Crock Pot Country Beef Stew Recipe

A mouthwatering beef stew is an essential item in almost every home cook's repertoire, and low and slow is the perfect way to cook it. The benefits of slow cooking are many, but coming home to a delicious, fully cooked meal is perhaps the most rewarding. Make this country-style beef stew with good, lean stewing beef (chuck), or use round steak if that's what you have on hand. Vegetables include potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery, along with peas, which go into the stew about 15 to 20 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Substitute with mixed vegetables if you'd like. The tapioca is a common thickener for crock pot dishes. If you don't have quick-cooking tapioca, thicken the stew with a slurry made with flour and water. See the tips below the recipe for details. Enjoy this beef stew with a crusty artisan loaf or homemade bread and a tossed green salad.