Slow Cooker Beef Stew is one of our favorite set-it-and-forget-it dinners because it’s hearty, simple, and full of tender beef and vegetables. Beef chuck roast, Yukon Gold potatoes, carrots, golden mushroom soup, broth, and onion soup mix cook together until everything is flavorful and fork-tender.
We love this for busy weeknights, Sunday dinners, and cold-weather meals because the slow cooker does almost all the work. Serve it with rolls, cornbread, or breadsticks for an easy family dinner that feels filling and homemade.
This slow cooker beef stew is one of those recipes that we got from the sister of a friend of a friend years ago (Grandma has been making this since we were little). For more of our favorite beef stew variations, be sure to try Mexican Beef and Instant Pot Beef Stew.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Pantry shortcuts. Uses simple pantry shortcuts like golden mushroom soup and onion soup mix.
- So good. Great for family dinners, meal prep, and cold-weather meals.
- Chuck roast gets tender as it slow cooks. Low heat helps break down the beef so it becomes fork-tender.
- Soup mix adds big flavor fast. Golden mushroom soup and onion soup mix create a savory sauce without extra prep.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Ingredients
- Beef chuck roast or other stew meat, cubed (3 pounds): Adds hearty protein and becomes tender as it slow cooks. Cubes should be bite-sized, about 1 inch.
- Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed (8): Adds creaminess, texture, and make the stew filling. The best kind of potatoes to use are red potatoes or Yukon Gold. But any kind will do!
- Carrots, peeled and sliced (6 medium): Adds sweetness, color, and tender vegetable bites. You can also add onion, green beans, and celery. Add more tender veggies like frozen peas or corn during the last 30-60 minutes.
- Golden mushroom soup (2 cans, 10.5 ounces each): Creates a savory, rich base for the stew.
- Water or beef broth (2 to 3 cups): Adds liquid for slow cooking and helps create the sauce.
- Onion soup mix (1 package, 2 ounces): Adds savory onion flavor and seasoning.
- Garlic salt and pepper, optional (to taste): Adds extra seasoning at the end if needed.
- Chopped parsley, optional: Adds freshness and color before serving.
How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Stew
COOK. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
- Cook on low for approximately 6 hours, then serve. Season with garlic salt, pepper, and chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- While not required, you can sear the beef cubes for extra flavor and texture before adding them to the crockpot.
- Cut beef and vegetables into similar-size pieces so everything cooks evenly.
- Use beef broth instead of water for a richer flavor.
- Cook on low for the most tender beef.
- Taste before adding garlic salt since onion soup mix can already be salty.
- It’s almost a faux pas to serve stew without a side of bread! We love serving it in a Bread Bowl or using a regular bowl with Homemade Cornbread on the side.
- For a stove-top version, try our Classic Beef Stew recipe.
- Make-ahead tip: chop the beef and vegetables the night before, then add everything to the slow cooker in the morning.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast or other stew meat, cubed
- 8 Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
- 6 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans golden mushroom soup
- 2-3 cups water, or beef broth
- 1 (2-ounce) package onion soup mix
- garlic salt and pepper, to taste (optional)
- chopped parsley, optional
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
- Cook on low for approximately 6 hours, then serve. Season with garlic salt, pepper, and chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- While not required, you can sear the beef cubes for extra flavor and texture before adding them to the crockpot.
- To thicken the stew, check out our post on How to Thicken Soup using a cornstarch slurry or all-purpose flour.
- It’s almost a faux pas to serve stew without a side of bread! We love serving it in a Bread Bowl or using a regular bowl with Sweet Cornbread on the side.
- For a stove-top version, try our Classic Beef Stew recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Add a little olive oil to a large skillet over high heat. Cook each side of the beef cubes just long enough for the outsides to form a delicious crust. After searing all the beef, pour a little broth or water into the hot pan and scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Add this flavorful liquid to your crock pot along with the browned beef.
Store leftover crock pot beef stew in an airtight container(s) in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, or freeze in freezer bags for up to 6 months.
Small portions can be heated in the microwave, while larger portions are best heated on the stovetop or crockpot. If needed, thaw in the fridge before heating.
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This recipe was originally published September 2015.
THIS LOOKS DELICIOUS I LOST MY RECIPE AND WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW AND THIS LOOKS GREAT CANT WAIT TO TRY IT
I hope you love it just as much as your old recipe!
This stew is incredible! So flavorful and easy to make
If you are making it in the slow cooker do you still need to brown the meat first? Thanks!
I think your sodium number is wrong. Two cans of soup have more than 194 mg sodium.
Recipe pleas printer down
Can I cook it on high in the crockpot for 4 hours. Lunch is served at one?
Rich and satisfying! We’ve been trying different stew recipes and have landed on the perfect one. Thank you!
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Can you thicken the gravy. My husband likes a thick stew
Yes you can! We like to mash up a few of the potatoes and stir. You can also remove 1 cup of stew, place it in a bowl, add 3-4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, stir until smooth and then add the flour mixture back into the stew. You can also use a cornstarch slurry.
What can be substituted for the mushroom soup?
Thank you
I haven’t ever tried subbing the golden mushroom soup. But that soup is more or less beef stock, a tomato sauce/puree and mushrooms. So you could probably search for a homemade version if you prefer to not use the condensed soup.
I use cream of chicken and it works great. My kids don’t like the mushrooms
Thanks for sharing!
My husband’s allergic to mushrooms, so I substituted the golden mushroom for 1 small can of cream of potato, a spoonful of tomato paste, and a slurry of beef broth/a spoonful of flour (i improvised with whatever I had). I added celery. Followed everything else exactly, using beef broth, and the stovetop instructions. Best stew we’ve had in a long time. Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe!
Hi this looks delicious – can it be made in a 4 quart slow cooker? thank you
Toss this in the crockpot and you will have the most amazing dinner around. It is my go to beef stew and is always a crowd pleaser! My kind of dinner, easy, and DELICIOUS!!!! Go to comfort food!!!
i did not have golden mushroom soup in the pantry.. can i sub for just regular creme of mushroom?
Yes, you can! The flavor will be a little different obviously, but it should still work.
Good recipe, one thing i do different in slow cookers is to keep the roast whole while cooking and break it up in the pot when about to serve. The meat is more tender this way. If doing in a pot on the stove then definitely cube first., but slow cookers perform better imo when the roast is left whole and cooked overnight.
Thanks for sharing!
I cannot believe how simple and good this stew recipe is! I added some Worcestershire sauce and it was delicious!! Thank you!!
You’re welcome!! I’m so glad you loved the stew!
Wonderful flavor. I added crimini mushrooms. I struggled with cooking it only 6 hours on low with the amount of ingredients. Kept it on for 8 and it was perfect.
The addition of mushrooms sounds delicious! I’m glad it turned out so well!
Cook on high for the first few hours then drop to low but tbh, you can cook it on high the entire time with no ill effects, its just tenderizes the meat even more. A slow cooker on high is equivalent to a stove top simmer.
Can i do on stove top? Just boiling my meat until tender first and adding Some Of The brOth from the meat to give that beef flavor? Then simm for awhile? Thank you
That sounds about right 🙂 Enjoy!!
What size can of mushroom soup is used in this recipe?
It would be the one close to 10.5 ounces 🙂 Hope you like it!
Love me a yummy and hearty slow cooker recipe! this one the entire family came back for seconds! Making it again real soon!
This is the ultimate comfort food, right here! I crave it all winter long. Everything is so tender & juicy!
I’ve made this particular beef stew recipe twice. It is super easy to make and my entire family, kids included, enjoys it.
Thank you! It is our favorite!
Have the stew cooking now. Smells delicious. Did anyone have to thicken the juices up with flour? Thanks!
I did not have to 🙂 Sure hope it was a hit!!
This is an amazing beef stew. My family and I really loved it. Easy to make and delicious! Will definitely make this again.
Glad your family likes it 🙂 It’s our favorite! Thank you for letting me know!
Delicious! This is really great Beef stew recipe. I love that it’s a slow cooker recipe. I’m always looking for new slow cooker recipes. Great flavor, great texture.
a hearty, warm delicious meal! Love how easy and filling this is. Everyone loves beef steW!
The ultimate comfort meal during the fall and winter! So easy and delicious!
This reminds me so much of a vietnamese beef stew dish. love! and so easy to make.
Grandma’s recipes are the best! This stew is delicious!
This beef stew is simply delicious. It’s a perfect dinner on a chilly winter day.
Another family favorite! There’s nothing like a bowl of stew on a cold winter night. Easy to prepare.
This is by far my family’s favorite soup!! Everything is so tender & it’s very flavorful! We have to have it all winter long!
have you ever used frozen Sliced carrots? Maybe even frozen DIced potatoes?
Yes, you for sure could. That’s perfect for when in a pinch!
My family loved this!!! My 10 year old said she thought it was so good and didnt really want “stew”. Everyone had seconds.
Haha!! I am so glad she loved it! Thank you so much!
Just wanted to tell you how very much my family and I are enjoying your recipes…I’m especially concentrating on the 20 slow cooker ones now. Thank you so very much! (My website is under construction but I have started).
Thank you so much! You are so nice! I’m so glad you do!
Is the mushroom soup “condensed”??
Yes 🙂 ENJOY!
Cannot do mushroom soup…any substitute suggested?
Maybe you could try a vegetable soup or use beef broth? Hope those ideas help!
Try cream of celery or other cream condensed soup.
What is the green seasoning on top that shows in the picture? Looks so yummy! I’m going to make it tomorrow.
I’m making this now but it’s been 6 hours and the meat still isn’t cooked. How much longer should I cook it for in increments? Thanks.
I’ve had stew done this way and it’s fabulous! These classic, simple recipes are the best! Beautiful photos 🙂
Thank you so much, Valerie! There’s nothing better than simple and delicious recipes. 🙂
I love using my slow cooker for stews. This stew looks absolutely perfect too!
Thank you!! Stew is the best on a cold day… still waiting for it to be cold here in Houston. 😉
Any advice for cooking this on the stovetop?
I haven’t done this particular stew on the stove, but you would probably need to brown your meat first, then add your ingredients. I’m not sure how long it would take, but I would bring it to a boil, then simmer until potatoes & carrots are tender & meat cooked.
Beef stew is like the ultimate comfort food. This looks crazy good!
Totally agree! Thanks for stopping by! 😀
Wow! This seriously is easy! The pictures are so gorgeous – it looks rich, meaty and really flavorful … yet all with just a few ingredients, quickly tossed into the slow cooker! Perfect for busy days!
THANK YOU!! It’s definietly perfect for busy, cool days!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Everything about this looks FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! Those potatoes tho…..
This stew is so simple and to the point! I always seem to go overboard (just made a stew a couple of days ago that took forever!) At least I know if I am not in the mood to stand at the stove for hours that I can make this in the slow cooker 🙂
Oh it’s that time of year again! I love good hearty stews when the weather cools off.
Can you be any more specific on the size of package of carrots? Thanks!
I’m not sure of the ounces but it’s the only bag of full-size carrots I see at the grocery store. You peel those and slice them and add them to the stew. You are welcome to add as many or as little carrots. 😉
I came on to ask the same question. Kroger has 1 pound and 2 pound bags. big difference.
I just use the 1 pound bag, but if you like more, you can always add more.