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Best Ever Beef Stew Recipe

This Best Ever Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food, made with tender chunks of beef, hearty vegetables, and a deeply flavorful broth that slowly simmers to perfection. Cooked low and slow, this classic stew delivers melt-in-your-mouth beef and rich, savory flavors that make it perfect for cozy dinners, meal prep, or cold-weather meals.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds beef stew meat
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 heaping teaspoons beef demi-glace
  • or beef Swanson Flavor Boost or Better Than Bouillon
  • 4 medium to large red-skinned potatoes washed and diced
  • 3 large carrots peeled and sliced
  • 1 stalk celery diced

Instructions

  • Place beef stew meat, flour, and seasoning salt into a resealable plastic bag. Shake until the beef is evenly coated.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and brown on all sides.
  • Transfer browned beef to the bottom of a slow cooker using a slotted spoon. Season with black pepper.
  • In the same skillet, sauté diced onion for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer onions to the slow cooker.
  • Add Worcestershire sauce, water, and beef demi-glace to the skillet. Whisk well, scraping the pan to release flavor.
  • Pour the broth mixture into the slow cooker.
  • Add potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaves to the slow cooker.
  • Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
  • Remove bay leaves before serving. Serve hot.

Notes

Best Beef

  • Use chuck or labeled stew meat for the most tender results

Flavor Boost

  • Browning the beef first adds deep, rich flavor

Storage

  • Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days
  • Freeze up to 3 months

Serving Ideas

  • Serve with crusty bread, rice, or mashed potatoes