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
Tom Zoleke
Can pork be substituted for beef?
Beth Pierce
Yes but you might prefer something written up specifically for pork Pork Stew
Jimmy
I followed your recipe today, except I cut it in half and made it in my wee little 2 qt slow cooker. 4 1/2 hours made the meat tender and the veggies tasty. Next time, I’ll add an extra carrot but it was delicious! Thanks for posting this tasty and easy dish.I bought a chuck roast and cut it into 6 oz portions to freeze for another times.Now I can have this any time I’d like.
Beth Pierce
I am so glad that you liked it! Great idea to portion out the chuck roast.
Andreea
This stew is fantastic! This is the second time I plan to make it (but this time I am going to double up the ingredients so it lasts for a couple of days).
Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Andrea! So glad that you like it!
Jean
The best stew I’ve ever made for my son and I! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Jean! I am so glad that you enjoyed it!
Candy
Wow!!!! Was this recipe delicious!! I left out the wine as it bothers my arthritis. But hey! I am ready to make it again. 🤔 I think I will add mushrooms to the next batch.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much, Candy! So glad that you like the stew!
Hayley
Can you put cornstarch in to thicken up the soup? It’s looking pretty liquify in my crock pot at the moment.
Beth Pierce
Yes, you certainly can. Just make a cornstarch slurry.
Annette
I have frozen carrots on hand. What time should I add a frozen vegetable so they aren’t mushy?
Beth Pierce
Add them frozen about 1 hour before the completion time.
john
I was doing great untill I got to the part that said “remove the Bay Leaf!” My bay leaves are old asnd brittle and I tend to crush them up and sprinkle them over. Removal is not an option. That aside, it was a great recipe and Thank you.
Beth Pierce
Thanks John. So glad that you liked it! Be careful with those bay leaves as they can be sharp.
Maria
This is the best beef stew our family had! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine Maria!
Christen
This was delicious. Lots of flavor. I would like to know if you can include the veggies in the beginning so that you don’t have to do the halfway through the cooking process?
Beth Pierce
You could but they are going to get really soft. I have done it before because I just was not available and it is still delicious.
Jacque Hastert
We love stew all year long! I can’t wait to throw these ingredients into a slow cooker this weekend. I can’t wait to enjoy this delicious and comforting meal.
Emily Liao
Made this stew for dinner, and oh boy was it so good. The flavors were perfect and so cozy 🙂
Carrie Robinson
This is my kind of comfort food! Looks delicious. 🙂