Warm Up with This Easy Crockpot Vegetable Beef Stew Recipe

Nothing beats a bowl of Crockpot vegetable beef stew on a chilly evening. 🥣 This easy recipe is packed with tender beef, veggies, and a savory broth that fills your home with delicious aromas. The slow cooking brings all the flavors together, making each bite warm and comforting. Give this hearty stew a try and treat your family to a cozy dinner tonight!

A comforting bowl of Crockpot vegetable beef stew featuring rich broth and chunks of vegetables, perfect for family meals.

This Crockpot vegetable beef stew has been a lifesaver during the past 6 days, as the temperature in Knoxville hasn’t risen above 25 degrees. Most mornings, it’s been 8-10 degrees (yes, that is Fahrenheit!), and last Tuesday, it was 4 degrees. You read that right… 4 degrees! My poor little fingers and toes have been frozen for a week!

As a California girl, I’m not used to this kind of cold! So, I’ve been making a lot of soup to warm myself from the inside out. This Crockpot vegetable beef stew makes the job super easy and delicious. And can I just say how much I love the smell of vegetable beef stew cooking in my house? It’s like being at Grandma’s house for 9 hours.

How to Make Crockpot Vegetable Beef Stew

Making Crockpot vegetable beef stew is a simple way to enjoy a hearty, homemade meal with minimal effort. Let’s start by prepping the fresh ingredients that bring all the flavor.

Step 1: Chop the Vegetables

First, you’ll need your cutting board and a good knife. Chop up 3 medium carrots, 3 stalks of celery, and 2 large potatoes all into 1-inch pieces. I left the skin on my potatoes because the skin carries all the vitamins. Pour all of those into a Crockpot that is at least 6 quarts.

Freshly chopped potatoes, carrots, and celery all ready to be added to the Crockpot vegetable beef stew for a hearty meal.

Step 2: Add Onion, Garlic, and Seasonings

Now, chop up a large onion and 3 cloves of garlic. Sprinkle in 4 and 1/2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, 3/4 teaspoon of dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and a bay leaf.

Heaping bowl of spices, including Worcestershire sauce and dried herbs, ready to season the Crockpot vegetable beef stew.

Step 3: Add the Beef and Liquids

On top of the spices, place 2 pounds of beef stew meat that has been cut into 1-inch pieces. Cutting everything to about the same size ensures that the vegetable beef stew will cook evenly. Pour a can (14 oz) of diced tomatoes and a can of low-sodium beef broth over the top.

Raw beef stew meat cubes added on top of seasoned vegetables to start cooking the Crockpot vegetable beef stew.

Step 4: Cook on Low

Cover and cook the Crockpot vegetable beef stew on LOW for 8 or 9 hours. Stir it occasionally if possible.

Crockpot filled with beef, vegetables, and seasonings all cooking together on low heat to make the vegetable beef stew.

Step 5: Separate Stew

When it is done, use a slotted spoon to remove the vegetable beef stew into a separate bowl. Cover the bowl in order to keep it warm, and throw out the bay leaf. Leave as much of the liquid in the slow cooker as possible.

Scoop out Crockpot vegetable beef stew filled with tender meat, potatoes, and carrots for serving.

Step 6: Thicken the Sauce

Increase the heat on the Crockpot to HIGH and add in a premixed slurry of 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 cup of flour. It works best if you mix the slurry first and then pour it into the beef liquid rather than adding them in separately.

ork stirring a flour and water slurry to thicken the sauce for the Crockpot vegetable beef stew’s rich gravy.

Step 7: Cook and Stir the Sauce

Cook this flour mixture for 15 minutes or until it begins to thicken. You will need to stir it regularly so that it doesn’t clump. Once it is thickened, pour the sauce over the Crockpot vegetable beef stew that you have ready in a separate bowl. Let the sauce drizzle down into the cracks and stir it so that everything is coated.

Spoon scooping thickened gravy from the Crockpot, adding a rich sauce to the vegetable beef stew for extra flavor.

Serving and Tips for Enjoyment

Serve the Crockpot vegetable beef stew immediately. However, if you want to keep it warm throughout the evening, simply return the vegetable beef stew to the Crockpot and turn it to WARM. This is a great dinner for families whose members come and go throughout the evening but still want to enjoy a warm meal.

A steaming bowl of Crockpot vegetable beef stew filled with carrots, potatoes, and tender beef, ready to eat.

I usually serve this Crockpot vegetable beef stew with fluffy yeast rolls. The dough can be made up to 5 days in advance. I just scoop out the amount of rolls I want to make, and 30 minutes later, my house smells like a bakery! They taste amazing dipped in the broth of this stew!

Final bowl of Crockpot vegetable beef stew with bright orange carrots, tender potatoes, and a rich, beefy broth.

If you love your Crockpot as much as I do, you may want to try out my 5-ingredient Crockpot orange chicken or my healthy enchilada quinoa. My Crockpot baby back ribs and salsa verde chicken are also really popular. And for more soup ideas, check out my recipe index to pick your favorite.

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Hearty bowl of Crockpot vegetable beef stew with chunks of beef, potatoes, and carrots, ready to warm you up on a cold day.
Heidi Davison

Head Baker & Owner

Hi, I'm Heidi, Head Baker and Owner of Heidi's Bakery in Knoxville, TN.

What began as a blog to share family recipes has become a thriving bakery, thanks to community support.
Many recipes here are from my family’s cookbook. Give them a try and leave a comment below!

Heidi Davison the Owner of Heidis Bakery

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