Crockpot Beef Stew (Easy, Hearty & Comforting!) – The Ultimate Cozy Dinner

When you think of classic comfort food, something warm, rich, deeply flavorful, and soul-soothing, there’s one dish that stands above the rest: Crockpot Beef Stew (Easy, Hearty & Comforting!). This recipe brings together tender melt-in-your-mouth beef, soft carrots, buttery potatoes, aromatic herbs, and a savory, thickened broth that tastes like it’s been simmering all day — because it has.

This is the kind of stew that fills your home with mouthwatering aroma, brings everyone to the kitchen, and warms you from the inside out. It’s timeless, cozy, and satisfying — literally everything you want in a one-pot dinner.

But the best part?
The crockpot does all the work.

Minimal prep, no babysitting, and dinner cooks while you live your life. Whether it’s a busy weekday, a cold winter evening, meal prep Sunday, or just a day you want something warm and comforting — this beef stew is the perfect go-to.

What Makes This Crockpot Beef Stew SO Good?

1. The Beef Gets Fork-Tender

Slow cooking transforms stew meat into incredibly soft, fall-apart pieces that soak up all the savory flavors.

2. Rich, Thick, Velvety Broth

Flour, tomato paste, beef broth, and slow cooking create a naturally thick gravy-like broth that clings to every bite.

3. Perfect Balance of Veggies

Potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery give texture, color, and flavor — no ingredient feels out of place.

4. Hands-Off Cooking

Prep takes under 15 minutes; the crockpot handles the rest.

5. Budget-Friendly

Stew meat + veggies + pantry staples = a big batch of comforting food for little cost.

6. Incredible for Meal Prep

Stew tastes EVEN BETTER the next day as flavors deepen.

Ingredients for Crockpot Beef Stew

Beef & Veggies

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cubed
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 medium potatoes, diced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Broth & Flavor

• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bay leaf

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp paprika

For Thickening

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Optional:

• peas (added at end)
• fresh parsley
• extra Worcestershire
• splash of red wine

How to Make Crockpot Beef Stew

1. Brown the beef (optional but highly recommended)

Heat oil in a skillet. Toss beef in flour, shaking off excess. Sear until golden on all sides. This adds rich caramelized flavor.

2. Transfer beef to crockpot

Add browned beef to the slow cooker.

3. Add vegetables

Place potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic over the beef.

4. Add broth mixture

In a bowl, whisk beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and all seasonings. Pour over everything.

5. Slow cook

Cook on LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours until beef is tender and veggies are soft.

6. Adjust consistency

If thicker stew is desired, mash a few potatoes directly in the pot or mix 1 tbsp flour with water and stir in the last 20 minutes.

7. Finish

Taste and add more salt, pepper, or Worcestershire as needed. Add peas if using.

8. Serve hot

Garnish with parsley and serve with bread, biscuits, or rice.

Crockpot Beef Stew (Easy Hearty & Comforting!)

A rich, savory, and perfectly comforting Crockpot Beef Stew made with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, and herbs. Thick, hearty, and slow-cooked to perfection.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 hours hrs

Total Time 7 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 6 bowls

Course: Dinner, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 420

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Protein & Vegetables

• 2 lbs beef stew meat cubed
• 4 carrots sliced
• 4 potatoes diced
• 3 celery stalks sliced
• 1 onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced

Broth & Flavor

• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bay leaf

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp paprika

For Thickening

• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Equipment

• Crockpot
• Skillet
• Knife
• Cutting board

Method

 

1. Toss beef in flour and sear in olive oil until browned.
2. Transfer beef to crockpot.
3. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.
4. Whisk broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and seasonings; pour into crockpot.
5. Cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours.
6. Mash some potatoes or add a flour slurry for thicker stew if desired.
7. Serve hot and garnish with parsley.

Notes

Add peas during the last 10 minutes of cooking for color and sweetness.

What Makes This Beef Stew Thicken Naturally?

• Dusting beef in flour before browning
• Potatoes releasing starch
• Slow reduction during long cooking

You get a luxurious, velvety broth — no cornstarch needed unless you want extra thickness.

Variations

Classic Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

Skip tomato paste. Add more thyme and bay leaf.

Guinness Beef Stew

Replace 1 cup of broth with stout beer.

Red Wine Beef Stew

Add ½ cup dry red wine for richness.

Low-Carb Version

Use turnips or cauliflower instead of potatoes.

Vegetable-Heavy Stew

Add mushrooms, peas, parsnips, or green beans.

What to Serve with Crockpot Beef Stew

• warm crusty bread
• cheesy garlic toast
• biscuits
• mashed potatoes
• egg noodles
• side salads

The stew is pure comfort — you can pair it with anything cozy.

Storage & Freezing

Refrigerator:

Keeps 4–5 days.

Freezer:

Freeze up to 3 months.

Reheat:

Stovetop on medium heat, microwave in intervals, or in the crockpot on warm.