Description
A hearty and comforting meal featuring tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth. Perfect for chilly evenings, family dinners, or meal prep!
Ingredients
For the Stew:
- 3 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups beef bone broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 5 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 6 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, diced
- 12 ounces frozen peas (1 package)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (optional, for thickening)
Optional Garnish:
- Fresh thyme
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef:
- Season the beef with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef in batches for about 5 minutes per batch, until browned.
- Transfer the seared beef to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Build the Flavor Base:
- Pour the beef bone broth into the slow cooker.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, and dried thyme.
- Add the Vegetables:
- Layer the diced onion, carrots, and potatoes over the beef.
- Cook the Stew:
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
- Add the Peas:
- About 30 minutes before the cook time ends, stir in the frozen peas.
- Thicken the Broth (Optional):
- For a thicker stew, whisk the flour with a small amount of water to create a slurry. Stir it into the stew during the last hour of cooking.
- Serve and Garnish:
- Ladle the stew into bowls, garnish with fresh thyme if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- Substitute all-purpose flour with cornstarch for a gluten-free version.
- For variety, add parsnips, mushrooms, or turnips to the stew.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American