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Cozy Poor Mans Beef Stew: Easy Slow Cooker Recipe

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This cozy poor man’s beef stew is a budget-friendly, set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker recipe that turns humble ingredients into a hearty, comforting meal. With tender beef, soft vegetables, and a savory broth, it tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen—but requires only 10 minutes of prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck or stew meat
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold preferred), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
  • 3 stalks celery, sliced
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • Salt and black pepper to taste (start with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper)
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef dry with paper towels. Cut into 1-inch pieces if needed. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Toss the beef with flour in a large bowl until lightly coated. Shake off excess.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the beef on all sides (2-3 minutes per side). Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened, scraping up browned bits from the pan. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  6. Pour in about 1/2 cup of the beef broth and scrape the pan to deglaze. Pour everything into the slow cooker over the beef.
  7. Add remaining broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and thyme to the slow cooker. Stir gently. Liquid should almost cover the beef; add more broth or water if needed.
  8. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until beef is fork-tender.
  9. Add potatoes, carrots, and celery. Stir to submerge in broth. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 1.5-2 hours, until vegetables are tender.
  10. Stir in frozen peas during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
  11. Remove bay leaves before serving. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the beef—it adds depth. Cut vegetables the same size for even cooking. Layer ingredients: beef on bottom, aromatics, then vegetables on top. Resist peeking to avoid heat loss. If stew is too thin, mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir in; cook on HIGH for 15-20 minutes. Season in layers for best flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef stew, slow cooker, poor man's stew, budget-friendly, comfort food, easy dinner, freezer-friendly

Find it online: https://bakebeam.com/cozy-poor-mans-beef-stew-easy-slow-cooker-recipe/