With arctic weather making its way across the Midwest, I felt like it would be a great time to share my favorite beef stew recipe. It’s a great comfort food that warms you up inside. It’s also incredibly easy! It’s got only a handful of ingredients with minimal prep work and then you toss it all into the crockpot and walk away.
We don’t exactly have cold weather here in AZ, but I love to make this stew in the fall and winter on those “cool” nights. I also bring my crockpot along every year on our summer vacation up in Colorado. I can always count on at least one chilly day to make this. It was while we were in Colorado that this stew also got the nickname “Thumb Stew.” One ill-fated morning in 2009, I was prepping the stew to go into the crockpot. I was chopping the celery when disaster struck and I almost added about 1/4″ of my thumbtip to the recipe. What came out of my mouth at that moment isn’t appropriate for a family audience, so I’ll let you use your imagination. Thankfully my mom happened to come with us that year and heard my expletive from her bedroom in the cabin and came to see what had happened. She woke my husband up and took care of the boys while he bandaged me and we took a ride into town to the hospital where they stitched my thumbtip back on. To this day, I still break out in a cold sweat any time I chop celery. 
I also learned that trip to never leave the hospital saying “the trip can’t get any worse.” Two days later I came down with strep throat. Worst. Summer vacation. Ever.
Back to the stew. Here’s the handy recipe for you. Just please don’t be like me and try making it “Thumb Stew.” Oh, and for those of you who love healthy recipes, this is low fat! Our favorite way to enjoy this stew is with some piping hot Grands biscuits. Those aren’t exactly low fat:)
- 2 lbs. beef stew meat (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 4 or 5 red potatoes (depending on their size) chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 lb. carrots peels and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 5 stalks celery chopped into 1/2" pieces
- 2 - 28oz cans crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- In your crockpot, combine all ingredients and cook on low for approximately 8 hours or on high for approximately 6 hours. The stew is ready when the vegetables are fork tender. Adjust seasonings as necessary and enjoy!
- My husband and boys don't like onions, so I use onion powder in this recipe to add flavor. If your family is okay with onions, you can add 1 diced, medium onion.
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OH MY GOSH! YOUR THUMB!! :O That seriously makes me cringe haha at least they were able to sew it back on! We don’t get “winter” here in Southern California either! I’ll have to try making this late at night when it actually cools down haha. This looks so good! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the “handy” recipe 😉 (I’m assuming no pun intended!)
Caitlin
xx
Lol! I didn’t even catch that, but no, no pun intended;)
I’m so jealous at your lack of cold weather! It’s been painfully cold here in Boston. I’ve been looking for a good beef stew recipe, my boyfriend loves this stuff and I have to redeem myself after my first botched attempt (by botched attempt, I mean practically raw potatoes). I’ll be sure to be extra careful while chopping 🙂
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I’m sure I’ll be jealous of your weather in July;) Thanks for stopping by and I hope you and your boyfriend like the stew!
Who doesn’t love a good beef stew!? Thanks for sharing the recipe! I’ll be sure to not make it a “Thumb Stew” or any other finger stew. Pinning!
*Visiting from The Best Blog Recipes Weekend Retreat Link Party*
Thanks for stopping by! I’ll stop by and visit your blog too!
I’m such a sucker for a good beef stew… and this sure does look delicious 🙂 Thank you so much for linking up this post to The Weekend re-Treat on The Best Blog Recipes! Wanted to stop by and Pin your post to our party boards while I was here tonight 🙂
Shauna @ The Best Blog Recipes
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Thanks! Thanks for hosting the great link parties!
Uh-oh. Sorry about your finger. That beef stew looks delicious though.
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Thanks! It’s all healed up and only a scar now:)