Indulge in a comforting and delicious bowl of Slow Cooker Italian Beef Stew. Packed with tender beef, hearty vegetables, and flavorful Italian seasonings, this stew is the perfect way to warm up on a chilly day. Set it and forget it using your slow cooker for an easy and convenient cooking experience. This stew pairs well with a crusty bread or a serving of creamy mashed potatoes. Try this crowd-pleasing recipe that will surely satisfy your family's taste buds.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Directions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef stew meat and brown on all sides. Transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots and celery and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Transfer the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the slow cooker.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together diced tomatoes, beef broth, red wine, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if desired). Pour the mixture over the meat and vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or until the beef is tender and the flavors are well-blended.
- Serve the Italian beef stew hot, garnished with fresh parsley. Enjoy with crusty bread or mashed potatoes.
Interesting Facts
Slow cooking allows the beef to become tender and infuse the stew with rich flavors.
This Italian beef stew recipe can be easily doubled or halved depending on your serving needs.
The combination of red wine and beef broth adds depth and richness to the stew's flavors.