Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe

Crock pot beef stew is a classic recipe. This is one of the easiest and therefore most popular recipes for your slow cooker. If easy is the goal, then simply put the meat in raw (dredged in flour)to your slow cooker along with the other ingredients and away you go.

For a more complex flavor, we would recommend browning the meat before adding it to the crock pot. Although this is not absolutely necessary, it does add a depth of flavor to your stew. It also offers you a chance to drain off some of the fat prior to slow cooking.

Just be sure not to “cook” the meat while browning, otherwise you will find it will dry out the beef. Exactly what we are trying to avoid by slow cooking.

About Time:

• Prep Time:20 mins
• Cook Time: 4 Hours
• Total Time: 4 Hours 20mins

INGREDIENTS:

•  2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 onion, chopped
• green pepper
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 1 stalk celery, chopped

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; place meat in bowl, stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Place meat in slow cooker.
2. Stir together (in the now empty bowl) the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth. Dump over the meat. Add onion, potatoes,green pepper, carrots, and celery.
3. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours.

Possible changes:

1. A bit more involved, but you may find it worth the time.
2. Increase flour to 1/3 cup and substitute seasoned salt for regular salt. Put flour mixture into gallon-sized, zippered bag. Shake beef in bag to coat.
3. Sauté coated beef in 1-2 tablespoons olive oil until browned put in slow cooker. Add chopped onion to pan to sauté and soften. Transfer to slow cooker.
4. Mix beef broth with 1 TABLEspoon Worcestershire and ½ cup red wine. Pour into hot skillet to deglaze, then pour over beef and onions in cooker.
5. Add remaining ingredients with the addition of one packet McCormicks beef stew seasoning.

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