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Slow Cooker Autumn Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes

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This cozy slow cooker beef stew features tender beef, sweet potatoes, and root vegetables simmered in a savory broth with herbs. It’s an easy, comforting, and nutritious meal perfect for chilly autumn days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef stew meat (chuck roast preferred), cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1.5 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 medium carrots, sliced into thick rounds
  • 3 ribs celery, diced
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, for sautéing)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional, for finishing)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Slice carrots, dice celery and onion, and mince garlic. Cut beef into bite-sized pieces if needed.
  2. Optional: In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown beef cubes in batches, about 2-3 minutes per batch. Remove beef and sauté onions, celery, and carrots for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
  3. Add sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and seared beef (if browned) to the slow cooker. Sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Add the bay leaf.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until beef is fork-tender and sweet potatoes are soft.
  5. Remove the bay leaf. For a thicker stew, mash some sweet potatoes with the back of a spoon. Stir in balsamic vinegar if using. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley. Enjoy with crusty bread, rice, or noodles if desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, brown the beef and sauté the vegetables before adding to the slow cooker, but this step is optional. The stew thickens naturally as sweet potatoes break down. Use low-sodium broth and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce if needed. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef stew, slow cooker, autumn, sweet potatoes, comfort food, gluten-free, easy dinner, fall recipes, crockpot, one pot meal

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/slow-cooker-autumn-beef-stew-recipe-with-sweet-potatoes-easy-comfort-food/