Slow Cooker Beef Stew

A cozy beef stew will aways top our list of favorite winter dinner ideas. Though any satisfying stew recipe can be made in a stovetop pot or Dutch oven, the slow cooker makes this beef stew recipe even easier! This slow cooker beef stew is the perfect family meal full of flavor and hearty ingredients—just the thing to warm you up from the inside out.

Can you put raw beef in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can put raw beef in a slow cooker—that's exactly how this recipe starts! Add the beef to the base of a Crock-Pot, top it with the cooking liquid, then other vegetables. The beef sits closest to the heating element at the base of the slow cooker, while the vegetables cook gently at the top. This yields meltingly tender beef and soft, not mushy vegetables.

Do I have to brown stew meat before slow cooking?

You can brown the stew meat before slow cooking, but it is not necessary. Searing meat caramelizes the surface, which contributes a savory element to a stew. In the absence of browning the meat in this recipe, the flavor is boosted by ingredients such as tomato paste, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, mushrooms and fresh thyme. The addition of flour to the cooking liquid yields a rich, thick broth, which makes the difference between stew versus soup.

Is it better to cook stew on low or high?

Depending on the time that you have available, this stew can be cooked on high or low. If starting the stew in the mid-afternoon for Sunday dinner, cook on high for four to five hours. If prepping for a weeknight dinner, start the stew before you head to work, and cook on low for seven to eight hours.

Why is my stew meat tough in the slow cooker? 

Beef stew meat should cook up tender in a slow cooker. If it's still tough, it may need more time. Continue to cook in the slow-cooker for another 30 to 60 minutes, before testing again.