Description
This hearty slow cooker ground beef stew is packed with tender vegetables, savory broth, and rich tomato flavor. It’s a budget-friendly, all-in-one comfort meal that simmers to perfection with minimal effort.
Ingredients
1½ lbs ground beef
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
3 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
4 cups beef broth
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning
Optional: 1 cup frozen peas or green beans (added in last hour)
Instructions
Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
Add beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth to the slow cooker.
Stir in Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and seasoning.
Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours or high for 4–5 hours, until vegetables are fork-tender.
Add peas or green beans in the final hour if using.
Stir before serving. Optional: serve with bread or over rice.
Notes
You can thicken the stew by stirring in a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water) in the last 30 minutes.
Ground turkey or chicken can be used instead of beef.
Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7–8 hours (low) or 4–5 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ground beef stew, slow cooker stew, crock pot beef stew, hearty dinner, beef and vegetable stew