Rustic Crockpot Stew Casserole: Easy Weeknight Dinner (Print Version)

Rustic Crockpot Stew Casserole - a hearty, easy weeknight dinner. Tender meat, rich veggies, and a flavorful sauce. My slow cooker magic for busy evenings!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 6 Hours minutes
Total Time: 26 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: High Protein

# Ingredients:

→ Main Stew Components

01 - 2 lbs beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1-1.5 inch cubes
02 - 1.5 lbs Yukon Gold or red potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
03 - 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
04 - 2 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch chunks

→ Aromatics & Flavor Builders

05 - 1 large yellow onion, chopped
06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tsp dried thyme
10 - 2 bay leaves
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 - 2 tbsp olive oil (for searing)

→ Liquids & Thickeners

13 - 4 cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)
14 - 1 tbsp cornstarch or all-purpose flour (for thickening, optional)

→ Finishing Touches & Optional Extras

15 - Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
16 - Crusty bread (for serving)

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get your mise en place on! Chop your beef chuck roast into 1-1.5 inch cubes. Honestly, don't make them too small, or they'll disappear. Then, chop your potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion into similar-sized chunks. Mince that garlic – I always feel like a pro chef when I'm doing this, and the smell of fresh garlic is just the best. This is where I sometimes get a little messy, with veggie bits everywhere, but it's part of the fun!
02 - This step is crucial, don't skip it! Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season your beef cubes with salt and pepper, then sear them in batches until they're nicely browned on all sides. You're not cooking them through, just building flavor. I've totally tried to skip this once, thinking it wouldn't matter for a Crockpot Stew Casserole, and oops, the stew just wasn't as rich. Don't make my mistake!
03 - Transfer the seared beef to your slow cooker. In the same skillet (don't clean it, those browned bits are flavor!), add your chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté them for about 5-7 minutes until they start to soften and get fragrant. Then, stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste for another minute until you can really smell that sweet tomato. This step makes your Crockpot Stew Casserole sing!
04 - Pour in a splash of beef broth into the skillet, scraping up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom. This is called deglazing, and it's a flavor bomb! Pour this flavorful mixture into the slow cooker with the beef. Add the remaining beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and bay leaves. Give it a good stir, making sure everything is submerged.
05 - Cover your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the beef is fall-apart tender. Honestly, the smell that fills your kitchen during this time is just incredible. My kitchen always gets a little chaotic when I'm prepping, but the slow cooker does all the hard work, which is a lifesaver. Just let it do its thing!
06 - About 30 minutes before serving, if you want a thicker stew, make a slurry with a tablespoon of cornstarch (or flour) and a tablespoon of cold water. Stir it into the stew, cover, and cook for another 30 minutes until thickened. Remove the bay leaves before serving. The final result should be a rich, glossy sauce with tender meat and veggies. It just looks so inviting, ready for a big bowl!

# Notes:

01 - Don't skip searing the meat, honestly, it adds so much depth to your Crockpot Stew Casserole. It's a game-changer!
02 - Leftovers get even better the next day; just be sure to cool it completely before popping it in the fridge.
03 - If you're out of beef broth, chicken broth works, but the flavor profile shifts a bit—still good though!
04 - Serve this stew casserole with some crusty bread for dipping, trust me, you'll want to sop up every last bit of that sauce.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Slow cooker (Crockpot)
02 - Large skillet
03 - Cutting board
04 - Sharp knife

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450
Total Fat: 20g
Total Carbohydrate: 35g
Protein: 30g

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