Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This tender, hearty, and savory Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe is so easy and extremely flavorful! Old-fashioned stew meat Crockpot recipes are perfect for chilly days whenever you want something comforting and filling with carrots, soft potatoes, and onions.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divded
• 2 ½ pounds beef , cut into 1 ¼-inch cubes
• Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 2 yellow onions, medium; diced
• 1 fennel bulb, diced
• 4 carrots, peeled and cut into ¼-inch cubes
• 1 pound gold potatoes , baby Yukon gold; halved or quartered
• 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large heavy-bottom skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add half of the beef cubes and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
3. Cook, stirring occasionally until meat is seared golden brown, around 3-4 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker and repeat with the remaining meat.
4. Reduce the heat to a medium-low, add the remaining tablespoon of oil and sauté the onion and fennel until soft, 4-5 minutes. Transfer to your slow cooker.
5. Stir in the remaining ingredients except for cornstarch and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.
6. Combine the cornstarch with a bit of water to make the slurry.
7. Once the time is up, add the cornstarch slurry and stir well to combine.
8. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 minutes to thicken up the sauce