Homemade Crock Pot Beef Stew
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Tender stew meat simmers in a hearty tomato based sauce that is loaded with potatoes, carrots, onion, celery and mushrooms to create our amazing Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe.
Simple ingredients make this classic and flavorful beef stew that my mom has made my entire life.
Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe
We have a variety of easy meals to use the beef that we raise on the farm from our Hamburger Casserole to Easy Chili and my Mom’s Meatloaf.
Our homemade Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe creates a hearty meal for a chilly day. The stew is packed with protein and has plenty of fresh vegetables and potatoes to provide a nice balance in every bite.
The beefy, brown gravy is enhanced with a packet of onion soup mix, can of tomato soup and has a warm undertone from the balsamic vinegar.
Serve with crusty bread and a simple green salad for a wonderful family meal!
Why This Beef Stew Is Worth Making
- Leftovers reheat and freeze really well!
- Can prep the celery, carrots, onions and mushrooms ahead of time. Wait to peel and cube potatoes until ready to cook the beef stew in the crock pot.
- Easy to adjust the vegetables to meet your family’s preference and use the produce you have on hand.
- Cook all day long in a slow cooker until the beef is super tender and dinner is ready whenever you want to eat.
- Stew holds well, so start cooking early and turn to keep warm for a few hours if necessary.
If you like this recipe you may also enjoy our Crock Pot Stew Meat and Mushrooms, Crock Pot Pork Chops, and my mom’s original Stew Recipe that she makes in the oven.
Ingredients Needed:
- Stew Meat – Lean beef is wonderful in this stew!
- Potatoes – Wash, peel and cut into 1″ cubes just before cooking the stew so potatoes don’t turn brown.
- Onions – My mom likes to cut into thick slices, but through testing we found that coarsely diced onions are easiest to eat on a spoon.
- Carrots – We like to peel whole carrots and slice diagonally into coin sized pieces.
- Celery – Two to three ribs sliced into half moon sized pieces.
- Mushrooms – White mushrooms sliced or cut into quarters.
- Tomato Soup – Use the beef broth to dilute this soup.
- Onion Soup Mix – Simplifies the seasoning process – Lipton or the store brand work equally well.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Can substitute red wine or omit. Adds a nice fragrance and light undertone that enhances the stew flavor.
- Flour – Helps thicken the sauce and makes the recipe more stew like than soup like.
- Beef Bouillon – We like Better Than Bouillon paste; cubes or prepared beef broth also work fine.
- Italian Seasoning, Black Pepper and Sea Salt are optional.
Through testing we determined the best ratio of ingredients to be 8 cups of vegetables, 3 cups of cubed potatoes and two pounds of stew meat. Feel free to make adjustments to the vegetables based on your preferences and what you have available.
When is Crock Pot Stew Meat Done?
Cook until beef is fall apart tender and very easy to chew. If the beef is tough or chewy it likely needs to cook longer.
Using the crock pot provides the low and slow method that’s best to create tender beef. It does take longer than you think to make stew meat tender.
Step By Step Instructions
In a small mixing bowl stir or whisk together can of undiluted tomato soup, packet of onion soup mix, flour, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning and pepper.
Prepare beef broth by diluting bouillon paste or cubes. Stir into the tomato mixture.
Wash and chop the carrots, celery, onion, mushrooms and potatoes.
Add vegetables and stew meat into a 6 quart or larger crock pot coated with non-stick cooking spray or lined with a plastic liner.
Pour over the meat and veggies in the crock pot and stir well.
The liquid should cover the bottom, but won’t be easily visible from the top. Vegetables will release liquid as they cook to create the crock pot beef stew recipe that we crave!
How Long To Slow Cook Cook Beef Stew
Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 or more or on high for 8 to 10 hours or longer.
Once meat reaches desired tenderness, turn slow cooker to keep warm until ready to serve.
Cooking stew meat on low heat using a slow cooker is our favorite method.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Especially when cooking on high stir every 2 to 3 hours if possible.
- Cut vegetables and potatoes into smaller than bite size pieces so a variety of ingredients will fit on each spoon full. Yet keep them thick enough to hold together while slow cooking all day.
- Stew meat needs to cook for a long time on low heat to become tender and create the best results.
- To thicken the stew scoop out some of the sauce and mix in two tablespoons of flour until dissolved. Return to the crock pot and stir. Repeat until stew reaches desired consistency.
More Delicious Meals With Beef
Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders is a fun spin on a traditional cheeseburger.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast is one of my son’s favorite meals!
Ground Beef and Hash Brown Casserole mixes meat, cheese and potatoes for a real winner.
Homemade Crock Pot Beef Stew
Author: JenniferIngredients
- 2 ounce packet onion soup mix
- 10.75 ounce can tomato soup undiluted
- 2 teaspoons beef bouillon paste
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 medium onions chopped
- 2 pounds stew meat
- 3 cups potatoes peeled and cut in bite sized cubes
- 1 – 1/2 cups carrots cut in thick diagonal slices
- 8 ounces white mushrooms cut in half or quarters
- 2 cups celery
Instructions
- Coat 6 or 7 quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray or use a liner.
- Heat water and dissolve beef bouillon paste or use 2 cups of beef broth.
- Whisk together tomato soup, onion soup mix, balsamic vinegar, beef broth, Italian seasoning, pepper and flour. Stir well.
- Add stew meat, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, celery and onion to the crock pot.
- Pour sauce over the meat and vegetables and stir well.
- Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours or on high for 8 to 10 hours.
- Stir every 2 to 3 hours for best results.