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Hearty slow cooker beef stew recipe is a family favorite that we’ve enjoyed for years!! Your crock pot does all the work!

For more of our favorite beef stew variations, be sure to try Mexican Beef Stew and Instant Pot Beef Stew as well!

Slow cooker Beef Stew in a white bowl.

Everyone Loves Beef Stew!

This crockpot beef stew recipe 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).

It’s now a family favorite soup that we HAVE to make each winter because it’s so classic and delicious.

But there’s even more to love about this dish:

  • Hearty. Filled with chunks of beef stew meat, carrots, and potatoes, you won’t be left hungry.
  • Easy. You pretty much throw everything in the crock pot and let it cook. It’s more hands-off than our stovetop Beef Stew Recipe.
  • Flavorful. For how simple the ingredients are, this stew is PACKED with savory flavor, and the meat and veggies come out so soft and tender after slow cooking.
Cooking beef stew meat in a blue pot.

Ingredients

  • beef chuck roast – or other stew meat. Cubes should be bite sized; about 1 inch. 
  • Yukon Gold potatoes – The best kind of potatoes to use are red potatoes or Yukon gold. But any kind will do!
  • carrots – You can also add onion, green beans, celery. Add more tender veggies like frozen peas or corn during the last 30-60 minutes. 
  • golden mushroom soup – or another complementary soup flavor like cream of beef or cream of potato
  • water or beef broth
  • package onion soup mix
  • garlic salt and pepper to taste 
  • chopped parsley – optional garnish
Chopped carrots and potatoes for beef stew recipe on a cutting board.

How to Make Beef Stew in a Crock Pot

The only prep work this slow cooker beef stew recipe really requires is chopping all of the vegetables, and cubing the meat. From there, you throw it all in the crock pot and let it cook!

  1. COMBINE. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
  2. COOK. Cook on low for approximately 6 hours, then serve. Season with garlic salt, pepper, and chopped parsley, if desired.

For stove top directions, try our Classic Beef Stew recipe.

Pro Tip

Serve with a side of bread. It’s almost a faux pa to serve stew without a side of bread! Here are some of our favorites with this recipe:

Cooked beef stew meat in a pot.

Recipe Tips

  • Thick texture. If you feel like your stew is too thick, simply add more water or broth.
  • Thin texture. If the stew is too thin, 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.
  • Searing the beef. To sear; add a little olive oil to a large skillet and over high heat cook each side of the beef cubes just long enough for the outsides to form a delicious crust. 
  • For added flavor, add some of your favorite seasonings like: thyme, bay leaves or even a little Worcestershire sauce.
Potatoes, carrots, and beef in a slow cooker.

Storing Info

  • STORE. Any leftover simple beef stew recipe can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Small portions can be heated in the microwave while larger portions are best heated on the stovetop.  
  • Freezer meal. Simply place cooled best crock pot beef stew into freezer bags or storage containers. Keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to use it, either thaw it in the fridge overnight or heat it on the stovetop.
Slow cooker beef stew served in a white bowl.

For more slow cooker soups, try:

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5 from 98 votes

Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Hearty slow cooker beef stew is a family favorite that we've enjoyed for years!! Your crock pot does all the work!
Servings: 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 10 minutes

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.ย 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.ย 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 456kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 37g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 194mg, Potassium: 1428mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 7669IU, Vitamin C: 36mg, Calcium: 66mg, Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ 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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5 from 98 votes (76 ratings without comment)

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69 Comments

  1. Proxy says:

    A lot of the things you mention happens to be astonishingly precise and it makes me wonder why I had not looked at this with this light before. This article really did turn the light on for me personally as far as this specific subject matter goes. Nevertheless there is actually one point I am not really too cozy with and whilst I try to reconcile that with the main theme of your point, allow me see just what all the rest of the subscribers have to say.Nicely done.

  2. Nicole Bason says:

    Can you thicken the gravy. My husband likes a thick stew

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      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.

  3. Nicki says:

    What can be substituted for the mushroom soup?
    Thank you

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      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.

    2. Polly Rowell says:

      I use cream of chicken and it works great. My kids donโ€™t like the mushrooms

      1. Lil'Luna Team says:

        Thanks for sharing!

  4. Taahine Tonga says:

    5 stars
    My husbandโ€™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 weโ€™ve had in a long time. Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe!

  5. Karen Matthews says:

    Hi this looks delicious – can it be made in a 4 quart slow cooker? thank you

  6. Sarah says:

    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!!!

  7. mina a says:

    i did not have golden mushroom soup in the pantry.. can i sub for just regular creme of mushroom?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yes, you can! The flavor will be a little different obviously, but it should still work.

  8. Nick says:

    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.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Thanks for sharing!

  9. Jan says:

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

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You’re welcome!! I’m so glad you loved the stew!

  10. Camille says:

    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. LilLunaTeam says:

      The addition of mushrooms sounds delicious! I’m glad it turned out so well!

    2. Nick says:

      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.