There’s something incredibly comforting about a warm, hearty stew simmering away in the slow cooker, filling your home with the irresistible aroma of savory spices and tender beef. This Slow Cooker Beef and Vegetable Stew is no different. Filled with wholesome ingredients and tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef, this dish will quickly become a family favorite. Let’s begin!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Total Time: 6-8 hours + 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds of stewing beef, cut into chunks
- 1 cup of kidney beans (canned, drained, and rinsed)
- 1 cup of rice
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 onions, diced
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 4 cups of beef broth
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon of thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Begin by browning the stewing beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. This should take about 5 minutes. Once browned, transfer the beef to your slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, add a bit of olive oil if needed, and sauté the onions, garlic, and celery until they turn soft and translucent, usually about 5 minutes. Add the paprika and thyme, and sauté for another minute to release their flavors.
- Transfer the onion and celery mixture into the slow cooker with the beef. Add the diced tomatoes, sliced carrots, and kidney beans to the slow cooker as well.
- Pour in the beef broth and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir everything together.
- Cover your slow cooker and set it to low heat. Allow the stew to simmer and develop its rich flavors for 6-8 hours, or until the beef is incredibly tender.
- Approximately 20 minutes before serving, add the long-grain rice to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine with the stew.
- Serve your Slow Cooker Beef and Vegetable Stew hot, garnished with fresh parsley for a burst of color and extra flavor.
Notes
Slow cooking is key to achieving that melt-in-your-mouth beef. The longer, the better, so consider preparing this stew when you have a bit more time to savor the results. Feel free to add or substitute vegetables according to your preference. Mushrooms, bell peppers, or green beans are excellent choices. For an extra layer of flavor, consider deglazing the skillet with red wine before adding the onion and celery mixture. Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
*Please keep in mind that the following nutritional information is based on estimates and can vary depending on the specific brands and ingredients used.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
