Go Back
Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

Nothing beats a big bowl of warm comfort food. This Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe is a dream.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 380 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds of beef stew meat cubed.
  • 3 large carrots peeled and sliced thick.
  • 3 medium potatoes peeled and cubed small.
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped into chunks.
  • 2 cups of beef broth low sodium.
  • 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced very fine.
  • 1 teaspoon of dried thyme.
  • 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt.
  • 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.
  • 2 tablespoons of cornstarch for thickening.

Instructions
 

Sear the beef

  • Heat a skillet with a little oil inside. Brown the meat cubes on all sides well.

Add to the pot

  • Put the browned beef into the slow cooker. Scrape all the tasty brown bits in too.

Prep the vegetables

  • Peel and chop your carrots, potatoes, and onions. Keep the chunks about the same size.

Layer the veggies

  • Place all the chopped vegetables over the meat. Do not stir them together just yet.

Add the liquids

  • Pour the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce over. This creates the base for your gravy.

Season the stew

  • Sprinkle the garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. These spices make the stew taste very savory.

Start the slow cook

  • Put the lid on the slow cooker now. Set it to low for 8 hours.

Thicken the sauce

  • Mix cornstarch with a little cold water separately. Stir this into the pot during the last hour.

Serve it hot

  • Check if the meat is tender with a fork. Ladle the hot stew into large, deep bowls.

Notes

  • Sear the meat: Do not skip browning the beef cubes. It locks in the juices and flavor.
  • Cut veggies even: Make sure potato chunks are the same size. This helps them cook at the same speed.
  • Use low heat: Cooking on low makes the meat very tender. High heat can sometimes make beef feel tough.
  • Fresh herbs: Use fresh thyme if you have it nearby. It adds a very bright and earthy scent.
  • Add some peas: Toss in frozen peas at the end. They add a nice pop of green color.
  • Deglaze the pan: Use a splash of broth in the skillet. This gets all the flavor into the pot.
Keyword Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe