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This slow cooker beef stew with onion soup mix features perfectly tender beef and hearty veggies in a rich, comforting sauce. Super easy and great for a crowd!
Want to feel like an expert in the kitchen without staying in it the whole time? Let this stew cook while you go about your day!
This beef stew in Crock Pot with onion soup mix cooks low and slow. It doesn’t require a long list of ingredients for that rich, savory, and hearty goodness that makes stew the ultimate comfort food.
The only thing it asks is that you brown the meat first, but it’s worth it once you taste it!
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If you’re in the mood for beef but want it tender and easy to enjoy, our Instant Pot garlic butter steak bites and Crockpot beef short ribs won’t disappoint.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Onion Soup Mix Recipe
- This slow cooker beef stew with onion soup mix is perfect when you’ve got a lot going on. It cooks for hours, so you can go about your day (or night) and come back to a warm, delicious meal.
- This beef stew in Crock Pot with onion soup mix uses simple, everyday ingredients but still delivers a complex flavor. It’s perfect when you want something cozy without overthinking dinner!
- This Crockpot beef stew makes a big batch! It’s great for gatherings, potlucks, or feeding a hungry crowd year-round.
Ingredients
Salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme – These simple seasonings, combined with slow cooking, give our slow cooker beef stew with onion soup mix a deep, comforting flavor.
All-purpose flour – Used to coat the meat and thicken the sauce.
Beef stew meat – No need to overthink the cut for your beef onion stew. Stew meat works perfectly and turns tender after hours in the slow cooker.
Vegetable oil – Used for browning the beef and building flavor right from the start.
White onions – Create an aromatic, savory base for our slow beef stew.
Beef broth – We prefer low-sodium beef broth, so you can control the salt level of your beef stew with onion soup packet more easily.
Red potatoes and carrots – Add starch, heartiness, and natural sweetness that balance the rich, umami flavors of the stew. You can add any vegetables that will hold up in the slow cooker!
Onion soup mix – The star shortcut ingredient that packs in flavor without needing a long list of spices. Lipton onion soup mix works great for Crockpot beef stew with onion soup mix!
Worcestershire sauce – Adds a savory depth that boosts the overall flavor of the meal.
Tomato paste – Enhances the richness and brings out the meaty flavor of the beef stew using onion soup mix.
Non-stick cooking spray – Makes cleanup easier and keeps everything from sticking.
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Beef Stew in Crock Pot with Onion Soup Mix
Chuck roast
If you can’t find stew meat, you can cut up a chuck roast for this slow cooker onion soup mix beef stew. It’s perfect for long, low-temperature cooking because of its marbling and connective tissue.
Vegetables
Want to make a super hearty beef stew in Crock Pot with onion soup mix?
Load it up with more vegetables, such as celery and frozen peas. Note that you should add the peas in the last 10 minutes of cooking to keep them from getting mushy.
Beef stock
Instead of beef broth, you can use beef stock in this slow cooker beef stew with onion soup mix for a richer, more velvety dish.
Add-ins for depth
For a more nuanced Crock Pot beef stew with onion soup mix, you make the sauce with red wine, ginger ale, or even cream of mushroom soup!
Tips For Making This Recipe
Brown Your Meat
A crucial step in this beef stew in Crock Pot with onion soup mix is searing the meat first. This locks in the meat’s juices, creates a delicious crust for texture, and leaves tasty bits in the pan that lend flavor and thicken the stew.
Use Chunky Vegetables
This beef stew with onion soup mix works best with chunky-cut veggies! You don’t want your potatoes and carrots to get mushy after 8 hours of cooking.
Storage Tips
This slow cooker beef stew with onion soup mix is perfect for making ahead, as you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze it for 3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat over medium heat on the stove.
Beef Stew with Onion Soup Mix Recipe FAQs
Why use onion soup mix in slow-cooked beef stew dish?
The secret ingredient when making beef stew in a slow cooker is onion soup mix! Think of it as a shortcut to flavor without having to measure out a bunch of seasonings and spices.
How do you thicken up an onion soup mix beef stew in a slow cooker?
Want a thicker beef stew in slow cooker with onion soup mix? Make a quick cornstarch slurry by mixing a tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water, and stir it into the stew an hour before serving.
Can I cook onion soup beef stew on high instead of low?
You’ll get the best flavor and most tender beef chunks with this slow cooker beef stew recipe if you cook it low and slow. But if you’re really pressed for time, you can cook it on high for 5 hours.
Can I use a different protein for Crockpot stew?
Yup. Pork shoulder roast works well for slow cooking, and I’ve also seen people use chicken thighs in their slow cooker stews!
What are common mistakes in slow cooking beef?
This is an easy slow cooker stew recipe, but some common mistakes to keep in mind to avoid tough beef include using a cut of meat without enough connective tissue and fat to withstand long cooking, rushing the process by cooking the stew on high for a short time, and constantly opening the lid, which encourages heat loss and affects even cooking.
More Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes
- Crockpot Shepherd’s Pie
- Healthy Crockpot White Chicken Chili
- Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
- Slow Cooker Hopping John
- Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
I found this recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole that I HAVE to try!
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Onion Soup Mix
Ingredients
- 2 tsp salt, divided
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 lbs beef stew meat
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 white onions, sliced
- 8 cups beef broth
- 3 red potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 pack onion soup mix
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients for your slow cooker beef stew with onion soup mix so everything is ready to go.
- Lightly spray the slow cooker with cooking spray.
- In a bowl, combine the flour and a teaspoon of salt. Add the beef stew meat and toss until each piece is evenly coated.
- Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef cubes on all sides, then transfer them to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, cook the onions, stirring often to prevent burning. Once soft and fragrant, transfer them to the slow cooker.
- Pour in 1 cup of beef broth and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. This adds extra flavor, so be sure to get it all. Pour this broth into the slow cooker.
- Add the potatoes and carrots on top of the beef.
- In a bowl, mix the remaining broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried thyme, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste. Pour this mixture over everything in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the beef is tender and easily pierced with a fork.
Notes
- A crucial step in this beef stew in Crock Pot with onion soup mix is searing the meat first. This locks in the meat’s juices, creates a delicious crust for texture, and leaves tasty bits in the pan that lend flavor and thicken the stew.
- This beef stew with onion soup mix works best with chunky-cut veggies! You don’t want your potatoes and carrots to get mushy after 8 hours of cooking.
- This slow cooker beef stew with onion soup mix is perfect for making ahead, as you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze it for 3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat over medium heat on the stove.
Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER!
SWhat size slow cooker?
A 6-quart works fine, but an 8-quart gives you extra space so nothing spills over.