Crock Pot French Onion Beef Stew–a cross between french onion soup and beef stew made easy with your slow cooker.
Crock Pot French Onion Beef Stew
This recipe is kind of like French onion soup crossed with a traditional beef stew. Instead of that more tomato-heavy beef stew flavor, this one is all about savory onion flavor. I use a little baking soda with the onions to help them soften way faster than traditional caramelized onions. Everything cooks low and slow until the beef is super tender.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Butter
- Onions
- Baking soda–helps the onions yellow and soften much more quickly.
- Garlic–you can substitute with 1 tsp garlic powder if needed.
- Beef stew meat–or chuck roast cut into chunks.
- Onion soup mix–I used Lipton brand.
- Yukon gold potatoes–or peeled russets, red potatoes.
- Carrots
- Beef broth–or Better Than Bouillon mixed with water.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dried thyme
- Tomato paste
- Bay leaf–I buy mine in the bulk bins at Winco.
- Salt and pepper–to taste, as needed
- Balsamic vinegar–or red wine vinegar can also work.
Steps
Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the onions and baking soda. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring about once every minute. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Stir in the beef, onion soup mix, potatoes, carrots, broth, Worcestershire, thyme, tomato paste and bay leaf.Â
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.Â
Stir is salt and pepper to taste and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- For an even richer onion flavor: Let the onions cook a few minutes longer before adding them to the slow cooker. The more color you develop on the onions, the more French onion flavor you’ll get.
- This recipe can be gluten free if you use gluten free onion soup mix and gluten free Worcestershire sauce. This recipe can be dairy free if you use olive oil instead of butter to saute the onions.
- What to serve with it: Serve with French bread or dinner rolls. For a fun French onion soup feel, top individual bowls with toasted baguette slices and shredded Gruyère, Swiss or provolone cheese.
- Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze cooled stew in airtight containers for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Tools:
- I used my 6 quart Ninja slow cooker. They don’t sell my particular model anymore. I like it because I can use the stovetop function to saute the onions right in the pot.
- Wooden saute paddle*
- Knife*
- Garlic press*
- Cutting board*
- Magnetic measuring cups*
- Magnetic measuring spoons*
- Glass measuring cup*
- Ladle*
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Crock Pot French Onion Beef Stew
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
A cross between french onion soup and beef stew made easy with your slow cooker.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp butter
2 onions, halved and thinly sliced
â…› tsp baking soda
5 garlic cloves, minced
18 ounces beef stew meat
1 oz packet onion soup mix
8 oz yukon gold potatoes, cut into ¾ inch cubes
3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
2 cups beef broth
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp dried thyme
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper
Splash of balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the onions and baking soda. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring about once every minute. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the beef, onion soup mix, potatoes, carrots, broth, Worcestershire, thyme, tomato paste and bay leaf.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Stir in salt and pepper to taste and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
- Ladle into bowls and enjoy!
- Category: Beef
- Method: Slow Cooking
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*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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