Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew

Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew takes a little time to prepare but comes together with simplicity. Great for supper in the cold winter months, this beef stew will cook all day in your crock pot.

Beef stew is a classic wintertime favorite. The Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew, of course, can be eaten anytime but beef stew seems to be extremely appreciated in the cold winter months of snow and ice. The warm flavors of the beef, potatoes and carrots blends with a hearty taste everyone loves.

Stews and soups like Split Pea Soup or Vegetable Beef Soup can be made in the crock pot like this beef stew and that makes supper time a lot easier on those busy nights.

Ingredients

• beef broth
• stew meat - beef stew meat cut into chunks
• carrots
• potatoes 
• celery 
• onion 
• craft cola - coca cola

I recommend using something like it, even just regular coke at the end of the cooking process. The coke adds a depth of flavor to the stew that is noticeable and delicious. It cost me $3.99 at Aldi's for this craft cola but if you don't have an Aldi around you, any brand will work.

Prepping the vegetables

The key to making this beef stew is timing and prep. You will need enough time in the morning to get all the vegetables chopped. You can chop everything the night before, however, be sure to put the potatoes in some salt water so they won't turn brown in the refrigerator.

Cooking the stew meat

I also recommend cooking the beef stew meat on the stove. You could just put it in the crock pot uncooked and let it cook all day with the other ingredients. I don't for two reasons:

1. I have to have meat cooked all the way through.
2. You can get so much more flavor when cooked on the stove.

Cook the stew meat in a frying pan with a tablespoon of butter over medium high heat. The meat will be cooked until no longer pink, then the cola will be added to medium low heat. The cola will simmer with the beef and add a deep rich flavor.

Assembling the beef stew

Chop up onions, carrots, celery and peeled potatoes. Put the vegetables in a crock pot. Add beef broth and the cooked meat. Feel free to add the stew meat juices/butter/cola in the crock pot, it adds flavor. You can cook the onions with the stew meat or just put them straight into the crock pot.

Enjoying easy crock pot beef stew on a cold winter day is delicious and delightful. It is a comfort food for sure. Serve this dinner recipe with dinner rolls and cinnamon apples for a complete meal.

📖 Recipe