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Cozy Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe Perfect for Easy Winter Dinners

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A foolproof, hearty slow cooker beef stew with red wine and root vegetables, perfect for cozy winter dinners and last-minute meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup dry red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (optional, for thickening)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil over medium-high in a large skillet. In batches, sear beef cubes until all sides are deep golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker.
  3. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and celery, cooking until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour the red wine into the skillet and scrape up browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Transfer onion mixture to the slow cooker with beef. Add carrots, parsnips, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaf, and beef broth. Stir gently to combine.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until beef is fork-tender and vegetables are soft but not mushy.
  7. If desired, mix all-purpose flour with a few tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry. Stir it into the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking on high or the last hour on low to thicken.
  8. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle fresh parsley on top before serving.

Notes

Browning the beef before slow cooking adds depth of flavor. Do not lift the slow cooker lid during cooking to avoid heat loss. Use cornstarch or arrowroot powder instead of flour for gluten-free thickening. Flavors improve after a day in the fridge. Adding a splash of balsamic vinegar or Worcestershire sauce at the end can brighten flavors.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker beef stew, winter dinner, easy beef stew, red wine stew, comfort food, hearty stew, root vegetables

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