Slow Cooker Beef Stew

DELICIOUS Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a family favorite that we’ve enjoyed for years!! Your crock pot does all the work – just add your stew meat, carrots, potatoes, mushroom soup, water, and onion mix!

Slow cooker recipes always come in handy, and especially soup recipes made in the crockpot! This stew is just as simple and easy to make as our crock pot chicken stew, but with a savory beef flavor.

Beef Stew in a white bowl

hearty and simple slow cooker stew

Today’s delicious-ness is warm, chunky and super duper simple! This beef stew is one of those recipes that we got from the sister of a friend of a friend of a friend years ago (grandma has been making this since we were little).

It has become a family-favorite and is one we HAVE to have each winter, because it’s so classic, hearty and delicious.

We love it for the chunks of beef, carrots and potatoes. Oh yeah – it’s also great because it’ SIMPLE!! You pretty much throw everything in the crock pot and let it cook.

chopped carrots and Potatoes for beef stew recipe

Chop, throw, and go!

The only prep work this slow cooker beef stew really requires is chopping all of the vegetables, and cubing the meat. From there, you throw it all in the crock pot with just THREE other ingredients (mushroom soup, water, and onion soup mix), and let it cook!

Simple as that!

Tips and variations:

  • If you like, you can sear your meat in a pan on each side before cubing it. This will give it a nice seared flavor and more crisp outside.
  • The best kind of potatoes to use are red potatoes or yukon gold. But any kind will do!
  • If you don’t like cream of mushroom soup, you can try something like cream of beef or cream of potato. It will have a slightly different flavor!
  • Top off your soup with some fresh parsley before serving!

Beef stew in the crock pot

Making Ahead + Storing Info

Beef stew is a great soup for freezing. Simply place soup (completely cooled) into freezer bags or storage containers. Keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to use it, either thaw in the fridge overnight or heat on the stovetop.

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for 3-5 days.

slow cooker beef stew in a white bowl

Recipes like this slow cooker beef stew make me want to grab a blanket and turn on “While you were sleeping,” Right? Just me? (Ok, anything makes me want to watch that movie!)

Well, movie or no movie, this stew is truly awesome. And with just a few simple steps, it’ll be in your crock pot and ready for dinner in no time!

For more slow cooker soups, try:

More Collections: Winter Dinner Ideas

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

5 from 38 votes
DELICIOUS Slow Cooker Beef Stew filled with chunks of beef, potatoes and carrots - a family favorite that is hearty, simple and great for fall.
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 456 kcal
Author Lil' Luna

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds 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.

Video

Notes

Stove Top Directions: Cook meat with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until well browned. Add mushroom soup, onion soup mix and water or beef broth. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. Add potatoes and carrots and simmer for 1 more hour, or until vegetables are fork-tender. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
For Added Flavor: If you like, you can sear your meat in a pan on each side before cubing it and adding to the slow cooker. This will give it a nice flavor and a crisper outside.

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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Comments:

    1. 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. 😉

  1. 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 🙂

  2. 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!

        1. 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.

  3. I’ve had stew done this way and it’s fabulous! These classic, simple recipes are the best! Beautiful photos 🙂

  4. 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.

  5. 5 stars
    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).

  6. 5 stars
    My family loved this!!! My 10 year old said she thought it was so good and didnt really want “stew”. Everyone had seconds.

  7. 5 stars
    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!

  8. 5 stars
    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.

  9. 5 stars
    This is an amazing beef stew. My family and I really loved it. Easy to make and delicious! Will definitely make this again.

  10. 5 stars
    I’ve made this particular beef stew recipe twice. It is super easy to make and my entire family, kids included, enjoys it.

  11. 5 stars
    Love me a yummy and hearty slow cooker recipe! this one the entire family came back for seconds! Making it again real soon!

  12. 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

  13. 5 stars
    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.

    1. 5 stars
      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.

  14. 5 stars
    I cannot believe how simple and good this stew recipe is! I added some Worcestershire sauce and it was delicious!! Thank you!!

  15. 5 stars
    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.

  16. 5 stars
    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!!!