If you love a thick and hearty slow cooker beef stew, this is the recipe for you. This is the best slow cooker beef stew you will ever try and so easy. It comes 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.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
- Beef stew cubes
- Carrots (you could also use baby carrots)
- Red potatoes
- Bay leaf
- Dry onion soup mix
- Cream of mushroom soup – If you do not have cream of mushroom soup, you can replace it with cream of chicken. This replacement will alter the taste of the stew slightly.
- Tomato sauce
- Frozen green peas
Equipment Needed
- Crock pot / slow cooker (THIS one is my favorite to use)
- Non-stick cooking spray
- Small-sized mixing bowl
How to Make Slow Cooker 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.
- 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!).
Freezer Meal Modifications
This meal can easily be made into 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).
Recipe Tips
- If you do not have beef stew cubes at your grocery store, you can buy your favorite beef roast and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- To make the recipe heartier, double the meat.
- Be sure to start this beef stew recipe early enough as it does take most of the day to cook and develop all those lovely flavors. It can cook for up to 10 hours in the slow cooker.
- You can customize your vegetable add-ins. Here are a few suggestions: green beans, veggie mix, corn, green peppers, and red peppers.
Explore More Delicious Stew Recipes
Stews are our favorite fall and winter meal. Here are some of our favorite comforting stews that we know your family will love. For more stew inspiration, check out our full list of stews.
- Instant Pot Beef Daube Stew with Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Ground Beef Vegetable Stew
- Slow Cooker Chunky Roast Stew
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Stew
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
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
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
do you add water for the soups as you were making them and then add? just want to be sure!
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!
Awesome! it is cooking now!
im making mine too, but the beef not tender its hard and it still says it has 2 1/2 hours to go hmmm
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.
How fun to have so many close relatives to share ideas with. You are all blessed.
Juliesews
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….
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*
How many servings does this make? About 12 or so?!
This looks sooo delicious, can’t wait to try!!! 🙂
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.
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.
Made this tonight and it was good! We will definitely make it again. It was very easy to throw together.
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.
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!
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
I added 4oz fresh sliced mushrooms (because I like mushrooms). This recipe was simple and delicious. I’m a real fan of thick stews.
The recipe says tomato “sauce”, not tomato soup. This was wonderful. I also added mushrooms.
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!
Are you supposed to use condensed cream of mushroom soup? Or just regular cream of mushroom soup??making this now so please answer quickly!
Just a can of Campbells cream of Mushroom soup!
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! ?
Thanks Jessica!! Glad you like it and thanks so much for stopping by our blog! Have a great week!! 🙂
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!
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?
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.
I made this yesterday, we all absolutely loved it! I did use celery in place of the peas. A keeper recipe for sure.
Made this last week & it turned out great! So much flavor. My bf loved it too, thanks for sharing 🙂
Can I replace the cream of mushroom with cream of chicken?
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.
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.
What would you recommend to replace the cream of mushroom?
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.
not tomato soup,,tomato sauce
so you don’t mix it all up before cooking?
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!!!
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!
Please clarify if it is tomato soup or sauce that is used.
Recipe calls for an 8 ounce can of tomato sauce in the ingredients.
Awesome! Very good taste.
When do you put the peas in?? I am cooking it right away in crockpot not freezing
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.
Should the stew meat be browned before putting in crockpot?
The stew meat does not have to be browned before putting in the slow cooker.
Thanks for the quick response. It is expected to be cold this week. Will definitely make this dish.
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.
I forgot the frozen peas! Can I used canned?
Canned peas will work too.
that’s how I make it…with cream of chicken instead of cream of mushroom
i use just one packet
Can you use cream of celery instead of the cream of mushroom I am making it now
I made this tonight and I wouldn’t change this recipe for nothing my niece loved it and so did I
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.
Oh no! Just seeing this now. Cream of celery should be fine. 🙂
Hello,
I am not a fan of beef could you substitute pork or chicken for this recipe?
You can substitute any meat of your choosing.
Can you make this in the instant pot?
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.
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!
Wondering the same thing!
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/
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 !
Hi Jill. So glad you liked the Slow Cooker Beef Stew. It’s perfect for a cold winter day! Have a Happy New Year!!
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.
I’m sure this reply is late. But you just sprinkle the dry onion soup mix into the recipe.
Is there a way to get nutritional info on this recipe so those on Weight Watchers can configure points?
This beef stew is best!! I love meals that are easy and delicious! Bonus points bc my kids love it too!!
You can enter the ingredients into MyFitnessPal for nutrition information.
Love your recipes but I joined weight watchers and need the nutrition for this stew.
You can add the ingredients into MyFitnessPal and it will give you all the nutritional info you will need for this recipe.
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.
It will be fine on low for 7 hours.
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!
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!
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.
That can vary with each individual. With stew a serving is at least a good cup.
When do you stir this during the cook time or at the end ?
Looks delicious. Can this be made in an Instant pot and do you have directions?
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/
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!
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!
I added water to the condensed soup – think it will still come out okay?
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?
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.
It should be fine, the stew may not be as thick.
So excited to make this ! How would you adjust the recipe if adding more meat?
If it’s just a little meat, you should be fine. But you may need to add more liquid if it’s a lot of meat you want to add in
Could the red potatoes be substituted with russets?
You can substitute russets however I would peel them first and the texture will end up a little different. Red potatoes are waxier and tend to hold their shape better. Russets might break down more over the long cook time.
I was a bit skeptical because the picture doesn’t look too appetizing, too be honest. But I wanted something easy that didn’t require you to fry the meat first or do anything fancy. This was the BEST beef stew I’ve ever had. I don’t care for peas so I didn’t add those. I added extra meat. Blended the sauce before pouring on top. Cooked for about 9 hours. Absolutely wonderful. I’ve tried so many of your recipes and they have never let me down. Saving this. THANK YOU!!
How would one can cream of mushroom and one can cream of celery be?
That sounds delicious!
Delicious! Made as directed but substituted one can of mushroom soup with broth for a little thinner consistency. Was even better as leftovers!
We are so glad to hear that!
The first time I made this I made for my son while he was in college. Something easy to dump into his crockpot and have dinner. he loved it. I made again yesterday (hes home) and he at 4 bowls. Im going to say he loved this meal.