Easy Slow Cooker Irish Beef Stew with Rich Gravy
Tender beef, potatoes, carrots and celery cook slowly in a savory gravy for a comforting dinner with very little hands-on work.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1.5 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1- to 2-inch cubes
- 2 small-medium onions peeled and cut into slim wedges
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 pound waxy potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
- 4 medium carrots peeled and cut into chunks
- 3 stalks celery sliced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 tablespoons white flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- to taste ground black pepper
- 1 sprig thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried
- 1 sprig rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch stirred into 3 tablespoons cool water to make a slurry
Instructions
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef, then transfer it to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.
- Add the onions and garlic to the hot skillet and sauté over medium heat until softened. Pour in about 1/2 cup of the beef broth and scrape up the browned bits, then carefully pour everything into the slow cooker.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, and celery. Whisk the remaining broth with the Worcestershire sauce and flour, pour it over the meat and vegetables, and stir carefully. Tuck in the thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.
- Open the slow cooker and stir carefully. Add the cornstarch slurry and stir well. Cook uncovered on HIGH for 15 to 30 minutes, until the gravy has thickened.