Looking for something healthy and savory? Come home to this comforting, slow cooker beef stew recipe, which can be cooked perfectly while at work.

Looking for something healthy and savory? Come home to this comforting, slow cooker beef stew recipe, which can be cooked to perfection while you’re at work.

A few years ago, I tried a slow cooked kalbi dish at a Korean barbeque restaurant in San Francisco. (If you haven’t heard of Kalbi before, it’s Korean barbequed beef short ribs.) Let me tell you, nothing could have prepared me for what my taste buds were about to experience.

The big chunks of beef were so juicy and tender, they immediately fell apart. To complement the savory flavor, it came with potatoes, mushrooms, and carrots, which were perfectly cooked.

All of us at the table devoured the dish without saying a word to each other. When I looked over at my busily eating husband, he nodded towards me and managed to squeeze a few words out of his full mouth: “We need to get you a crockpot!”

Looking for something healthy and savory? Come home to this comforting, slow cooker beef stew recipe, which can be cooked to perfection while you’re at work.

Well, all right. I was almost sold. But I told myself that first, I’d need to find a slow cooker recipe enticing enough to justify adding another appliance to my crowded kitchen. A few weeks later when I came across a crockpot beef stew recipe online with tons of modifications suggested by people who’ve tried it, I knew the time had come.

The ingredients immediately took me back to sitting in that Korean barbeque restaurant, devouring the kalbi. They were similar but with a different marinade. I couldn’t wait to recreate this experience at home.

The first time I made this beef stew recipe—which was the first slow cooker recipe I ever made—after six hours of slow cooking, I couldn’t stop myself from just standing in the middle of the kitchen and breathing it all in. The aromas escaping from the little vents in the crock pot lid were un-freaking-believable.

Looking for something healthy and savory? Come home to this comforting, slow cooker beef stew recipe, which can be cooked to perfection while you’re at work.

When it came time to transfer the stew to a bowl, the tender beef fell apart as it hit the dish. When I took my first bite, it felt as though the beef was melting in my mouth. My heart almost melted too. That’s when I realized this six-quart crockpot was the best 25 bucks I’d ever spent—and that comfort food in our household was about to reach new heights.

Perfect for cold weather, this slow-cooker beef stew recipe makes four generous servings. If you’re cooking for only one or two people, you’ll have plenty for lunches. I could also argue that the flavor tastes even better the next day.

Looking for something healthy and savory? Come home to this comforting, slow cooker beef stew recipe, which can be cooked to perfection while you’re at work.

I like serving this beef stew on top of rice to make it extra hearty and satisfying. Feel free to experiment with your own ingredients too. Some of you have suggested adding tomatoes, which I think is a great idea. Tomato paste, a splash of red wine, or fresh thyme could also be good. I’d love to hear from you in the comments if you give this recipe a try!

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Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Sharon Chen
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 hours
  • Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Meat, Main Course
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Looking for something healthy and savory? Come home to this comforting, slow cooker beef stew recipe, which can be cooked to perfection while you’re at work.

Ingredients

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  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pound beef stew meat or chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, sliced
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 3 medium-sized red potatoes, cubed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 cups beef bone broth or low-sodium beef stock
  • 4 cloves of garlic, pressed
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Cilantro or fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, and ground black pepper together.
  2. Coat beef with the flour mixture and put it in a crock pot with all the veggies and bay leaf.
  3. In the same bowl, add beef bone broth or low-sodium beef broth, pressed garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika. Stir and then pour it over all the ingredients in the slow cooker.
  4. Cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.
  5. Garnish with a few cilantro or parsley leaves (optional) and serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe calls for all-purpose flour. If you follow a gluten-free diet, you can try substituting for Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free all-purpose flour.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 330
  • Sugar: 4.8g
  • Sodium: 815mg
  • Fat: 6.7g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0.3g
  • Carbohydrates: 39.3g
  • Fiber: 4.6g
  • Protein: 29.6g
  • Cholesterol: 74.8mg

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About the Author

Sharon Chen, StreetSmart Kitchen
Sharon Chen

Sharon Chen is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and author of the Complete Sous Vide Cookbook. She believes food not only brings healing but also connection. As the creator of StreetSmart Kitchen, she aims to make meal prep easier than ever and help you find balance, ease, joy, and simplicity in the kitchen as you improve your well-being.