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Cozy Slow Cooker Beef and Vegetable Stew

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A simple, forgiving, and deeply comforting slow cooker stew made with tender chuck roast and hearty vegetables. This set-it-and-forget-it meal delivers rich flavor and soul-soothing warmth with minimal active prep time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 large carrots, peeled and chopped into 1-inch chunks
  • 1.5 pounds potatoes (Yukon Gold or russet), peeled and cubed
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oil (for searing)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef in batches until browned on all sides (3-4 minutes per batch). Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker insert.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté diced onions and celery for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Deglaze the skillet with a splash of beef broth or wine, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Pour this mixture over the beef in the slow cooker.
  5. Add chopped carrots, potatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves to the slow cooker. Pour in the remaining beef broth and stir to combine.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until beef is fork-tender.
  7. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning. If a thicker consistency is desired, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water and stir into the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Notes

For best results, use the LOW setting to allow connective tissues to break down. Do not skip searing the meat if possible, as it adds significant flavor depth. Keep vegetables in 1-inch chunks to prevent them from turning to mush. This stew freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, beef stew, comfort food, easy dinner, chuck roast, vegetable stew, one pot meal, gluten-free

Find it online: https://sizzlesprout.com/cozy-slow-cooker-beef-and-vegetable-stew-best-easy-dinner/