Make-Ahead Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Served with fresh bread and a salad, this hearty beef stew is a family favorite. It can be made fresh, browning the meat then tossing all the ingredients together in the slow cooker, or it can be prepared ahead of time for freezing and quick assembly for a quick crock pot meal when you need it! I like to make fresh stew, but double the ingredients and freeze the second portion for a quick dose of comfort food mid-week.

Step: 1

Combine the flour, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, seasoned salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a large, resealable plastic bag. Add the beef, and seal the bag. Shake the bag thoroughly to coat the beef with seasoned flour.

Step: 2

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Shake the excess seasoning off the beef, then stir the beef into the hot skillet with the onion and mushrooms. Cook and stir until the beef is evenly browned and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.

Step: 3

Place the beef mixture into a slow cooker. Place the potatoes, carrots, celery, garlic, Marsala wine, and Worcestershire sauce into the cooker with the beef mixture. Pour the beef broth and tomatoes into the cooker, and stir in the onion soup mix and 1 more teaspoon of smoked paprika. Cook on High for 4 to 6 hours, or on Low for 10 to 12 hours. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Step: 4

For a thicker stew, combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Gradually stir the mixture into the stew until thickened.

Per Serving: 467 calories; protein 25.3g; carbohydrates 43.8g; fat 20.6g; cholesterol 68.6mg; sodium 1110.2mg.

The word “stew” can refer to 2 time a dish and a cooking method. Stewing involves not fast cooking piece of meat, raw fruit or beans in a tastefull water based . It’s same as to braising, instead it does have a few piece of differences. The meat is chopped into few of pieces instead of being processing menu all of it , and the water based material completely covers the contents in a stew as compared to a braise’s halfway full . When meat or raw fruit are cooked using this method, the resulting dish is called stew.

Stew has a perception for being a rib-sticking eating process that comfortable you up on a cold , winter day. It’s right that ; a bowl of classic beef stew does have warming featured food , but stew’s comfort factor goes way beyond protecting you from the chill . It’s all about those soft and chunks of meat and vegetables, swimming in a thick, ultra-rich gravy. The more they come together make the ultimate comfort food, no matter the weather.