Easy Dump-and-Go-Crockpot Beef Stew (Hearty & Tender)

There’s nothing quite like your home full of the smell of classic beef stew simmering all day in your kitchen. This slow cooker beef stew is a hearty, soul-satisfying dish packed with tender beef, root vegetables, and a deep flavour that only comes from slow cooking. Flavored with beef broth and spices, this one-pot complete meal is made to satisfy the whole family—even the picky eaters.

What makes this dinner even better? It’s made in the Crock Pot, so you can get all the comfort with none of the stress. Dump-and-Go in the morning, and by dinner, you’re serving up a rich, hearty stew that tastes like it’s been simmering on the stove for hours.

Why Make Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker?

The magic of a slow cooker recipe is that it gives you maximum flavor with minimum effort. When you make beef stew in the Crockpot, it allows tougher cuts like beef stew meat or chuck roast to break down over time, becoming fork-tender and full of flavor.

The beauty of these dump-and-go crockpot dinners is that you can prepare the night before or the morning of and have a full, delicious, kid-friendly dinner. All the work is done before the end of the day, when everyone is tired and hungry. You never have to hesitate to answer the centerly old question “what is for dinner.”

Ingredients Needed for Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

• 1.5 to 2 pounds of beef stew meat
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1.5 cups fresh mushrooms or 2 cans of mushrooms
• 4–5 large carrots, chopped into hearty chunks
• 3–4 baking potatoes, quartered (russet or red work well)
• 2 stalks of celery, sliced medium
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic salt
• 1–2 tablespoons of cornstarch (for thickening), mix with cold water

How to Make This Classic Crockpot Beef Stew

This is truly a dump-and-go meal—no searing, no fuss. Here’s how to make it:

1. Layer the ingredients in your slow cooker or Crockpot.
2. Start with the chopped onion at the bottom.
3. Next, add the beef stew meat or beef tips.
4. Add the carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and celery over the beef.
5. Mix the broth and seasoning together:
6. In a separate container, combine the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic powder.
7. Pour this mixture evenly over the ingredients in the slow cooker.
8. Cover and cook:
9. Set on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through.
10. Thicken the stew:
11. Mix 1–2 tablespoons of cornstarch with cold water to create a cornstarch slurry.
12. Stir into the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking to thicken the broth.

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Tools You’ll Need

• Slow Cooker or Crock Pot – That’s it! No fancy equipment, no mess—just a simple, hearty dish ready when you are.
• Visit my Amazon Storefront for all my favorite kitchen tools and toys.

My Story of This Recipe

This easy slow cooker beef stew came to life on a chilly afternoon when I needed to make dinner without running to the store. I had two different packages of beef tips tucked in the freezer and just enough produce to make it work: some large carrots, canned organic sliced mushrooms and a couple of regular baking potatoes.

On busy school nights—especially when we’re running between wrestling practice, cheerleading practice, or basketball practice—having a warm, hearty meal like this ready and waiting in the kitchen is a game changer. It’s comforting, filling, and perfect for coming home late after a full day. And the best part? It makes enough for leftovers the next day, which means one less thing to worry about.

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