Best Beef Stew Ever

This recipe is simple and straight forward, full of healthy, hearty ingredients. Perfect for a crisp, cool evening before cuddling up with a good book.

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 About this Recipe

There is nothing quite like the smell of homemade soup in the slow cooker on a cool day. It brings me immense peace and warmth. It is my hygge.

This recipe is perfect for Autumn! Imagine this on a crisp Halloween evening after taking those kids through the neighborhood in the cold! I like to add sour cream and cheese to this soup for my kids, because they’re skinny and need all the calories! Plus, it cools it down without watering down the taste!

Ingredients

• 1 pound stew meat
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Italian seasoning, to taste
• Liquid Smoke, just a splash
• 2 yellow potatoes, diced
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 4 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 pint beef stock (mine was homemade)
• 1 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 bay leaves

If your slow cooker has a stove-safe removable insert, it helps a lot and saves on dishes. Place that insert on the stovetop. Otherwise, just use a different pan to brown your meat.

Season your meat with the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and liquid smoke. Melt the butter in your pan or insert, and brown your meat on most of the pieces’ sides. When that is nearly done, add onions and garlic. Cook together until fragrant. Remove from heat and add to your slow cooker base. Add other ingredients and slow cook for 6-8 hours on low. We ate this with homemade rolls, courtesy of my awesome husband.

Optional toppings: sour cream, cheddar cheese.