Crockpot Beef Stew

Now that the weather is getting colder and our schedules are so busy, I love to look to the crock pot for fast, inexpensive, set it and forget it meals.

This crock pot beef stew is amazing and so "Easy Breezy". Took me 15-20 min prep time and then it cooked high 4 hrs or low up to 8.

Ingredients:

2 lbs beef stew meat
5 sm/med potato
2 cups reg (chopped) or baby carrots
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 fresh jalapeno (optional)
1/2 cup flour
salt/pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
         


I love love love these liners!! I love to cook in the crock pot but it is such a pain to clean it. These take all the pain away. Most of the time its just a quick rinse, since I just toss the liner. These babies run around $2-$3 bucks and highly recommend. Saves hours of soaking.

I put a little flour, salt and pepper into a plastic bag and add the stew meat, shake to coat lightly. I add the flour a little at a time so not to over coat.

Heat on med/high heat 2 tbsp oil ( I use olive). Add the beef and allow at least 3-4 min on each side to get a nice beautiful brown sear. This will lock in the flavors and the juiciness. 

While the beef is cooking. Clean and cut the potatoes, garlic and jalapeno (optional). I put it in because we like just a little heat. Most people put celery but I do not like it.

Put the veggies on the bottom as they take longer than proteins to cook in a crock pot.



You want a sear and the beef to get juicy, it will cook in the crock pot. Add enough beef stock to cover the meat and cook. Add pinch of salt and pepper or other seasoning you think you may like. You can even buy a .99 cent pkg of seasoning at the store if prefer.

Bullion cubes found in the seasoning isle are just concentrated cubes of stock. Comes in all kinds of flavors. You dilute it w/ water to save in buying actually stock in cans or containers.

4 hrs on high and about 8 hrs on low. Can go longer. Will be even more tender if sits a little longer. That is why the crock pot is  a great work day kitchen aid.

Even though it is tempting do not lift the lid. If you do add about 20 min of time. You know when it is done because the house smells amazing at this point.

         
             Beef stew was on sale for $3.99 lb. So the whole crock pot was right around $10!
                                                                    Enjoy!