Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe 

Ingredients:

2 lbs beef stew meat (chuck roast, cut into chunks)

4 carrots, peeled and sliced

4 potatoes, peeled and cubed

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups beef broth

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp paprika

2 bay leaves

2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (for thickening, optional)

Fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)

Instructions:

1. Prep: Place beef, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and garlic in the slow cooker.

2. Mix: In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, and paprika. Pour over the meat and veggies. Add bay leaves.

3. Cook: Cover and cook on Low for 8–10 hours or High for 4–5 hours, until the beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through.

4. Thicken (optional): In the last 30 minutes, stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch + water) to thicken the stew.

5. Serve: Discard bay leaves, taste and adjust seasoning, then garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot with crusty bread!