Description

A hearty and comforting slow cooker recipe featuring tender beef stew meat simmered in a rich, velvety gravy with a hint of thyme and Worcestershire sauce. Perfect for cozy dinners with minimal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

2 pounds beef stew meat (preferably chuck roast), cut into bite-sized pieces
1 large yellow onion, sliced thin
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups beef broth (preferably low sodium)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (30g), for dredging and thickening
2 tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with cold water to make a slurry
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil (avocado oil preferred)
Optional: 8 ounces sliced mushrooms (cremini recommended)

Instructions

Pat the beef stew meat dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
Dredge the beef chunks in all-purpose flour until evenly coated.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per batch, then transfer to the slow cooker.
In the same skillet, sauté sliced onion for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Transfer to the slow cooker.
If using mushrooms, sauté them in the skillet for 5 minutes until browned and add to the slow cooker.
Mix beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme in a measuring cup and pour over the beef and vegetables in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours until beef is tender.
About 30 minutes before serving, stir the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes until gravy thickens. Adjust thickness by adding broth or slurry as needed.
Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Optionally, stir in a splash of cream or a pat of butter for extra richness.
Serve hot over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Browning the beef before slow cooking is essential for deep flavor. Adjust gravy thickness with cornstarch slurry as needed. For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free flour. Leftovers reheat well and flavors deepen after a day.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: Approximately 1/6th
Calories: 320
Sodium: 450
Fat: 14
Carbohydrates: 10
Fiber: 1
Protein: 35

Keywords: slow cooker beef tips, beef tips and gravy, comfort food, easy dinner, slow cooker recipe, beef stew, gravy recipe