Crockpot Beef and Beer Stew

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/25/22
Hearty beef and beer stew

The Spruce

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 9 hrs
Total: 9 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Don't be intimidated by the preparation time on this stew. It's quick to prepare and a cinch to make. Most of the time required is fully hands-off since the work is done by the slow cooker. In fact, this stew is one you can prepare the night before if that timing works better for you. Just put everything in the slow cooker and refrigerate the crock pot overnight. The next day, start it on high for an hour, then turn to low and cook for another seven to nine hours. By the time the chilly evening rolls around, dinner will be done. 

Beer adds flavor to a hearty beef stew or pot roast. Use any beer you like to drink (and you can even serve the same beer with the finished stew). This beef stew is delicious on its own, served on top of hot buttered noodles or plain rice, or with a simple salad and buttered roll. 

If you have a slow cooker with a sauté feature, feel free to brown the beef stew meat prior to slow cooking. Remove the meat, sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery and then follow the rest of the directions. If your slow cooker does not have that function, don't worry. Follow the recipe and the stew will turn out delicious. 

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Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 pounds lean beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 1 large onion, coarsely chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 2 medium ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

  • 2 medium potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 1 cup beer

  • 1 cup beef broth, or beer

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for hearty beef and beer stew
    The Spruce

  2. In the slow cooker crockery insert, combine the stew beef, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, potatoes, beer, beef broth, salt, pepper, oregano, and tomato paste.

    Slow cooker filled with ingredients
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  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.

    Hearty beefy and beer stew
    The Spruce

  4. Mix melted butter with flour until a smooth mixture forms.

    Mix melted butter
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  5. Add this to the stew to thicken it. Taste and adjust seasonings.

    Add to the stew
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  6. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook until the desired thickness is reached, about 15 to 20 minutes.

    Turn the slow cooker to high
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  7. Serve right away and enjoy.

Tips

  • Store any leftover stew in a sealed container in the refrigerator for four to five days. Heat it in the microwave or stove top.
  • The beef stew can also be frozen. Consider freezing it in individual-sized portions for a quick grab-and-go lunch or dinner option. Simply defrost the stew in the fridge overnight and then heat it up in the microwave or stove top.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
556 Calories
19g Fat
30g Carbs
65g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 556
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 25%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 202mg 67%
Sodium 918mg 40%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 65g
Vitamin C 12mg 59%
Calcium 88mg 7%
Iron 7mg 40%
Potassium 1271mg 27%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)