Ah, cooking raw cubed beef in a slow cooker — perfect for stews, braises, or pot roasts. 🥩 Slow cooking turns even tough cuts into tender, flavorful meat. Here’s a clear guide and recipe template.
Slow Cooker Cubed Beef Stew
Serves 4–6
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (900 g) beef stew meat, cubed
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour (optional, for browning & thickening)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups carrots, cut into chunks
- 2 cups potatoes, cut into chunks
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 1–2 tsp salt
- ½–1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1–2 bay leaves
- Optional: 1 cup red wine or diced tomatoes for extra flavor
Instructions
1️⃣ Optional Browning (extra flavor)
- Toss beef cubes with flour, salt, and pepper.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Brown beef on all sides (2–3 minutes per side).
- Transfer browned beef to slow cooker.
You can skip browning if you want — slow cooker will still tenderize the meat, but browning adds extra depth of flavor.
2️⃣ Add Vegetables & Seasoning
- Place onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and celery on top of the beef.
- Add thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and any optional ingredients (wine or tomatoes).
3️⃣ Add Liquid
- Pour beef broth over all ingredients — just enough to mostly cover meat and vegetables.
4️⃣ Cook
- Cover and cook:
- Low: 7–8 hours
- High: 4–5 hours
5️⃣ Finish
- Remove bay leaves.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Optional: Thicken with a slurry of 2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water if desired.
6️⃣ Serve
- Spoon over rice, mashed potatoes, or enjoy as-is for a hearty stew.
🔥 Pro Tips
- Cuts of beef: Chuck, round, or brisket work best — they become tender after slow cooking.
- Don’t overfill: Leave ~1 inch of space at the top for even cooking.
- Veggie timing: Root vegetables can go in at the start; softer veggies (peas, zucchini) should be added in the last 30 minutes.
- Flavor boost: Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce for umami depth.
If you want, I can give you a “slow cooker shredded beef for tacos or sandwiches” version using cubed raw beef — super tender and easy to shred.
Do you want me to do that?
