This easy slow cooker beef stew is the ultimate comfort food! Just like the one my dad used to make, it’s rich, hearty, and packed with tender beef and vegetables. Prep it in the morning, set it, and forget it. By dinner, you’ll have a family-friendly meal that will disappear in no time.
I’m a sucker for nostalgia when it comes to food. Whether it’s a classic Australian apricot chicken, my mum’s pumpkin soup recipe, or my husband’s childhood favourite curried sausages, you know I love celebrating food that creates family memories.
This beef stew recipe is no exception. Growing up, my dad did most of the cooking, and while I was a VERY fussy eater, his beef stew was always the one dinner I couldn’t resist, and I would request he make it every chance I got.
Now this recipe is not his, and I haven’t had his beef stew for a very long time, but this version is a variation of what I’ve been making since I moved out of home whenever I needed something warm, cosy and comforting. It also helps remind me of him which is of course one of the most special things about food.
What I love about this recipe for my life right now is that it’s made in the slow cooker. It means I can easily put it on the morning (when I still have energy and motivation!), and have dinner ready to go when I finish work when I don’t feel like doing anything.
This recipe is pretty simple, and the long, slow cooking time helps to ensure the best flavour and tender pieces of beef. It’s so easy in fact that I make this exact recipe in a camp oven over the fire on camping trips. It’s much requested!
Key Ingredients
This slow cooker beef stew is forgiving and uses simple, everyday ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
Note all ingredients and their quantities are laid out in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Beef chuck – you can use any cut of stewing beef if you can’t get chuck such as blade or gravy beef.
- Plain flour – also known as all purpose flour, this is used to coat the beef before cooking and help ensure a rich, thick gravy at the end.
- Onion and garlic – the flavour base.
- Potatoes, carrots and peas – the base vegetables for the stew but you could also use celery in this mix. The peas are added right at the end of the cooking time to ensure they don’t end up mushy.
- Tomato paste – adds a richer, deeper flavour to the gravy.
- Worcestershire sauce – optional, but I do think this is an essential pantry staple as it helps the gravy develop a rich flavour.
- Thyme – you can use dried or fresh for this recipe. If you’d prefer another herb you can also use oregano, parsley, bay leaf or simply leave it out.
- Beef stock – using beef broth is the key to a rich, flavourful stew. I like to use a salt-reduced version so I can control the saltiness of the stew. You could also replace some of this liquid with red wine for a richer flavour.
Step-By-Step Instructions
To make this easy beef stew with vegetables, you’ll of course need a slow cooker or a multi-function cooker, like an Instant Pot that has a slow cooker setting.
Step 1: Start by preparing all the ingredients. Peel and chop the vegetables into large chunks and dice the meat. This stew is pretty rustic so your chopping doesn’t have to be perfect.
Step 2: To a large zip lock bag (or you can just use a bowl but I find the bag method so much easier) add the chopped beef pieces, the flour and season with salt and pepper. Shake the bag vigorously to evenly coat the beef pieces with the flour.
Step 3: Brown the beef. Depending on the slow cooker you have, you can either use a sauté setting or do this step using a frying pan on the stove over medium heat. Heat some olive oil and add the beef and sauté until just browned.
Depending on the size of your pan, you may want to do this in batches as it’s important not to overcrowd the pan so that the beef sears and you get the extra colour and flavour that this step brings to the stew.
Step 4: Remove the beef from the pan and add it to your slow cooker. Add the onion and garlic with a little extra olive oil if needed and continue cooking until the onions have softened.
Step 5: Add the cooked onion to the slow cooker with the beef, along with the chopped potatoes, carrots, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and beef stock. Give it a good stir before placing on the lid and letting it cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
Step 6: Once the stew has finished cooking, add the peas and mix through. If your slow cooker has a simmer function you can let it simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly and let the peas cook, otherwise just leave it to keep cooking for 15 minutes or until the peas are soft.
🤓Tip! The stew will thicken as it cools and the flavours will intensify over time, so it actually is better on day 2 or 3! Perfect for meal prep or to keep in the freezer for easy weeknight options.
Serving Suggestion: Serve it with rice, dairy free mashed potatoes, or my favourite, a couple of slices of fresh no-knead bread to really soak up all that gravy!
Recipe FAQs
No, for this recipe it’s not needed as we add flour to the beef at the beginning.
Yes you can make this in the oven! Make sure to use a large, heavy based pot on the stove and after searing the beef and cooking the onion, add in the tomato paste Worcestershire sauce and the potatoes and carrots. Cook for a few more minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add back in the beef, thyme and stock and mix to combine. Place the lid on and add the pot to a low oven for 3-4 hours, checking occasionally to stir. If the stew is getting too thick, add a little water so it doesn’t dry out.
Absolutely! This stew freezes well. Allow it to cool completely, then transfer it to airtight containers or freezer bags. Label them with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or microwave before serving.
Yes! Especially if you’re serving this stew with mashed potatoes you may want to use celery, parsnips and/or swede instead.
If you do make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! And tag any of your creations on Instagram with @eightforestlane as I would love to see.
More slow cooker recipes:
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Bolognese
Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken
Slow Cooker Corned Beef
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Equipment
Ingredients
- 700 grams to 1 kilogram beef chuck
- ¼ cup plain flour/all purpose flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- 2-3 potatoes chopped into cubes
- 2 carrots chopped into cubes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 cups beef stock
- 1 cup frozen peas
To Serve:
- Bread mashed potatoes or rice
- Fresh thyme or parsley
Instructions
- Cut the beef into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large bowl or zip-lock bag with the plain flour, salt, and pepper. Toss until all pieces are evenly coated.
- Heat a little oil in a large pan over medium-high heat (or use the sear function on your slow cooker/multi-cooker). Brown the beef in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Remove browned beef and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the onion and garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer the beef, onion, and garlic to the slow cooker. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and season with a little extra salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Pour in the beef stock and stir to combine all ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until the beef and vegetables are tender.
- About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the frozen peas. Cook until heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Spoon the stew into bowls and serve with bread, mashed potatoes, or rice. Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a guide only and is calculated using automated online tools, therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We encourage you to make your own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
This recipe was originally published in July 2023 and has been updated in 2025 with new photos and more helpful information.
Made this recipe? Leave a review!