Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Beef Stew
A hearty and budget-friendly slow cooker beef stew made with simple ingredients and tender beef chunks simmered to perfection. Perfect for a comforting meal any day of the week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups beef broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cold water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add beef cubes in batches and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker.
Add carrots, potatoes, onion, and garlic to the slow cooker.
In a medium bowl, whisk together beef broth, diced tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper.
Pour the broth mixture over the beef and vegetables in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 7 hours or until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through.
About 30 minutes before serving, remove the bay leaf from the slow cooker.
In a small bowl, mix flour and cold water until smooth to create a slurry.
Stir the slurry into the stew in the slow cooker to thicken the sauce.
Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes more, until the stew has thickened.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.