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    Home » Popular » Italian Recipes

    September 8, 2021 Dinner

    Slow Cooker Italian Beef Stew

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This delicious Slow Cooker Italian Beef Stew is everything you want in a hearty, comforting meal with huge depth of flavor. It is a deliciously slow simmered dish that's wonderful for weekend family dinners.  Everyone is sure to love its incredibly rich flavor.

    It does take some time to make this recipe, but it is totally worth the wait. And best part is, you let your slow cooker do most of the work. It is the perfect dish to make on a quiet weekend morning. Relax and enjoy the steps of creating a comforting and delicious Italian comfort dish. This tasty slow cooker recipe is Whole30, Paleo, Keto. It is totally gluten-free and sugar free.

    overhead image of beef stew in white bowl

    Originally published September 23, 2019 and updated on September 2, 2020. I have been using my trusty slow cooker for weeks...dreaming of cooler temps. I thought you would enjoy one of our family favorites!

    After a long day at work, come home to comforting aroma of an amazing, slow-cooked dinner. If you are looking for a beef soup, you have to try this Hungarian version (SO GOOD!). Another comforting dish is our Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (totally vegan and super hearty!).

    A simply lovely dish to make when you have company coming over. You could prep the stew early in the day and it will simmer until dinner time. When your guests arrive they will be greeted with the delicious aroma of this wonderful dinner. As soon as it's ready, if you're following Whole30, Paleo, Keto... simply serve it with cauliflower rice.

    Following Paleo and Whole30... you could serve with mashed potatoes (only sweet potatoes, if you're Paleo) Gluten-free: serve with mashed potatoes (white or sweet) or polenta. It's even perfect with a lovely tossed salad. If you're not following any special diet, serve with really great crusty Italian bread and your favorite pasta! A rustic and simple meal that does not disappoint in rich flavor.

    overhead image of Italian beef stew in red pot

    What ingredients are in a slow cooker Italian beef stew?

    Here is what you will need to make this flavorful stew:

    • extra-virgin olive oil
    • beef stewing meat
    • onion chopped
    • carrots
    • celery
    • dried rosemary and sage
    • dry red wine
    • tomato sauce
    • fresh rosemary
    • bay leaves
    • sea salt
    • freshly ground black pepper to taste

    How do you make the best slow cooker Italian beef stew?

    First thing to do is prep all your ingredients to make this delightful stew. I used a nice dry red Italian wine. Use a wine you would actually drink. The carrots and celery are cut in large chunks. I broke up my San Marzano tomatoes with a fork. You could also puree them.

    overhead image of making Italian beef stew

    The slow cooker makes this classic Italian beef stew very easy to pull together. 

    The next thing you'll be doing is browning the beef cubes and sweating the celery, onion and carrot. Next, you add in your red wine and seasonings. *IF you aren't Whole30 or Keto, and following a Paleo/gluten-free diet, you could use a grain-free/Paleo friendly flour to thicken the sauce. Simply toss the beef in 1-2 tablespoons of the grain-free flour. Shake off any excess before adding to the hot skillet to brown.

    overhead image of making beef stew in skillet

    After that, you add the meat and vegetables into the slow cooker.

    overhead image of making beef stew in slow cooker

    Pour the tomato sauce on top and then let the slow cooker do its magic.

    overhead image of making beef stew

    After 8 hours, the meat becomes so tender and you will have a delicious, and hearty meal.

    overhead image of making beef stew

    BEEF STEW IN A SLOW COOKER OR DUTCH OVEN

    One of the best ways to make a delicious beef stew is to make it in a slow cooker. You may have yours hidden in the cabinet waiting for fall. This is the time of year to take it out and whip up comforting fall dishes any day of the week. Without spending hours in the kitchen, let the slow cooker do the work for you!

    If you are using a Dutch oven instead of the slow cooker, you have to check on it more often and stir it. If you're using the Dutch oven, simmer the stew over low heat on the stove top for 2 1/2-3 hours. You will still get great results in the depth of flavor.

    As with most stews, this tastes even better the next day! Make a large portion and the next day enjoy the leftovers.

    BEST EVER SLOW COOKER ITALIAN BEEF STEW

    When the temperatures start to drop, the best way to warm up is with a hearty bowl of beef stow.  Our favorite way to make beef stew is in the slow cooker. It simmers low and slow and the enticing aroma fills your house all day long. This beef stew has a rich tomato and wine based sauce filled with vegetables. It is one of the best ways to get such tender and delicious beef with a sauce filled with depth of flavor from a slow simmer.

    What is the secret to good stew?

    The secret to a good stew is to cook it slowly over low heat so that the flavors have time to develop. Another important tip is to use fresh ingredients - both for the best flavor and for safety reasons. When it comes to choosing the right cuts of meat, go for ones that are tender and have some fat content, as this will also help to create a richer and more flavorful stew. Finally, don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices - they can really make a dish sing!

    Can you put raw beef in a slow cooker?

    You can put raw beef in a slow cooker, but it will not cook as evenly that way. It is better to brown the beef first in a pan on the stovetop before adding it to the slow cooker. This will help it to cook more evenly and prevent it from drying out.

    How can I make my beef stew more flavorful?

    There are a few things you can do to make your beef stew more flavorful. One is to brown the beef before adding it to the stew. This will give it a richer flavor. Another is to add some aromatic vegetables such as onions, garlic, and carrots to the mix. Finally, don't forget to season your stew with salt and pepper to taste.

    overhead image of Italian beef stew in white bowl

    Pin for later!
    overhead image of slow cooker italian beef stew

    Please let me know how you like this recipe in the comments! I’m always so eager to hear from you and hope you love this beef stew.

    Lora XX

    Some other slow cooker recipes:

    • Slow Cooker Beef Broth
    • Slow Cooker Turkey Bolognese Sauce

    Originally posted September 2, 2020 and republished September 8, 2021

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    4.89 from 9 votes

    Slow Cooker Italian Beef Stew

    This delicious Slow Cooker Italian Beef Stew is everything you want in a hearty, comforting meal with huge depth of flavor. It is a deliciously slow simmered dish that's wonderful for weekend family dinners or dinner parties with friends.  Everyone is sure to love its incredibly rich flavor.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time8 hrs
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: beef stew, keto, paleo, slow-cooker
    Servings: 6
    Author: Lora

    Equipment

    • Slow cooker
    • Large skillet

    Ingredients

    • MEAT
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1.5 pounds beef stewing meat in chunks
    • VEGETABLES
    • 1 large onion chopped
    • 4 large carrots peeled ends trimmed and cut into chunks
    • 4 large celery sticks trimmed and thickly sliced
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
    • SAUCE
    • 1 cup dry red wine
    • 2 cups tomato sauce I used San Marzano tomatoes puréed (you can use a fork to break them up or pulse in food processor)
    • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1-2 teaspoons salt
    • Black pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • MEAT AND VEGGIES
    • Heat the oil in a large and deep skillet (I used a large cast iron skilleover medium-high heat. When the oil is heated up, place the beef into the hot pan. Brown beef until all sides have a nice sear on them (do not stir too much as the beef will not sear properly). Add in the onions, carrots and celery (do not stir too much, or the beef will not brown properly). Toss in the dried herbs, if using.
    • Pour the red wine into the pan, scratching the browned bits off the bottom. Add the salt and pepper. Cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Add the tomato sauce. Bring to a boil. Check the seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if needed. Remove to a 5-6 quart slow cooker.
    • SLOW COOKER
    • Carefully transfer to a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Add the tomato sauce on top of the meat and veggies. Add in the bay leaves and rosemary sprig. Stir it all gently together to make sure the sauce goes to the bottom of the meat and veggies.
    • COOK
    • Cook the stew on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours. Adjust seasoning as needed. Either finish cooking with the lid open (if you want a thicker stew)or keep lid closed if you want it soupier. Before serving, discard the bay leaves and rosemary sprig.

    Notes

    IF you are following Paleo-serve with mashed sweet potatoes.
    IF you are following Whole30, Paleo, Keto: serve with cauliflower rice.
    Gluten-free: Serve with mashed potatoes or polenta.
    If you aren't following a special diet: serve with really great crusty Italian bread or your favorite pasta.
     
     
    All images and text  ©Savoring Italy.  Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anna says

      September 23, 2019 at 2:25 pm

      5 stars
      This stew is pure comfort food! Perfect for the first day of Fall!

      Reply
    2. Demeter says

      September 23, 2019 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect comfort food to get you through any dreary day. Love that the slow cooker does all the work.

      Reply
    3. Sara Welch says

      September 23, 2019 at 5:53 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! This is everything a gourmet soup should be, and then some! Delicious!

      Reply
    4. Stephanie says

      September 23, 2019 at 7:53 pm

      5 stars
      The meat was so tender and full of flavor! Definitely going to make this again.

      Reply
    5. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      September 24, 2019 at 5:04 am

      5 stars
      This looks incredibly delicious! This is such an exciting idea!

      Reply
    6. Katerina @ diethood .com says

      September 24, 2019 at 5:26 am

      5 stars
      Oh my, this looks so warm, hearty and delicious!! The perfect comfort food!

      Reply
    7. Melanie | Melanie Makes says

      September 24, 2019 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      Comfort food at it's absolute finest!

      Reply

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    lora and gabby

    Welcome to our Italian kitchen! We are Lora and Gabriella, the mother-daughter team behind Savoring Italy. With more than 30+ years of experience in the kitchen, Lora has had a great advantage – receiving guidance from both her husband who is an executive chef/restaurant owner and her mother who is a renowned private chef. 

    More about me →

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