Go Back
–+ servings
Wooden spoon stirs beef stew with vegetables in black slow cooker.
Print Recipe
4.87 from 15 votes

Slow Cooker Beef Stew With Onion Soup Mix

Discover the ultimate comfort food with this Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Onion Soup Mix. This easy-to-follow recipe offers a flavorful blend of beef, vegetables, and herbs, making it perfect for any season. It's the perfect dish for a family dinner.
The secret to this beef stew lies in the onion soup mix, which adds flavor and richness. It also adds instant seasoning that makes this recipe super easy.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 20 minutes
Course: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crockpot beef stew, slow cooker beef stew with onion soup mix
Servings: 6 Servings
Author: Pat Nyswonger

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds beef stew meat
  • 1 envelope onion soup mix or 3 tablespoons homemade onion soup mix
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 3 sprigs Fresh thyme
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup red wine optional
  • 3 tablespoons quick-cooking (instant) tapioca
  • 4 large carrots cut into 1½-inch chunks
  • 1 pound small yellow or red potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups beef broth

Instructions

  • Add the beef to the bottom of the slow cooker and sprinkle with the onion soup mix and herbs.  Add the onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, Worcestershire sauce, and wine, if using.
    Sprinkling the contents of a packet of dry onion soup mix over beef stew meat.
  • Sprinkle the tapioca over the vegetables.  
    Spooning tapioca over stew meat and onions in a slow cooker.
  • In a small dish or cup, whisk together the tomato paste with ½ cup of the beef broth and pour over the vegetables.  Add the remaining beef broth.
    Pouring beef broth into a slow cooker bowl filled with beef, potatoes and carrots.
  • Cover the slow cooker and set it on low for 7-8 hours, stirring occasionally. You can also cook it on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Notes

  • For a thicker sauce combine ¼ cup of water with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and stir into the sauce during the last 30 minutes of cooking time.
  • For a deeper, richer sauce, dust the beef with flour and sear in 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet, then add to the slow cooker and proceed with the recipe.
  • Additional vegetables can be added according to your taste.  Some suggestions are sliced celery, parsnips, turnips and mushrooms.
  • Frozen and thawed green peas can be added 10 minutes before the set time elapses.
  • If not using the red wine, substitute with additional beef broth.

Recipe Variations: 

  • For a veggie boost, add root vegetables like parsnips and turnips.
  • Swap herbs for global spices like cumin or paprika
  • Guinness makes a great wine substitute for a maltier flavor
  • Mushrooms add great texture, use a mix if you have them
  • Smoked sausage plays well with the beef and adds bold flavor

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 150mg | Sodium: 589mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g
QR Code linking back to recipe