30 Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipes

There’s something incredibly comforting about a homemade beef stew – it’s the ideal meal to come home to during the colder months. Stews are ideal for preparing in a slow cooker – the long cooking process means that all of the meat and vegetables are lovely and soft and cooked to perfection.

Beef stew in particular works really well in the slow cooker. Beef can sometimes be a little chewy. But, when you cook it slowly for a few hours, even the cheapest beef comes out lovely and soft so that it melts in your mouth. In fact, the cheapest joints of beef often work best when cooked in the slow cooker. You also really don’t need to spend a fortune on a top of the range slow cooker either – a cheap one will do the job just fine. You can find plenty of slow cookers and crackpots on Amazon to suit all budgets.

Stews and casseroles are a great way to incorporate lots of nutritious vegetables into your diet. You can throw in pretty much any type of vegetable into any beef stew and it’ll still taste amazing!

I’ve put together 30 tasty slow cooker beef stew recipes that are perfect for the cold, dark nights over fall and winter – I hope you love trying them out.

Make sure you also take a look at my Ground Beef Slow Cooker Recipes and my Slow Cooker Stew Recipes too.

30 Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipes

1. Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew

A comforting classic, this beef stew is perfect for chilly nights, featuring tender beef and hearty vegetables. You really can’t go wrong with this one – just a few, simple ingredients thrown together in the slow cooker in the morning and you’ve got a delicious meal ready and waiting for you when you get home.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chuck roast, cubed
• 4 carrots, sliced
•  potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until beef is tender.

2. Beef and Mushroom Stew

This rich stew combines tender beef with earthy mushrooms and a splash of red wine for depth of flavor.

I’m a huge fan of mushrooms so this one is a winner with me!

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Mix well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

3. Italian Beef Stew

This stew is infused with Italian herbs and tomatoes, bringing a Mediterranean flair to a classic dish. We love Italian recipes in our house – I don’t know what it is about that all-important Italian seasoning but it just makes everything taste amazing!

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 bell peppers, sliced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

4. Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew

A hearty stew featuring the rich flavor of Guinness beer, making it perfect for a cozy dinner. If you’re a fan of Guinness then this one is bound to be a hit – it’s also a great dish to serve up on St. Patrick’s Day!

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 can (14 oz) Guinness beer
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

5. Beef Stroganoff Stew

This creamy beef stew is a comforting twist on the classic stroganoff, perfect served over noodles or tasty enough to enjoy on its own. As I mentioned earlier, I love anything with mushrooms in so this is one of my favorite beef stew recipes.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place beef, mushrooms, onion, and broth in the slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 7 hours.
3. Stir in sour cream before serving.

6. Southwestern Beef Stew

This spicy stew is packed with flavor and features black beans and corn for a Southwestern twist. You can add more or less chili powder to suit your tastes. I tend to add a little less as my youngest son cannot stand anything too spicy.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 2 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

7. Balsamic Beef Stew

This flavorful stew is enhanced with balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs, creating a deliciously tangy dish. I really love the little kick the balsamic vinegar gives this stew.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

8. Barbecue Beef Stew

This stew combines the smoky sweetness of barbecue sauce with tender beef and vegetables for a unique flavor. Again, feel free to alter the amount of barbecue sauce you use to suit your tastes. I find it’s always best to add less then you can top it up when you taste the final dish if you want to.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

9. Coconut Curry Beef Stew

A unique stew that combines tender beef with coconut milk and curry spices for a flavorful and aromatic dish. This is a great stew for fans of curries and the coconut milk softens the spiciness beautifully.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Stir to combine and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

10. Honey Garlic Beef Stew

This sweet and savory stew features honey and garlic, making it a delightful dish for any occasion. When I’ve cooked up this stew and returned home, the house has smelt incredible.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup honey
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

11. Beef and Barley Stew

A hearty and nutritious stew featuring tender beef and barley, perfect for a filling meal. The pearl barley really makes this a satisfying dish – perfect for colder weather when our bodies are craving comfort food.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 1 cup pearl barley
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tsp thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in the slow cooker
2. Stir to combine and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

12. Moroccan Beef Stew

This aromatic stew is spiced with cumin, coriander, and cinnamon, creating a warm and flavorful dish. Chickpeas are a great way to bulk out a meal and I love the way they soak up the flavors in this dish.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

13. Asian-Inspired Beef Stew

This stew features flavors of ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil, creating a deliciously unique dish. I’ve topped my stew with some chopped green onion and sesame seeds.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp ginger, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

14. Vegetable Beef Stew

Packed with a variety of vegetables, this stew is a wholesome and hearty meal for any day. You can add any vegetables you like to this one – it’s a great way to use up your leftovers and avoid wasting food.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 2 cups green beans, trimmed
• 4 cups beef broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Stir to combine and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

15. Szechuan Beef Stew

A spicy stew featuring Szechuan peppercorns and chili paste, perfect for those who love heat. Again, I’ve topped my stew with some chopped green onion and sesame seeds but you don’t need to do that if you prefer not to.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp Szechuan chili paste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

16. Beef Bourguignon

A French classic, this beef stew is rich with red wine, pearl onions, and bacon, making it a luxurious dish. The pearl onions just fall apart in this dish and taste incredible alongside the beef.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 8 oz pearl onions
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

17. Spicy Chipotle Beef Stew

This smoky and spicy stew features chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, perfect for those who enjoy bold flavors. Add a wedge of lime for squeezing over if you like!

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 can (7 oz) chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

18. Honey Mustard Beef Stew

This sweet and tangy stew combines honey and mustard for a delightful flavor that pairs well with beef. Just imagine dunking some chunky, buttered bread into this one – simply delicious!

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Stir well and cover.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

19. Lemon Herb Beef Stew

Bright and refreshing, this stew is enhanced with lemon juice and fresh herbs for a unique flavor. You can chop up some lemon wedges for extra juice if you like too.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tsp thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste