This slow-cooker beef stew is the perfect meal for a cold day. It’s loaded with tender beef, soft potatoes, carrots, peas, and a rich, flavorful broth. The slow cooker does all the work, making it super easy. Serve with warm bread for a cozy meal!
Jump to RecipeIngredients Needed:
- 2 ½ pounds stew meat
- ½ teaspoon EACH: black pepper, garlic salt, celery salt
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3-6 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons cold butter
- 2 cups yellow onions
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup cabernet sauvignon
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 5 medium carrots
- 1 lb. baby Yukon gold potatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup Cold Water + 3 tablespoons Corn Starch
- 2-3 drops Gravof y Master
How To Make Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe?
- Prepare the Beef: Cut the meat into 1-inch cubes and remove big fat pieces. Season with black pepper, garlic salt, and celery salt. Toss with flour to coat.
- Sear the Meat: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef on each side for 45 seconds (work in batches so it sears properly). Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Cook the Onions & Garlic: Lower the heat to medium, add 1 tablespoon butter, and cook the onions for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add a splash of wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits for extra flavor. Pour everything into the slow cooker.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Put carrots, potatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, bouillon cubes, bay leaves, and rosemary into the slow cooker. Stir well.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 7 ½ to 8 hours or HIGH for 3 ½ to 4 hours, until vegetables are soft and potatoes are fork-tender.
- Final Steps: Add peas in the last 15 minutes. Remove bay leaves and rosemary stems.
- Thicken the Stew (Optional): Mix ¼ cup cold water with 3 tablespoons cornstarch and stir into the stew to make it thicker.
- Finish with Butter: Stir in 2 tablespoons cold butter for a rich, velvety finish.
- Enhance Color (Optional): Add 3 drops of Gravy Master for a darker, deeper color.

Recipe Tips:
- Sear the Beef for the Best Flavor: Browning the beef before adding it to the slow cooker adds a deep, rich flavor to the stew. Don’t skip this step! It also locks in the juices, making the meat extra tender.
- Use the Right Cut of Meat: Chuck roast is the best choice because it has the perfect balance of fat and tenderness. Avoid lean cuts like sirloin—they will become dry and tough after slow cooking.
- Don’t Add Peas Too Early: Peas cook fast! Add them in the last 15 minutes so they stay bright green and fresh instead of turning mushy.
- Thicken the Stew Properly: If you want a thicker stew, mix ¼ cup cold water with 3 tablespoons cornstarch and stir it in at the end. The stew will thicken as it cools, so don’t add too much!
- Let the Stew Rest Before Serving: After cooking, let the stew sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors blend and makes the stew taste even better!
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: Let the beef stew cool down first. Then, put it in a sealed container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Cool the stew, then store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Pour the stew into a pot and heat on medium-low, stirring often. If it gets too thick, add a little beef broth or water to loosen it up. Heat for 5-10 minutes until hot.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Total Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
- Sodium: 900mg
- Potassium: 950mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 35g
- Dietary Fiber: 5g
- Sugars: 6g
- Protein: 35g
Try More Jamie Oliver Recipes:
Jamie Oliver Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy6
servings20
minutes8
hours400
kcalThis slow-cooker beef stew is the perfect meal for a cold day. It’s loaded with tender beef, soft potatoes, carrots, peas, and a rich, flavorful broth. The slow cooker does all the work, making it super easy. Serve with warm bread for a cozy meal!
Ingredients
2 ½ pounds stew meat
½ teaspoon EACH: black pepper, garlic salt, celery salt
1/4 cup flour
3-6 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons cold butter
2 cups yellow onions
4 cloves garlic
1 cup cabernet sauvignon
4 cups beef broth
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
3 tablespoons tomato paste
5 medium carrots
1 lb. baby Yukon gold potatoes
2 bay leaves
1 sprig rosemary
1 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup Cold Water + 3 tablespoons Corn Starch
2-3 drops Gravof y Master
Directions
- Prepare the Beef: Cut the meat into 1-inch cubes and remove big fat pieces. Season with black pepper, garlic salt, and celery salt. Toss with flour to coat.
- Sear the Meat: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef on each side for 45 seconds (work in batches so it sears properly). Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Cook the Onions & Garlic: Lower the heat to medium, add 1 tablespoon butter, and cook the onions for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add a splash of wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits for extra flavor. Pour everything into the slow cooker.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Put carrots, potatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, bouillon cubes, bay leaves, and rosemary into the slow cooker. Stir well.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 7 ½ to 8 hours or HIGH for 3 ½ to 4 hours, until vegetables are soft and potatoes are fork-tender.
- Final Steps: Add peas in the last 15 minutes. Remove bay leaves and rosemary stems.
- Thicken the Stew (Optional): Mix ¼ cup cold water with 3 tablespoons cornstarch and stir into the stew to make it thicker.
- Finish with Butter: Stir in 2 tablespoons cold butter for a rich, velvety finish.
- Enhance Color (Optional): Add 3 drops of Gravy Master for a darker, deeper color.
Notes
- Sear the Beef for the Best Flavor: Browning the beef before adding it to the slow cooker adds a deep, rich flavor to the stew. Don’t skip this step! It also locks in the juices, making the meat extra tender.
- Use the Right Cut of Meat: Chuck roast is the best choice because it has the perfect balance of fat and tenderness. Avoid lean cuts like sirloin—they will become dry and tough after slow cooking.
- Don’t Add Peas Too Early: Peas cook fast! Add them in the last 15 minutes so they stay bright green and fresh instead of turning mushy.
- Thicken the Stew Properly: If you want a thicker stew, mix ¼ cup cold water with 3 tablespoons cornstarch and stir it in at the end. The stew will thicken as it cools, so don’t add too much!
- Let the Stew Rest Before Serving: After cooking, let the stew sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors blend and makes the stew taste even better!