The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

Name: The Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 490 min
Ingredients: 1 pound beef stew cubes; 4 large carrots ((sliced)); 4-6 red potatoes ((cut into large cubes)); 1 bay leaf; 1 packet dry onion soup mix ((about 1 ounce packet)); 2 cans cream of mushroom soup ((10.75 ounces each)); 1 can tomato sauce ((8 ounces)); 1 package frozen green peas ((10 ounces))

Jump to Recipe

8 hrs 10 mins

85 Comments

5 from 3 votes

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During the winter months, we love to make warm and hearty meals. Our slow cooker beef stew is just that! It has all the wonderful flavors you would expect and more with tender chunks of beef and vegetables to create one of the best comfort food recipes on a cold day.

If you love a thick and hearty slow cooker beef stew, this is the recipe for you! One thing we love about the cold wintertime is that you can never get enough slow cooker recipes.

This is the best slow cooker beef stew you will ever try (and it’s so easy!). This is an easy beef stew recipe that will come together in minutes.

While it cooks throughout the day it develops all the wonderful old fashioned beef stew recipe flavors you expect to taste.

If you are looking for a recipe to throw in the crock before work, this slow cooker beef with onion soup mix is exactly what you need!

You will be excited to race home for dinner after work and have it ready to eat.

How to make Slow Cooker Beef Stew:

Crock pot beef stew ingredients:

Beef stew cubes
Carrots (you could also use baby carrots)
Red potatoes
Bay leaf
Dry onion soup mix
Cream of mushroom soup
Tomato sauce
Frozen green peas

If you do not have the cream of mushroom soup you can replace it with cream of chicken, just know it will alter the taste of the stew a bit.

You can also make your own Cream of Mushroom soup – just check out this recipe here.

Kitchen items needed to make this crock pot beef stew:

Crock pot / slow cooker (THIS one is my favorite to use)
Non-stick cooking spray
Small-sized mixing bowl

Pro-tip: Be sure you start this wonderful beef stew early enough as it does take most of the day to cook and develop all of those lovely flavors!

This is also a great recipe to make if you will be gone all day since it can cook for up to 10 hours in the slow cooker.

If you have an Instant Pot, be sure to check out this Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe!

Related Article: These Slow Cooker Beef Gyros are prepped in under 30 minutes!

How do you make this savory crock pot beef stew?

Begin by spraying the bottom of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray, or if you prefer easier cleanup, check out these amazing slow cooker liners. I am always a fan of less work after a making a delicious meal.

Then, place the beef cubes on the bottom of the slow cooker, then add in the carrots you have chopped, and diced red potatoes and then top it off with the bay leaf.

Now, in a small mixing bowl, add in one package of onion soup mix (the ounces may vary depending on the brand you use), cans of cream of mushroom soup, and tomato sauce, and frozen peas.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

Mix everything together well and then pour it over top of the beef and veggies, trying to spread it as evenly as possible.

If desired, you can place a bay leaf on top for added flavor, but it’s not necessary.

Then, simply put the lid on the slow cooker and turn it on low and set the timer between 7-10 hours.

If you need to, it can cook on high for 5-6 hours, but we prefer the low and slow method (the meat just falls apart after cooking for that long!).

We LOVE to serve rolls with our stew, perfect to dip and even clean up your bowls with! If you like to make your own, check out our 30 Minute Dinner Rolls.

Tips for this easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe:

This meal can easily be made into a freezer meal. To make this a freezer meal, place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag (or another freezer-safe container). Mix contents together in the bag and zip bag closed. When ready to eat, remove the bag from the freezer and thaw it in the fridge for 24 hours. Then spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and the pour contents of bag into the slow cooker. And simply cook on LOW for 7-10 hours (or HIGH for 5-6 hours).
No worries if you don’t have beef stew cubes at your grocery store – you can buy your favorite beef roast and cut it into bite-sized pieces yourself.
I prefer to add double the meat, just to make it even more hearty.

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Make this Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe your own:

You can add whatever veggies you like! Here are a few suggestions:

Green beans
Veggie mix
Corn
Green Peppers
Red Peppers

Close up ofSlow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe in slow cooker

More Slow Cooker recipes to try:

Serves: 6

The Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

5 from 3 votes

One of the easiest recipes I have ever made – and it's super hearty and filling! This also can be made into a freezer meal and is so nice to pull out of the freezer on a day when you don't have time to cook.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 8 hrs

Total Time 8 hrs 10 mins

Print Pin

Ingredients

1 pound beef stew cubes
4 large carrots (sliced)
4-6 red potatoes (cut into large cubes)
1 bay leaf
1 packet dry onion soup mix (about 1 ounce packet)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (10.75 ounces each)
1 can tomato sauce (8 ounces)
1 package frozen green peas (10 ounces)

Instructions

Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
Place beef cubes at the bottom of the crock pot. Layer carrots, then potatoes, placing bay leaf on top.
In a separate bowl, mix remaining ingredients and pour over beef and veggies.
Cover with lid and cook on low 7-10 hours (you could cook it on high for 6-7 hours, but I highly recommend the low and slow method).

Notes

How to make this into a freezer meal:

Before cooking, place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed.
When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and pour contents of bag into slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 7-10 hours (or HIGH for 5-6 hours).

Nutrition

Calories: 372 kcal · Carbohydrates: 50 g · Protein: 29 g · Fat: 7 g · Saturated Fat: 3 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g · Cholesterol: 52 mg · Sodium: 1953 mg · Potassium: 1725 mg · Fiber: 9 g · Sugar: 12 g · Vitamin A: 8885 IU · Vitamin C: 42 mg · Calcium: 85 mg · Iron: 5 mg

Equipment

Slow Cooker
Mixing Bowl
Non-stick Cooking Spray

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

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Questions & Reviews

Michelle says:

do you add water for the soups as you were making them and then add? just want to be sure!
Camille says:

Hi Michelle! Don't add any water for the soups! :) Just dump in the can of condensed soup and the packet of onion soup mix. :) Quick and easy!
Michelle says:

Awesome! it is cooking now!
Anonymous says:

im making mine too, but the beef not tender its hard and it still says it has 2 1/2 hours to go hmmm
Crystal says:

It says 1 (8 oz) can tomato SOUP.....did you mean 1 (8 oz) can tomato SAUCE? I could only find tomato soup in a 10 3/4 oz can but tomato sauce comes in an 8 oz can. I just want to be sure before I make it.
Anonymous says:

How fun to have so many close relatives to share ideas with. You are all blessed.

Juliesews
Anonymous says:

This recipe looks amazing. found it on pinterest. Making it tomorrow morning!

I just thought i'd remind people that when using a crock pot to NOT open it. until it says to. Opening it ruins the process and will take longer to cook....
Rebekka says:

I wasn't crazy about this...I'm sorry. It could be because I had to make sure my tomato soup and cream of mushroom was gluten free....sigh*
AliciaMonique says:

How many servings does this make? About 12 or so?!
This looks sooo delicious, can't wait to try!!! :)
Missy says:

Loved it!! Yummy, Thanks
I did use only 1/2 can of tomato soup and a can of El PATO (Spicy) tomato sauce to give it a Kick!!
I would not recommend this to a family w/kids or you can do what I did which was to add a little sour cream to cool it down . I cooked it for a full 9 hours and the meat was very tender as well as the carrots and potatoes.
Unknown says:

Made this tonight. 11 hours in crock pot. Perfection. Tender, perfect beef. Soft potatoes. My husband said it needed salt but I don't think so. This recipe is so easy. We'll be making this once a week fer sher.
Maryjo Mcgraw says:

Made this tonight and it was good! We will definitely make it again. It was very easy to throw together.
Aundrea Azelton says:

Not a fan of this recipe. Way too thick and too creamy, not the consistency I look for in beef stew. I added Worchestershire for taste as it was a bit bland and tasted artificial, I suppose thats to be expected as the base came out of a can. It filled our bellies is all i can say that is positive.
April says:

Hardly ever comment on recipes, in fact I think yours are the only ones I do! I thought this was excellent, just "the one" I was looking for! Awesome! Thank you! Followed exactly except I had half a bag of frozen green beans to use up!
Six Sisters says:

We'll have to try adding green beans! Great way to get our daily veggies in! Thanks for your nice comment! You made our day! -The Six Sisters
Dave Mills says:

I added 4oz fresh sliced mushrooms (because I like mushrooms). This recipe was simple and delicious. I'm a real fan of thick stews.
Pam Walk says:

The recipe says tomato "sauce", not tomato soup. This was wonderful. I also added mushrooms.
bhelgeson says:

I made this today and it was amazing. I did want it a little more "soupey," so instead of the 2 cans of cream of mushroom, I did one can of cream of mushroom and one can of water. Also, I didn't use the full 10 oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables (thats what I had on hand instead of peas), only a small part of the bag. It was a boyfriend pleaser for sure. Thank you!
Christine says:

Are you supposed to use condensed cream of mushroom soup? Or just regular cream of mushroom soup??making this now so please answer quickly!
Cyd says:

Just a can of Campbells cream of Mushroom soup!
Jessica says:

This has been my go to recipe for years ever since I found it on Pinterest. I haven't made it in awhile and was so excited about it. Just thought I'd share! ?
Cyd says:

Thanks Jessica!! Glad you like it and thanks so much for stopping by our blog! Have a great week!! :)
Alyssa says:

My family LOVED this recipe! I did change a few things. I put a lot of salt &pepper on the meat, replaced the peas with corn, and I also added a can of beef broth after the initial 8 hours and let it cook another 45 minutes. Mainly because it wasn't juicy enough, but that could've been because I cut up a lean roast I had in the freezer instead of buying stew meat. Either way delicious recipe and can't wait to make it again!
Linda Fairless says:

The recipe says 1 (1oz) pkg of dry onion soup mix. There are 1.9 oz in the pkg. Do you just use 1 oz of the pkg?
Cyd says:

Sorry about that, you can add the whole package of the onion soup mix. If you are afraid it will be too strong, you can add half and then part way through cooking add the rest if you feel you want it for more flavor. We added the whole package.
Missy says:

I made this yesterday, we all absolutely loved it! I did use celery in place of the peas. A keeper recipe for sure.
Ally says:

Made this last week & it turned out great! So much flavor. My bf loved it too, thanks for sharing :)
Kay Crawford says:

Can I replace the cream of mushroom with cream of chicken?
Cyd says:

That should be fine but it will alter the taste a little because cream of chicken and cream of mushroom have a totally different taste.
Stephanie says:

This is my favorite stew to make! Such a comfort food. Thanks for the recipe. I'm glad fall is on the horizon so I can make it more often.
Amber says:

What would you recommend to replace the cream of mushroom?
Cyd says:

You could use some beef broth and then thicken it a little with cornstarch or flour/water mixture like you would for gravy. That would add a lot of delicious flavor.
Karen says:

not tomato soup,,tomato sauce
Karen says:

so you don't mix it all up before cooking?
Bonnie says:

Wow!! Great beef stew. So easy to make. My family loved it. Going put some in the freezer. I used the whole can of tomato soup and replaced peas for celery. Delicious!!!
Cyd says:

Some ingredients you place right in the slow cooker. Others you mix in a bowl and then add it in. It's all in the directions. Hope this helps!
Trina says:

Please clarify if it is tomato soup or sauce that is used.
Cyd says:

Recipe calls for an 8 ounce can of tomato sauce in the ingredients.
Wanda says:

Awesome! Very good taste.
Jen says:

When do you put the peas in?? I am cooking it right away in crockpot not freezing
Cyd says:

We put the peas in with all of the other ingredients. You can also use frozen peas in this recipe. Just add them in frozen.
Inge says:

Should the stew meat be browned before putting in crockpot?
Cyd says:

The stew meat does not have to be browned before putting in the slow cooker.
Inge says:

Thanks for the quick response. It is expected to be cold this week. Will definitely make this dish.
Yvonne says:

I started this before I left for work yesterday when I got home it was done and it looked just like the picture. It calls for no salt. It was so bland. It needs a lot of salt.
Alice says:

I forgot the frozen peas! Can I used canned?
Cyd says:

Canned peas will work too.
Cynthi says:

that's how I make it...with cream of chicken instead of cream of mushroom
Cynthi says:

i use just one packet
Linda says:

Can you use cream of celery instead of the cream of mushroom I am making it now
Linda says:

I made this tonight and I wouldn't change this recipe for nothing my niece loved it and so did I
Cyd says:

Hi Linda. Thanks for taking the time to leave us a comment on the beef stew. So glad you and your niece loved it. Have a great week.
Cyd says:

Oh no! Just seeing this now. Cream of celery should be fine. :)
Danielle says:

Hello, I am not a fan of beef could you substitute pork or chicken for this recipe?
Cyd says:

You can substitute any meat of your choosing.
Sarah says:

Can you make this in the instant pot?
Glenna Marky says:

Amazing recipe I'm one of those little old ladies who can't spend a lot of time in the kitchen standing up for prep. I just use all frozen veggies dump and forget. My favorites.
Suaan says:

Hey! I love this recipe and have been making it for a while. I now have an instant pot and was wonderful if this recipe is able to be converted to the instant pot. Thanks!
Susan says:

Wondering the same thing!
Cyd says:

Here is a post the Six Sisters did on converting recipes to the instant pot. https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/how-to-convert-recipes-into-instant-pot-recipes/
Jill says:

This was delicious! We had it for Christmas Eve- so perfect after a busy day and evening church service. I used fresh potatoes and frozen mixed vegetables. I keyed it into MyFitnessPal and stayed in track with my macro goals. Best beef stew recipe anywhere !
Cyd says:

Hi Jill. So glad you liked the Slow Cooker Beef Stew. It's perfect for a cold winter day! Have a Happy New Year!!
Jennifer Hanks says:

Hey I was wondering do you actually make the onion soup mix like it says on the Lipton box or do you not? Trying to start this tonight but I want to do it correctly.
Cyd says:

I'm sure this reply is late. But you just sprinkle the dry onion soup mix into the recipe.
Amanda says:

Is there a way to get nutritional info on this recipe so those on Weight Watchers can configure points?
Jen S says:

This beef stew is best!! I love meals that are easy and delicious! Bonus points bc my kids love it too!!
Cyd says:

You can enter the ingredients into MyFitnessPal for nutrition information.
Shirley Anderson says:

Love your recipes but I joined weight watchers and need the nutrition for this stew.
Cyd says:

You can add the ingredients into MyFitnessPal and it will give you all the nutritional info you will need for this recipe.
Kim says:

Should I cook this on High if I want to eat it before 7 hours or cook on low for the whole 7 hours. I doubled the meat so I want to make sure it is cooked thoroughly and tender for dinner. Suggestion please.
Cyd says:

It will be fine on low for 7 hours.
Laurie says:

I'm confused because I clicked on the link that said "Instant Pot" recipe, but this is obviously for a slow cooker... Did I miss something?
Cossette says:

Making this today in hopes that it will be a quick and easy freezer meal for when baby arrives in 4 months. Need to start my list of quick and easy dinners, so that prepping freezer meals near the end will be a breeze :) planning on making this with 1/2 the amount of potatoes and one additional can of water as we like things more soupy. Otherwise all same ingredients. Usually use the instant pot pressure cook option but going to put it in early today and use the slow cooker function on low for 8 hours. Excited to come back on update on how it was!
Molly says:

Hi! Thank you for such and easy and delicious looking recipe! I see that it serves six, but roughly what is the measurement of a serving? Cup? Half cup? Thanks!
Rebecca B. says:

The flavor of this stew is exactly what I have in mind when I think of classic beef stew from my childhood. I like to buy a family pack of stew meat and a bag of potatoes and make 2 gallon sized ziploc bags full to stick in the freezer. Also love subbing frozen mixed veggies instead of just carrots bc that’s how I roll. Don’t forget the bay leaf! It makes a huge difference in flavor.
Momma Cyd says:

That can vary with each individual. With stew a serving is at least a good cup.
Dino Clark says:

When do you stir this during the cook time or at the end ?
Jill says:

Looks delicious. Can this be made in an Instant pot and do you have directions?
Momma Cyd says:

We have a few instant pot beef stews. https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/instant-pot-beef-stew-recipe/ https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/instant-pot-ground-beef-vegetable-stew-recipe/
Jen W says:

If not tender, keep cooking! Many a time did I think that my beef was never going to get tender. But this is a good example where patience is a virtue!
JenD. says:

This is the easiest & tastiest stew recipe around! Making it for my inlaws tonight. Even my super picky eaters request it! Only change is I add the peas in the last couple hours so they don't get too mushy. Serve with homemade bread & yum!
JoeD says:

I added water to the condensed soup - think it will still come out okay?
Laurie Haan says:

Hi, I’m about to make this stroganoff recipe, and I realized I’m out of apple juice. Could I substitute applesauce for the juice? Or, could I use cranberry juice?
Momma Cyd says:

We have not tried applesauce or cranberry juice. The cranberry juice would definitely give it a different taste. I would stick with applesauce watered down a bit.
Momma Cyd says:

It should be fine, the stew may not be as thick.

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe