🥘 Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (Best Ever, Hearty & Tender)

Cooking Time

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 hours on LOW (or 4–5 hours on HIGH)
• Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
• Servings: 6–8

Ingredients

• 2 ½ lbs beef stew meat, cut into bite-size chunks
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into thick chunks
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into large cubes
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
• 1 cup red wine (optional, sub with more broth if preferred)
• 2 tsp fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
• 2 tsp fresh rosemary (or 1 tsp dried)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp adobo seasoning
• 1 packet sazón
• 1 cup frozen peas
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Prep the Beef
   • Pat stew meat dry with paper towels.
   • Toss with flour, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
2. Brown the Meat
   • Set slow cooker to Sauté/High.
   • Heat olive oil and brown beef in batches, 3–4 minutes per side.
   • Transfer browned beef to a plate.
3. Build Flavor
   • Add onion and garlic to the pot; cook 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
   • Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute.
   • Pour in red wine, scraping up browned bits.
4. Combine Ingredients
   • Return beef to the slow cooker.
   • Add carrots, potatoes, celery, Worcestershire, beef broth, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
   • Stir everything together.
   • Before closing the lid, add the adobo seasoning and sazón packet. Stir gently to incorporate.
5. Slow Cook
   • Cover and cook on LOW for 8–9 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until beef is tender and vegetables are soft.
6. Finish the Stew
   • In the last 20 minutes, stir in frozen peas.
   • For thicker stew, mix 2 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water and stir in now.
   • Remove bay leaves before serving.
7. Serve
   • Garnish with fresh parsley.
   • Serve hot with crusty bread.

Nutrition Facts (per serving, based on 8 servings)

• Calories: 400
• Protein: 36g
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Cholesterol: 95mg
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 970mg

(Values are estimates and may vary based on specific ingredients.)