meal.
More Crock Pot Recipes
Crock Pot Beef Stew for Two
Ingredients
- ¾ lb beef stew meat
- ¼ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 carrots cut in chunks
- 2 potatoes cut in chunks
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- ½ cup dry red wine
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup low sodium beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning more or less to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- In large Ziploc bag combine flour, pepper, salt and garlic powder. Add stew meat and shake to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add coated stew meat and cook to brown all sides. Remove from heat and add to crock pot.
- Heat 1-2 more tablespoons vegetable oil in same skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until lightly browned on the edges; approximately 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for additional 1 minute; stirring constantly. Add to crock pot on top of beef.
- Using same skillet add wine over medium low heat working to loosen browned bits on the bottom of the skillet. Reduce the wine by 1/2 while continuing to stir. Add Worcestershire sauce. beef broth, Cajun seasoning, cumin and bay leaf, Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Pour wine/broth mixture over beef and onions in the crock pot.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours adding carrots, potatoes and celery halfway through the cooking process. Cook just until meat and vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaf.
Notes
- If time allows do not skip the flouring and browning of the stew meat. It adds flavor, dimension and really helps thicken the sauce.
- You can substitute more low sodium beef broth in place of the wine however keep in mind that it will take longer to reduce.
- Cajun seasoning adds a lot of flavor without being overly spicy nonetheless if you have a sensitive palate reduce to 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon.
- Need to add everything at the same time? Then add the potatoes, carrots and celery to the crock pot at the same time that you add the beef. They will be pretty soft at the end of the cooking cycle but they will still be delicious.
- When your meat and vegetables turn tender move the temperature to warm to keep from overcooking your meal.
Nutrition
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This post was originally published August 30, 2016 and was republished October 3, 2019 with new content.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Vicky
When I think of stew I think of a big pot…of leftovers if you only have a couple of people. I LOVE this recipe made for 2! Not so many leftovers but all the deliciousness of beef stew!!
Katherine
SUch a lovely hearty stew. And so easy in the crock pot!
jade manning
Perfect hearty family recipe!!
Erin
This Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Katerina
I LOVE everything about this!! The perfect comfort food!! YUM!
annie
We loved this! So great to have a small scale recipe as it is just me and my husband!
Stephanie
I loved the garlic and Cajun seasoning you put in this recipe. It made it extra flavorful!
Kimberly
Nothing beats a great beef stew and simmering it low and slow in the crockpot is perfect!
Demeter
This looks like such a filling meal! Love how easy it is to make in the slow cooker.
Sherri
Hi! I am going to make this!! However, what could I substitute for the dry red wine? Thank u for answering!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sherri! Just substitute about 1/3 cup more beef broth.
Susan Odiseos
Love this recipe! I sent an email a while back about how to increase the ingredients to serve 6 people, but never heard back. I know enough to never double or triple salt, but I’m concerned about how much to increase the cajun spice, which I have made myself. I would greatly appreciate a response. Thanks.
Beth Pierce
I am sorry I thought I answered this. I have been so incredibly busy with a new puppy. I think with the Cajun spice I would go 1 1/2-2 teaspoons. I think that will give you good flavor without being overpowering. Sorry again for the delay.
Eileen St Jean
Love your recipies!! Need more “cooking for two” ideas! Thanks!
Anna Neimas
What is the size of the smaller crockpot used for this recipe?
Beth Pierce
2 1/2 quart
Patricia
will 2and half crockpot reduce the cooking time my crockpot is 4 quarts?
Beth Pierce
No it should not. I used a small crockpot to cook this!
Jessica Willis
Cooking delicious foods
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much!!
Janey
This is a great recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Beth Pierce
Me too!!
Sylvia Johnson
Going to try beef stew for 2. Sounds good
Beth Pierce
Thanks! Sounds like a plan! Have a great weekend!