How to Make Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker
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Learn how to make beef stew in the slow cooker with this easy beef stew recipe. Loaded with vegetables and flavorful seasonings, this ground beef stew is the perfect hearty and filling comfort food dish.
I’m a big fan of slow cooker stews when the weather gets cooler and this easy beef stew is one of my favorites. It’s so easy to make, as it uses frozen vegetables, packets of seasoning, and tender beef. All you need to do is add all of the ingredients to the crockpot and go about your day. You will come home to an easy but delicious gourmet meal. How good does that sound?
Each spoonful of this flavorful goodness warms my belly and my soul. The combination of crushed tomatoes, beef broth, ranch dressing mix, and Italian dressing mix takes the stew’s flavor over the top – trust me. I just know your family will love this slow cooker beef stew as much as mine. It’s hearty, filling, scrumptious, and such an easy comfort food main dish to serve for supper when you’re busy during the week.
Alright, let’s learn how to make beef stew in the slow cooker.
Recipe Ingredients
- Lean ground beef
- Frozen stew mix (veggie mix) or gumbo mix
- Frozen butter beans or baby lima beans
- Small onion
- Chopped crushed tomatoes
- Beef broth
- Ranch dressing mix
- Italian dressing mix
How to Make Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker
Dump everything except the meat into the slow cooker/crock pot.
Take your meat and pinch off bits at a time to add to the crock pot, until it is all added. As discussed below, if I am using ground beef I add it raw. But if I am using larger chunks of meat I will sear it first in garlic and then add the to the .
Give this a little stir and turn it on. You’ll want to cook your beef stew on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
Go about your day and get ready for a delicious supper!
Oh my. This crockpot beef stew is such a soothing bowl of deliciousness with flavors that hit all the right notes!
Enjoy! And hey, if there are any leftovers, it’s even better the next day.
Storage
- Store stew leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Beef stew also freezes beautifully, so I usually make extra and freeze it in single servings for my family to heat up or to take to friends who just need a little act of kindness for the day. Thaw in the fridge before reheating as above.
Recipe Notes
- You can use any type of beef you like to make this flavorful dish. If you use ground beef, you are going to add this ground beef uncooked. This adds more flavor to your stew. If you use larger chunks of cubed stew meat (opt for beef chuck roast), I like to sear the beef cubes in a little garlic butter before adding them to the stew. Searing the adds a whole bunch to the flavor.
- I buy the boxes of ranch and Italian dressing mix that has three or four envelopes in them and use one envelope per recipe. It’s cheaper to buy it this way.
- For the beef stock, you can also use two cups of water and two beef bullion cubes.
- Substitute the frozen butter beans for baby lima beans or the vegetable of your choice. Carrot, potato, celery, and frozen peas are stew favorites.
- Many recipes use to add , but I like the combination of the crushed tomatoes with the packets of beef stew seasoning mix in this instance.
Recipe FAQs
What is frozen stew mix?
A couple of people asked what this is so I came back to clarify. Frozen stew mix is just a mix of frozen veggies in a bag that you buy in the freezer section. Usually, it’s green beans or okra, corn, chopped onions, and sometimes tomatoes and such. It can be any blend of frozen veggies you like, though. I love the type that has okra in it for this stew.
What do you serve with this ?
Serve your stew with crusty slices of bread, cornbread, crackers, or homemade buttermilk biscuits to soak up the juicy broth. You may also want to serve it with cauliflower rice, quinoa, brown rice, mashed potato, or mashed sweet potato.
Can you put raw beef in the slow cooker?
Yes, you absolutely can! I break up my uncooked ground beef and add it to the slow cooker as is. You can do the same if using beef chuck pieces. However, searing it just adds to the depth and flavor of the stew, so I highly recommend it if you have time.
How to make ?
If you want to cook this in the , first place it on saute to sear the with the onion and . Then add the remaining ingredients, seal the , and high- the for 35 minutes. After, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then your will be done.
Check out these other sensational stews:
Ground Beef Stew (With a Secret Ingredient)
Beef and Smoked Sausage Stew in the Crockpot
Our Family’s Southern Chicken Stew Recipe
Lentil Stew (Budget Friendly & Delicious)
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef uncooked (or seared beef chunks)
- 1 bag frozen stew mix or gumbo mix 12-ounce
- 1 bag frozen butter beans 12-ounce, can substitute for baby lima beans or veggie of your choice
- 1 chopped small onion
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 29-ounce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 package ranch dressing mix 1-ounce
- 1 package Italian dressing mix .7-ounce
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a 6-quart slow cooker except the beef. Using your hands, pinch off bite-size pieces of beef and drop them into the slow cooker. Beef doesn’t have to be uniform or done a certain way, it just needs to be in smaller pieces.1 pound lean ground beef, 1 bag frozen stew mix or gumbo mix, 1 bag frozen butter beans, 1 chopped small onion, 1 can crushed tomatoes, 2 cups beef broth, 2 cups water, 1 package ranch dressing mix, 1 package Italian dressing mix
- Stir ingredients together. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.
~H. Jackson Brown
When I retired in 2011, one of my goals was to spend time with my Mom. She lives an hour away on the same lot as my sister. Instead of only spending holidays with her (prior to retirement), we have a “Girls Day” every week and get together at Mom’s home. One of us brings lunch, and we play a hot game of Scrabble! We love it! We have lunch and visit until time for me to head home. We have become so much closer. I also talk with my Mom (who lives in a little bungalow alone) every night at 10:30 pm. We catch up on each other’s day, and I know that she is fine when she gets into bed for the night. We have done this since 1996 when we lost Dad to cancer – which was also their 50th anniversary year! My Mom will be 89 in June and thankfully has a better memory than her children, and still has her quick wit! We count every day with her a blessing and enjoy it to the fullest. On the other hand, my two brothers see her maybe monthly. One is raising his grandchildren. The other lives in the same city as Mom. Can’t wait to try this beef stew. I may try to figure how to cook it in my Instant Pot. Loving it!
Hi Christy, you have bought Brady up well and as he goes onto this new stage of life your family ties will remain strong. It is validation of all our hard work when our child becomes a successful adult, when we see them carry on with their lives retaining the values we have taught them, being kind and considerate and loving. All my children are grown in fact my twin girls turn 40 this year and my son 29, Soon you will find yourself in the situation where Brady is introducing you to a special young lady and eventually a daughter in law and then grandkids and let me tell you that is a very uplifting experience. My only saddness is that my children live so far from me the closest 4 hours away and the longest 14 hours away but we talk on the phone mostly several times a week and I am still dispensing advice on all sorts from how to cook something to how to solve lifes problems, they remain your children always. Hope you enjoy this new stage just like I did kind regards from Judi in Australia
My youngest is getting ready to leave but my middle has moved back into the area, he has a daughter I took to school this morning, his wife is really the one who keeps the contact more so than him, but guess that’s typical; however, my oldest, since he doesn’t have a wife, is keeping in more contact now, so goes the circle of life, I suppose
Your words are so true i have 3 children and they do grow up to fast i have learned to slow down and spend as much time as possible with them.
I cant wait to try this recipe, only question i have is since you dont cook the meat first does it make the stew greasy or is it different when cooking in the crockpot?
Loved your article! My children are grown and we have three wonderful grandsons (that do not live close). I was sidelined from my job about 6 years ago when I broke my ankle. Since then, I volunteer. I have been volunteering for 5 years at the senior center and also belong to two wonderful women’s groups that do worthy projects all year.
At our house, we have to watch our sodium. Any options for modifying this recipe to contain less sodium? I have to stay away from most mixes (ranch dressing, italian dressing) because they are loaded with salt. Any help will be appreciated! We get tired of eating the same plain meals.
The best advice I can give you is to pray a lot and surrender Brady’s care and wellbeing to God. My two older children (daughter and son) are both in California, and they are prayed over and for often! Just the other day I got a call from my son after his first car accident. The car is in pretty bad shape, but my son and his passenger suffered only minor injuries. It could have been so much worse! I told him, “this is why Momma and Pa pray for you so much!” Praying and trusting God to watch over them is the only thing that gives my heart rest. Bless you and your family as you enter this new season. (And thanks for the recipe—it looks fantastic!!)
Thank you so much- for sharing your life and your heart so humbly and transparently. It is not an exaggeration- I truly depend on you for your skills- and your example.
I don’t have stories of success or of wisdom— but I will lift you up to our Father. Just know that you are NOT alone in this beautiful but sobering season!!!
You are loved from Tuscaloosa, Alabama!!!
Lisa