• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Savor + Savvy logo

  • Recipe Index
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Dessert
    • Freezer Cooking & Make Ahead Meals
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes
    • Substitutes
  • Printables
  • Frugal Living
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Printables
  • Frugal Living
  • Shop
×

Slow Cooker Beef Stew {Freezer Meal/Ninja Foodi/Instant Pot Options}

Published: Feb 12, 2021 · Modified: Apr 7, 2022 by Ginny · This post may contain affiliate links.

Snag our 72 Page Printable Home Binder Today →

Pin49
Share10
Yum1
Tweet
60 Shares
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Put your crockpot to work for you and make this mouth-watering Slow Cooker (Ninja Foodi + Instant Pot Instructions Included!) Beef Stew Recipe! This easy recipe is comforting, hearty, and a great way to warm up on a chilly day. Every bite is filled with juicy stew meat, onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, and seasonings. Dig in, and you’ll be so glad you did. 

Mug filled with hearty beef stew on a yellow cloth napkin and the slow cooker in the background.
Fantastic Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew!
Contents hide
1 🍽️ Why This Recipe Works
2 🍲 Ingredients
3 🍽️ Instructions
4 🍲 Meal Prep Instructions/Freezer Friendly Instructions
5 🍴Substitutions
6 🍽️ Variations
7 Slow Cooker Beef Stew {Ninja Foodi + Instant Pot Instructions}

Whether you eat this in a bowl on its own or you want to serve it up with mashed potatoes, rutabagas or mashed cauliflower – this is comfort food at it’s best, my friends.

🍽️ Why This Recipe Works

Quick and Easy – Since this is a true “dump and go” recipe, this one will only take you a few minutes in the morning to prep so you can get on to work and/or school.

Classic – Nothing beats a classic recipe that is a hit every time you make it. That is what this is. We all grew up eating stew that our moms simmered for hours. This is the same thing, just cooked in the crockpot.

🍲 Ingredients

This is one of the best beef stew recipes ever, and it’s a bonus that you can make it in your slow cooker.

The ingredients are most likely things you already have in your kitchen too. Let’s look at some of the main ingredients.

slow cooker filled with beef, potatoes, onions, carrots and other ingredients.
Simple Ingredients for a Hearty Stew

Beef Stew Meat – You can go to the market or butcher and pick up pre-cut stew meat. We do this when we are in a hurry. Another frugal option is to buy a roast and cut the meat yourself. It will cook up the same way.

Seasonings – We use a variety of seasonings like thyme, parsley, rosemary, salt, and pepper. They give the beef stew a delicious and comforting taste that is truly unbeatable.

Vegetables – While you can add in other veggies if you want, we usually go with yellow potatoes, carrots, and onions in this beef stew recipe. They are the perfect combination, and it tastes so good.

🍽️ Instructions

Making beef stew is simple and doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare. You can easily throw it together in no time and have a delightful stew that the entire family will enjoy. 

process photos showing adding the seasonings, vegetables and beef and then the broth to the beef stew.
Super Easy Dump-And-Go Instructions

Step One: Brown the stew meat in a large skillet in batches. This adds some extra flavor and locks in the moisture to keep the meat nice and juicy. 

Step Two: When the beef is browned, place it in the bottom of the crockpot. Then add the onions, garlic, potatoes, and carrots. Pour in the beef broth, tomato paste, and seasonings. Sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper to taste. 

Step Three: Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for four hours or low for seven hours. 

Step Four: After the stew has cooked, remove ⅓ cup of liquid. Put it in a bowl and whisk with flour until it’s smooth. Add the flour mixture back to the stew and give it a stir. Continue cooking for 30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. 

🍲 Meal Prep Instructions/Freezer Friendly Instructions

You will be so happy you decided to meal prep this homemade beef stew. There are a couple of ways you can accomplish this and end up with a fantastic dinner or lunch idea. Let’s get started:

Option 1: Cook the beef stew as directed and allow it to cool all the way down. Place the stew in a freezer-safe bag or container. Save it all together or make individual servings. Then refrigerate or freeze depending on how soon you want to use it. It lasts in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for four months. Thaw in the refrigerator before warming up in the microwave or in a saucepan. Then serve. 

Option 2: To make this a freezer meal, brown the beef in a skillet and let it cool all the way down. Place the rest of the beef stew ingredients in a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. To cook, let it defrost and dump it into the crockpot. Cook as described above. 

Both methods are fantastic for meal prepping and planning. You’ll appreciate having food that you can easily warm up or drop in the crockpot without any effort at all. 

🍴Substitutions

Make substitutions and additions. Here are a few ideas for you to consider. 

  • Cornstarch – If you don’t want to use flour or simply don’t have any on hand, use cornstarch instead. The secret to working with cornstarch is using really cold water. Mix the equal amounts of cornstarch with the water until it’s well incorporated. Add to the beef stew and let it cook until it has thickened. In this case, I would use ⅓ cup of cold water and ¼ cup cornstarch. You can add more as needed, but you don’t want to add too much, or it will dull the flavors. 
  • Arrowroot – If you’re eating gluten-free or just looking for another alternative to the flour, arrowroot to the rescue. Use it in place of the flour, and it will help thicken the stew perfectly. 
  • Sweet Potatoes – If you want to add some extra color and sweetness, trade the yellow potatoes for sweet potatoes. It’s a lovely addition to the stew. You can also just substitute half of the yellow potatoes if you want to keep them in the stew as well. It helps to cut some of the carbs from the recipe.
carrots and potatoes popping up with the beef stew in a large white mug with the crockpot in the background.
Mix Up The Ingredients to Use What You Have Left Over

🍽️ Variations

There are many things you can do to adjust the flavors of this beef stew recipe. Change the ingredients to meet your preferences, and you can’t go wrong. Try some of these delicious ideas:

  • Celery – Chop up 2-3 celery stalks and toss them into the beef stew. They add a nice flavor and cook down enough that they don’t affect the texture. 
  • Bay Leaf – Kick up the flavors a notch or two by adding in a couple of bay leaves to the stew. It’s a great addition!
  • Worcestershire Sauce – By adding Worcestershire sauce to the beef stew recipe, you are making it a little bit saltier, and it will have an even deeper flavor. I would start with one or two tablespoons and add more later as desired. 
  • Peas – If you remember grandma’s beef stew recipe, she probably added peas. Not only does it make the soup stretch farther, it adds some lovely color too. 
  • Mushrooms – While this stew is already really hearty, adding some mushrooms will make it even heartier. Add 4 – 8 ounces of fresh or canned mushrooms to the beef stew mixture. The earthy flavors are incredible. 

🥣 Related Recipes

  • Slow Cooker Apple Dump Cake Recipe {5 Ingredients}
  • 3 Ingredient Slow Cooker + Instant Pot Lemon Herb Turkey Legs
  • Incredible Slow Cooker Irish Coffee Recipe
  • Slow Cooker Vegetarian Taco Soup {Ninja Foodi + Instant Pot Options}

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

Mug filled with hearty beef stew on a yellow cloth napkin and the slow cooker in the background

Slow Cooker Beef Stew {Ninja Foodi + Instant Pot Instructions}

Easy and Delicious beef stew made in the crockpot. This is virtually a dump-and-go recipe that will become a family favorite. Excellent meal prep ideas. {WW 6 Purple, 7 Green, 7 Blue}
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: dinner, Main Course, Slow Cooker
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours
Total Time: 7 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 268kcal
Author: Ginny

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ lbs Beef Stew Meat
  • ½ cup Pearl Onions
  • 1 lb Yellow Potatoes small, halved
  • ½ cup Carrots sliced into one inch chunks
  • 3 cups Beef Broth
  • ¼ cup Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Thyme dried
  • 1 tsp Parsley
  • 1 tsp Rosemary
  • ¼ cup Flour
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a large pan, brown the beef stew meat. You may need to cook in batches.
  • Place the meat in a crockpot along with the pearl onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, beef broth, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary and parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
  • Remove ⅓ cup of stew liquid from the crockpot and pour into a bowl. Add the flour and whisk until smooth.
  • Pour the flour mixture back into the stew; stir to combine. Cover the slow cooker & cook on HIGH for an additional 30 minutes or until stew thickens.
  • Serve & enjoy!! 

Notes

Freezer Meal Option: To make this a freezer meal, brown the beef in a skillet and let cool all the way down. Place the rest of the beef stew ingredients in a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. Then let it defrost and dump it into the crockpot when ready to cook. 
Freezer Friendly Leftovers: Cook the beef stew as directed and allow it to cool all the way down. Then place the stew in a freezer-safe bag or container. You can save it all together or make individual servings depending on your preference. Then refrigerate or freeze depending on how soon you want to use it. It lasts in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for four months. Thaw in the refrigerator before warming up in the microwave or in a saucepan. Then serve. 
Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot Directions: Add a tablespoon of oil into your pressure cooker on saute. Season your meat with salt and pepper and toss in when the oil is hot and sear the meat on all sides. 
Toss in the remaining ingredients, close the lid, and set to sealing. Pressure cook 35 minutes with 15 minutes natural release. Remove the rest of the pressure off, stir and serve.  

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 491mg | Potassium: 896mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1461IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @savorandsavvy or tag #savorandsavvy!
Slow Cooker Beef Stew {Freezer Meal/Ninja Foodi/Instant Pot Options}
« Honey Balsamic Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies {Meal Prep Instructions}
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Taco Soup {Ninja Foodi + Instant Pot Options} »

About Ginny

Hi! My name is Ginny and I know how busy life can be! I am a mom working hard to prepare healthy meals for my family that is always on the go!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Family Photo Hi! My name is Ginny and I know how busy life can be! I am a mom working hard to prepare healthy meals for families on the go! Read More...

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search

pink box to join facebook printables group.

Popular Spring Posts

faded cinco de mayo printables in the background and a text box for the party pack.

Cinco de Mayo Free Printables

all twelve printable calendars in the background with two in front.

May 2022 Monthly Calendar

20 pages scattered on a white background that make up the puppy planner printable.

Puppy Planner Printable {20 Pages}

girl in headphones with a last day of school banner and sample printable pages.

Last Day of School Signs – Traditional, Virtual, Hybrid + Distance Learning {Free Printable}

graphic showing all of the publications that feature Savor and Savvy.

Popular Posts

This oven baked eggs recipe is an easy fix for rushed morning breakfasts! These eggs are baked in muffin pans and are ready in just 15 minutes.

How to Bake Eggs in Oven in Muffin Tin {15 Minutes Meal Prep}

several photos of different breakfasts that are great for freezing and meal prepping.

20 Breakfast Freezer Meals

bowl of teriyaki chicken over a bed of white rice, two chopsticks and sprinkled with sesame seeds

Honey Teriyaki Chicken Recipe {Instant Pot + Ninja Foodi Options}

top down view of a desk with three printable pages on top.

Dot Grid Paper Printable for Bullet Journaling + Planners {U.S. Letter, 8×10, A4, A5, A6 and Pocket, Personal Sizes}

How to Clean Stove Drip Pans Naturally

After cooking, the livers will be golden brown as shown on this air fryer tray

Air Fryer Chicken Livers – 10 Minute Appetizer

Printables

daily planner printable on a pastel background.

Daily Planner Printable Template

background with faded images of the printables and two calendar pages on top.

April 2022 Monthly Calendar

nine photos of different canned goods and a text box noting to label them with these free printables.

Free Editable Pantry Labels {Prefilled and Blank}

three photos of the cheat sheets on a pastel green background.

Instant Pot Cooking Times Cheat Sheet {Free Printable}

three printable pages on a yellow background.

Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheets {Free Printable}

series of images for locks and keys and password security to protect your passwords from hackers with analog printable pages.

Free Printable Password Log

Footer

^ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Services
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.