Italian Stew Recipe Slow Cooker

A simple rustic Italian beef stew recipe loaded with aromatics and vegetables like tomatoes, carrots and mushrooms. This only takes 15 minutes to prep, and I let the crock pot do all the heavy lifting. The result? Fork tender perfection! Be sure to see the video tutorial for how to make this Italian beef stew (below).

The prospect of a bowl of slowly-stewed beef, Italian style, always has me excited! Especially on cruelly cold days, Italian beef stew is high on the list of dishes I make without a second thought. So is the case with this cauliflower and chickpea stew, and this carrot ginger soup, by the way.

Why this Italian Beef Stew Recipe Works

There are countless of recipes for Italian beef stew. And to me, adding your own twist is what makes it extra special.

This slow cooker Italian beef stew is a very basic recipe. Beef chuck roast, deeply browned and then slow-cooked in a red wine broth with loads of carrots, mushrooms and aromatics.

I serve my Italian beef stew simply with a piece of rustic Italian bread, or even homemade challah. And I do occasionally rebel and ladle my Italian beef stew over a heaping portion of Lebanese rice.

What Kind of Meat to Use for this Beef Stew?

It goes without saying that you should not waste your money on an expensive cut of beef for this stew. I like beef chuck roast. As it cooks slowly, the meat's connective tissue breaks down to tender perfection. If you check your stew and find that the meat is chewy, it simply means that it needs some more time to cook.

Watch the Video for How to Make this Italian Beef Stew:

Description

Easy, rustic Italian Beef Stew made right in your crock pot or slow cooker! Only a few minutes to prep this comforting meal.

¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ tablespoon garlic powder
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 ½ lb beef chuck roast, fat-trimmed, and cut into roughly 1 ½ inch cubes
Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil
1 large red onion, cut into large pieces
6 garlic cloves, chopped
4-5 large rainbow carrots (about 12 oz), cut into large pieces
1 cup red wine
2 cups vegetable broth
28 oz can whole peeled tomato
4-5 sprigs fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
16 oz white or cremini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

Mix the flour and garlic powder together.
Pat the meat dry and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the meat into the flour mixture to coat.
In a large cast-irons skillet, heat 2 tablespoon olive oil. Brown the meat deeply for about 3-4 minutes on each side; crust should form. Remove from heat.
Now, place the browned meat in the bottom of a large crock pot. Add the remaining ingredients except the mushrooms. Stir with a wooden spoon.
Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 4 ½ hours. Add the sliced mushrooms. Cover and cook for another 30 minutes or so.
Enjoy with your favorite Italian bread or even homemade challah!

Notes

Pro Tip: Do not spend too much money on your cut of beef used for this recipe. An inexpensive beef chuck roast is the best option. As it cooks slowly, the meat's connective tissue breaks down to tender perfection. If you check your stew and find that the meat is chewy, it simply means that it needs some more time to cook.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 5 hours
Category: Entree
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: Beef Stew, Italian Beef Stew, Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Recommended for this recipe: Cast Iron Skillet; Large Crock Pot

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