Slow cooker beef stew
When the weather starts to get colder, there's nothing better than a hearty bowl of beef stew to warm you up from the inside out. And the best part? You can easily make it in a slow cooker, which means you can throw all the ingredients in and let it cook while you go about your day. Here's how to make the perfect slow cooker beef stew:
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup red wine
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 4 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 potatoes, chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme.
2. Add the beef to the bowl and toss to coat with the flour mixture.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the beef in batches and cook until browned on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
4. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker.
5. Add the onion and garlic to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
6. Add the beef broth and red wine to the skillet and bring to a simmer, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
7. Pour the mixture over the beef in the slow cooker.
8. Add the carrots, celery, potatoes, and bay leaves to the slow cooker.
9. Stir everything to combine.
10. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours, until the beef is tender.
11. Stir in the frozen peas and let cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, until heated through.
12. Serve hot with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes.
Tips:
- For an extra kick of flavor, add a tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce to the skillet when making the broth and wine mixture.
- To make this stew even heartier, add a can of drained and rinsed white beans to the slow cooker along with the other vegetables.
- If you prefer your stew to be thicker, mix 1 tbsp. of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of cold water and stir it into the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Variations:
- To make this stew gluten-free, replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour or cornstarch.
- For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with mushrooms and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
Conclusion:
There's something about a slow cooker beef stew that makes it feel like the ultimate comfort food. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can have a delicious meal that will warm you up on even the coldest days. So grab your slow cooker and get cooking!