Is there anything more cosy and satisfying than a Slow Cooker Beef Stew bubbling away in the kitchen when the winter draws in and we need the ultimate comfort food to keep us going?
This stew recipe – or Slow Cooker Beef Casserole if you prefer – is, quite simply, satisfaction in a bowl. It’s packed with flavour, chunky vegetables and rich gravy, warming the cockles and brimming with goodness.
Can I be honest with you my friends? In the past I’ve not been quite convinced about slower beef stews. Sometimes bland, sometimes watery. Curries work well because of the extra flavour from spices etc, but stews and casseroles can be a little disappointing.
So… I made it my mission to solve this problem! I have tweaked and polished this recipe about 20 times, I kid you not, and I feel like we’re finally there. Mission to create a delicious, thick Slow Cooker Beef Stew is complete. The beef is tender, the veggies wholesome and the beer makes for a lovely rich gravy.
I hope you love this classic as much as we do ❤️
Why you’ll love this recipe
⭐️ Packed with rich flavour
⭐️ Lots of hidden veg for goodness
⭐️ Great for batch cooking
About Slow Cooker Beef Casserole
Could the humble stew be the one dish that dates back to the very beginnings of humankind? It’s thought that might be the case, with evidence of the meal dating back centuries all over the world, from Japan to Amazonian rainforests, France and, obviously, Ireland with its famous Irish Stew.
While our early ancestors might have boiled up meat and some vegetables over a fire, cooking has come along a tad since then. That said, the dish hasn’t evolved dramatically over the course of centuries, and with good reason. There simply is nothing more heartwarming over the colder months than a steaming bowl of beef casserole
And we all know that being able to make this kind of meal in the slow cooker is the dream scenario, so I hope you find this version works for you. There are a few tips and ingredients involved that should elevate it from an ordinary just-ok recipe to one you go to time and time again, but we’re still keeping it super simple and very much affordable for an ideal family-friendly dinner.
What you’ll need
- Beef cubes – I use braising steak, also known as stewing steak
- Plain flour – This helps to thicken the sauce
- Sunflower oil – Or another flavourless oil
- Onion – Use pre-prepared frozen and chopped for time-saving
- Garlic – Same goes, I use the cheat version but you can go fresh
- Beer – Any ale or bitter, or see substitutions list
- Carrots – Chopped into small bite sized pieces
- Swede – Called rutabaga if you’re in the USA
- Beef stock cubes – No need to dissolve
- Worcestershire sauce – Or Henderson’s Relish
- Salt and pepper – Use plenty
How to make it
- Coat the beef in the plain flour until it’s well covered.
2. Fry the beef in batches on the hob (don’t overcrowd the pan) until it’s browned and golden.
3. Add everything into the pan and stir. Transfer to your slow cooker or take your hob-friendly slow cooker off the heat.
4. Cook as per the recipe (below).
Substitutions
- Beer – If you don’t want to use alcohol, you can replace it with beef stock (in addition to the cubes mentioned in the recipe). Also, if your bottle of beer has less than 600ml (some are 500ml), just make up the difference with stock.
Leftovers
In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat fully in the microwave or on the hob before serving.
In the freezer This recipe freezes really well and is great for batch cooking. Just wait until it’s totally cold and then put into a freezer proof container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly before reheating in the microwave or on the hob.
Top tips
Browning the beef
You have a choice on this. You don’t have to fry the meat on the hob first but I do feel that in this case, it is worth the 10 minutes or so as it adds a lot of flavour to the dish.
This isn’t always the case. In a Slow Cooker Beef Curry, for example, the spices add so much flavour that it’s not needed. But here, you want it to be.. BEEFY, right?
All that said, if you don’t have time, don’t stress just throw it in. It’ll be maybe 20% less tasty, but sometimes needs must don’t they?
Cut of beef
I use something like ‘braising steak‘, which is the name supermarkets and butchers use for a few different cuts of beef that need slow cooking. These include chuck, skirt, leg and flank.
It’s also sometimes labelled as stewing steak. Any of these cuts that need to be cooked slowly are fine for this recipe.
FAQ
They are basically the same but if we’re nit-picking, it’s thought a ‘stew’ is a pan of ingredients simmered together on a stove (stewed), and a ‘casserole’ refers to the type of pot you use when cooking ingredients together in an oven.
So what if it’s in a slow cooker?! We call it a Beef Stew or a Beef Casserole and forget about it!
Sure. Cook at 160C for about an 2-3 hours or until the beef is soft and tender.
You will almost certainly need to add some more liquid if cooking in the oven. Probably about 300-400ml of stock but check it as it cooks and adjust accordingly.
I love this one (available to buy on Amazon) as it has a pan that you can use on the hob to brown your meat first and then transfer straight into the cooker. It’s very lightweight too.
For induction hobs, I recommend the Lakeland Digital 6.5l Slow Cooker instead.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Slow Cooker Beef Stew {with Rich Gravy}
Ingredients
- 1 kg Beef cubes See notes
- 3 tbsp Plain flour
- 2 tbsp Sunflower oil
- 1 Onion See notes
- 3 Cloves Garlic See notes
- 600 ml Beer See notes
- 3 Carrots Peeled and chopped
- 1/2 Swede Peeled and chopped. (Rutabaga if you're in the USA)
- 2 Beef stock cubes No need to dissolve in liquid, just as they are.
- 3 tbsp Tomato puree
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Coat the beef in the plain flour until it's well covered.
- Heat the oil in a pan (or in your slow cooker pan if it's the type you can use on the hob) and brown the beef, in batches, don't overcrowd the pan, until it's browned and golden.
- Add all of your other ingredients, with all of the browned beef, into the pan. Remove from the heat (or transfer to your slow cooker pan if you have used a different pan for the browning).
- Pop the lid on and cook in the slow cooker for 5-6 hours on HIGH or 8-9 hours on LOW (this will vary slightly depending on the size of the cubes of meat and vegetables but don't worry, it's difficult to overcook this!)
Zara says
This is now on and smells amazing. Although I used self raising flour as got the wrong one 🤦🏼♀️ But hoping it will be fine 😬 xx
Sarah J says
OMG! This is amazing! Thank you for all the effort and descriptions, it is now my go to casserole and I’m on my second batch now.
I used ‘proper job’ ale and worked just great but would interested what others have used?
FRED SNYDERS says
IM TRYING IT TONIGHT Thanks for sharing
Helen cale says
I’m trying this for tonight, minus the beer and added in some butternut squash for added veg.
Jo says
This is soooo tasty! Honestly the best steak and ale stew we’ve eaten and so easy using frozen chopped onions & garlic. I browned my beef for the extra flavour – well worth the extra 15 mins. Thankyou for another great recipe
Yeah says
👍🥴
Sam says
Well, I’ve just made this, substituting where the fridge was limited and it was sooooo lovely! I can almost say it was like my grandma’s, almost!!
Easy to do, a fair bit of chopping, tastes fabulous and even better re-heated!! Thank you
Tony Lamar says
Same as above, forgot the stars regards Tony Lamar.
Rosie says
Absolutely amazing, definitely going to be a winter favourite (and plenty of left overs for work as well which is a bonus)
Ian says
Just made similar yesterday but no beer plus two tesp of English mustard, it’s just lovely.
Monica says
My go to recipe for beef stew love it I live on my own so have plenty to freeze in portions which I sometimes add a dumpling to.
Ellie-cat says
Gosh this is so tasty. 🤤
Made it today minus the beer x2 beef cubes instead 👌🏽.
My family loved loved loved it. Thank you for such a hearty recipe 🤤🤤🤤
Gemma Lucas says
Amazing! This will be my ‘go to’ from now on! Faultless and full of flavours! The meat was so soft! Not one bad thing to say! ❤️
Diana says
Best ever recipe I have found and so easy to do. It’s in the slow cooker now,I can’t wait to taste it!
Karen says
I made this on Saturday and it is absolutely delicious! I didn’t use beer (will try that another time!) as I forgot to buy it but honestly loved it without… so much so that I’ve told everyone I know about it and am making it again in a few days time!!
Suzanne says
This was even better than expected! Just what we needed on this cold day, some proper comfort food that’s actually pretty healthy! We had it with rice and green beans – will definitely be making this again! 😋
Katie says
I’ve just come down to the most delicious smell in the kitchen! A sneaky taste has not let me down! It’s delicious and thick – not watery. Thank you – this is going into the family recipe book x
Deborah says
Cooking this for tonight’s dinner. Just what is needed on these cold days.
Lisa says
Absolutely delicious! I used stock instead of ale but might try that next time!! Thank you for the recipe!! 😘
Aud F says
Oh my gosh, this was delicious! Everyone absolutely loved it and seconds were requested. I put in extra worcestershire sauce and used fresh onion and garlic. I’ve shared the recipe with all my friends and the family is already asking me when I’m making it again. Thanks so much for sharing this – I’m off to check out your other recipes. To others : make it – you won’t be disappointed!
Sean says
I never leave comments on anything, but had too.
So easy, so so nice… do it!😁
I used Stout instead, oooh so good!
Victoria Lea says
30 mins left until the timer goes off! Smells awesome. Second time making this.
Samantha says
Can I put potatoes in this instead of swede?
Yolanda says
2nd time of making, it is outstanding
kerry brown says
The stew was amazing 🤩 . Super tasty and really easy to make. I added a couple of sticks of celery and some whole shallots in extra, I just had to add a little boiling water at the end of cooking to loosen it up a little. I will definitely be making it again. Does the alcohol evaporate in a slow cooker? I’ve been reading that it doesn’t. Great recipe 👍👍