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Cozy 5-Ingredient Crockpot Beef Stew with Red Wine

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This cozy 5-ingredient crockpot beef stew with red wine is the kind of recipe that makes you feel like a kitchen genius with almost no effort. It takes about 10 minutes to throw together, with no browning or complicated steps, and the red wine creates a deep, silky, wine-kissed broth that tastes like you’ve been slaving over it for days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs beef stew meat (chuck or round, cut into 1-inch cubes)
  • 1 ½ cups dry red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Pinot Noir)
  • 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 ½ lbs Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, cut into 1 ½-inch chunks
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary (optional)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the vegetables: Peel and chop the carrots into 1-inch chunks. Cut the potatoes into 1 ½-inch pieces, leaving the skin on for texture if desired.
  2. Place the beef stew meat directly into the bottom of a 6-quart or larger crockpot. Spread it out in an even layer.
  3. Scatter the chopped carrots and potatoes over the meat. Do not stir yet.
  4. Pour the red wine and beef broth over everything, ensuring the liquid covers the meat and vegetables as much as possible.
  5. Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the top. If using fresh thyme or rosemary, tuck the sprigs into the liquid. Add minced garlic if desired.
  6. Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or on High for 4-5 hours. About halfway through, gently stir to redistribute.
  7. Check for doneness: The meat should shred easily with a fork, and the potatoes should be soft but not disintegrating. If the meat is still tough, cook for another hour.
  8. Taste the broth and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed. Remove herb sprigs if used. Ladle into bowls and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the salt at the beginning; it helps the meat and vegetables absorb flavor. Use a decent but not expensive wine—a $10 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon works beautifully. Resist the urge to peek; every time you lift the lid, you let out heat and steam, which adds cooking time. If the stew is too thin at the end, mash a few potatoes against the side of the crockpot and stir them in, or mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir in, then cook for another 15 minutes. Let the stew rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle. This stew freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot beef stew, 5-ingredient stew, red wine beef stew, slow cooker beef stew, easy beef stew, comfort food, cozy dinner

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/cozy-5-ingredient-crockpot-beef-stew-with-red-wine/