We’re halfway through October. For some people, that means it’s #SpookySeason, but for others it’s #CozySeason. No matter where you fall on the spooky/cozy divide, you can’t deny the appeal of a warm meal on a chilly day. One of our favorite easy and cozy fall meals is beef stew. It’s simple to make in a slow cooker, and leaving it to cook all day will make your house smell great. At The Main Course Market, we have everything you need to make a great meal. Plus, we have prepared meals for the days when you don’t have time to cook.
Try this beef stew recipe for a warm and cozy fall meal!
Slow Cooker Beef Recipe
Let’s start with the ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 ½ pounds stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, garlic salt, and celery salt
- ¼ cup flour
- 3 to 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons cold butter
- 2 cups yellow onion
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 1 cup red wine (cabernet sauvignon or merlot are best)
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 beef bullion cubes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 5 medium carrots cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes halved or quartered
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 sprig of rosemary
- 1 cup frozen peas
We know that’s a lot of ingredients, but the prep is simple!
Sprinkle the beef with pepper, garlic salt, and celery salt. Toss it to coat, then sprinkle it with flour and toss it again. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the meat for 45 seconds on each side, adding more oil as needed. Do it in batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan. Transfer the seared meat to your slow cooker. Melt 1 tablespoon of the cold butter in the pan, add the onions, and cook for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Transfer the cooked onions and garlic to the slow cooker. Add all the other ingredients except the peas to the slow cooker along with 2 tablespoons of cold butter.
Once everything—except the peas—is in the slow cooker, cook it on medium for 7 ½ to 8 hours or on high for 3 ½ to 4 hours. 15 minutes before serving, add the peas and remove the bay leaves and rosemary stem. Grab a big spoon and some bowls, and dig in!