The Best Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker with Potatoes

There’s nothing quite like a big bowl of beef stew in the slow cooker with potatoes on a chilly day. This recipe is cozy, rich, and packed with flavor. It’s one of those set-it-and-forget-it meals that fills your kitchen with the most comforting aroma and makes dinnertime feel like a warm hug.

I’ve been leaning into more stew recipes lately as the weather cools down, and this one is officially on repeat in our house. Tender chunks of beef, soft potatoes, and a savory broth that’s been simmering all day long—it doesn’t get better than this.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Potatoes

This stew is hearty, satisfying, and super easy to prep. Here’s why it’s a keeper:

• Minimal hands-on time
• Deep, rich flavor thanks to low and slow cooking
• Makes the whole house smell amazing
• Perfect leftovers for lunch the next day

If you love this recipe, you might also enjoy these other easy recipes from the blog: Cozy Winter Slow Cooker Recipes, Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala, and Slow Cooker Beef Pasta Sauce.

What You’ll Need

To make this slow cooker beef stew recipe with potatoes, you’ll need:

• 3 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
• Salt and pepper
• 2–3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 onions, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 4 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1.5 lbs potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• 1.5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Cornstarch slurry: 1/4 cup water mixed with 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• Optional: 2 tablespoons soy sauce

How to Make Beef Stew with Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

1. Brown the beef: Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the beef in batches until nicely seared. Transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Sauté the veggies: In the same pan, melt butter and sauté the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery until just softened and fragrant. Add to the slow cooker.
3. Add remaining ingredients: Stir in tomato paste, beef broth, red wine, herbs, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Give everything a good stir and toss in the bay leaves.
4. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until beef is fork-tender and potatoes are soft.
5. Thicken the stew: Mix the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir it into the stew and cook on high for 20–30 minutes, or until thickened. Add soy sauce to deepen the flavor. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

FAQs about Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Potatoes

Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker with Potatoes

Hearty, cozy, and full of flavor, this beef stew in the slow cooker with potatoes is the ultimate comfort food for cold weather. An easy weeknight meal that tastes like it cooked all day—because it did!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 420 kcal

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  

• 3 lbs beef chuck cut into 1.5″ cubes
• Salt and pepper
• 2 –3 tbsp cooking oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 onions chopped
• 5 cloves garlic minced
• 4 carrots peeled and chopped
• 4 celery ribs chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1.5 lbs potatoes cut into 1-inch pieces
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 tsp thyme 1/2 tsp rosemary (optional)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• Cornstarch slurry: 1/4 cup water 3 tbsp cornstarch
• Optional: 2 tbsp soy sauce to deepen flavor

Instructions

 

• Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet and brown beef in batches. Transfer to slow cooker.
• Add butter to the skillet and sauté onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Transfer to slow cooker.
• Add tomato paste, beef broth, red wine, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir well.
• Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
• Mix cornstarch slurry and stir into the stew. Cook on high for another 20–30 minutes until thickened.
• Stir in soy sauce if using, adjust salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot.

Notes

This was AMAZING and so easy! Total comfort food. The perfect dinner to make when it’s chilly outside. I’ve been trying to make more stews lately and this one is a new favorite.

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This slow cooker beef stew with potatoes is pure cold-weather comfort. It’s hearty, flavorful, and couldn’t be easier to make. Perfect for busy weeknights, lazy Sundays, or when you just need something cozy bubbling away in the background. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!