Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It is built for the slow cooker: Once the ingredients and seasoned broth are assembled, most of the cooking happens without additional hands-on work.
• Beef and vegetables cook together: Stew meat, baby potatoes, carrots, onion and garlic all share the same slow cooker.
• The broth has layers of seasoning: Au Jus mix, onion soup mix, Italian seasoning mix and Worcestershire sauce flavor the beef broth.
• You have two cooking schedules: Use LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours.
• The recipe provides a clear doneness cue: The beef should be fork-tender and the vegetables cooked through.
• The gravy thickens right in the slow cooker: A simple cornstarch-and-water slurry goes in for the final 20 minutes.
• Searing is optional: The supplied tip lets you add an extra browning step when you have time without making it mandatory.
• Serving options are already included: The recipe suggests crusty bread, mashed potatoes or warm dinner rolls.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 packet Au Jus gravy mix
• 1 packet dry onion soup mix
• 1 packet Italian dressing and seasoning mix
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
• 3 large carrots, cut into chunks
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cold water

Ingredient Notes

Beef Stew Meat

The recipe calls for 2 pounds of beef stew meat cut into bite-size pieces. It goes directly into the slow cooker in the main method. However, the supplied optional tip also allows you to sear the pieces first for additional browned flavor.

Au Jus Gravy Mix

One packet of Au Jus gravy mix becomes part of the seasoned broth. The source does not specify a packet weight or brand, so no package size has been added.

Dry Onion Soup Mix

One packet of dry onion soup mix joins the Au Jus mix and Italian seasoning mix. Again, the recipe does not provide a brand or packet weight.

Italian Dressing and Seasoning Mix

Use one packet of Italian dressing and seasoning mix. This is whisked into the beef broth rather than sprinkled directly over the meat.

Baby Potatoes

One pound of baby potatoes is halved before going into the slow cooker. They cook alongside the beef until the vegetables are cooked through.

Carrots and Onion

Cut three large carrots into chunks and slice one medium onion. Both go into the slow cooker during the initial layering step.

Garlic

Three minced garlic cloves join the beef and vegetables from the beginning, allowing them to cook in the seasoned broth throughout the slow-cooking stage.

Beef Broth and Worcestershire Sauce

Two cups of beef broth provide the liquid base, while 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce joins the seasoning mixes and black pepper in the broth mixture.

Cornstarch and Cold Water

The gravy is thickened with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch whisked into 3 tablespoons of cold water. This slurry is not added at the beginning; it goes into the hot stew during the final 20 minutes.

Equipment

• 6-quart slow cooker
• Mixing bowl for the seasoned broth
• Small bowl for the cornstarch slurry
• Whisk
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Stirring and serving spoon
• Skillet, only if using the optional searing tip

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef & Gravy Stew

1. Layer the Ingredients

   Place the beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic into a 6-quart slow cooker.

2. Make the Seasoned Broth

   Whisk together the Au Jus mix, onion soup mix, Italian seasoning mix, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper. Pour the mixture over the beef and vegetables.

3. Slow Cook

   Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the vegetables are cooked through.

4. Thicken the Gravy

   During the final 20 minutes, whisk the cornstarch with cold water until smooth. Stir it into the hot stew, cover, and continue cooking until the gravy thickens.

5. Serve

   Give everything a gentle stir and spoon the tender beef, vegetables, and rich gravy into bowls. Serve with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or warm dinner rolls.

Tips for the Best Results

• Keep the beef bite-size: The ingredient list specifically calls for the stew meat to be cut into bite-size pieces.
• Halve the baby potatoes: Prepare the potatoes before placing them in the slow cooker so they match the supplied recipe.
• Mix the broth separately: Whisk the three seasoning mixes with the broth, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper before pouring the mixture over the beef and vegetables.
• Use tenderness as your guide: The stew is ready for the thickening stage when the beef is fork-tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
• Wait to add the cornstarch: The slurry belongs in the final 20 minutes rather than at the beginning of slow cooking.
• Whisk the slurry until smooth: Fully combine the cornstarch and cold water before stirring it into the hot stew.
• Cover again after thickening: Once the slurry is stirred in, replace the lid and continue cooking until the gravy thickens.
• Consider the optional sear: For the recipe’s extra-flavor variation, sear the beef in a hot skillet for 2–3 minutes per side before adding it to the slow cooker.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Adding the Cornstarch at the Beginning

The recipe saves the cornstarch slurry for the final 20 minutes. Follow that sequence rather than adding it with the initial broth.

Mixing Cornstarch Directly Into the Hot Stew

First whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Then stir that mixture into the hot stew.

Forgetting to Halve the Potatoes

The ingredient list calls for 1 pound of baby potatoes, halved. Prepare them before layering the ingredients in the slow cooker.

Using Time as the Only Doneness Test

The recipe provides both cooking ranges and texture cues. The beef should be fork-tender, and the vegetables should be cooked through.

Treating the Optional Sear as Required

Searing can add browned flavor, but it appears as an optional tip rather than a required part of the five-step slow cooker method.

Guessing Packet Sizes

The source lists one packet each of Au Jus gravy mix, dry onion soup mix and Italian dressing and seasoning mix without specifying weights. Use the recipe as supplied rather than assigning package sizes that were not given.

Substitutions and Variations

Optional Seared Beef

The supplied recipe includes one explicit technique variation: sear the beef in a hot skillet for 2–3 minutes per side before transferring it to the slow cooker. This step is optional and is intended to add browned flavor to the finished stew.

No substitutions are supplied for the beef, potatoes, seasoning packets, broth, vegetables or cornstarch. Changing those ingredients would therefore be an editorial variation rather than part of the original Slow Cooker Savory Beef & Gravy Stew recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Spoon the beef, potatoes, carrots, onion and thick gravy into bowls while warm. Because the stew already contains beef and vegetables, it can be served directly as written.

The original recipe also provides three specific accompaniments: crusty bread, mashed potatoes or warm dinner rolls. Each can be served alongside the stew for soaking up the rich gravy.

Storage and Reheating

Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the original recipe, so this article does not assign a storage duration or reheating method that was not supplied.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of beef does this slow cooker stew use?

The recipe calls for 2 pounds of beef stew meat cut into bite-size pieces.

What size slow cooker do I need?

The supplied instructions specify a 6-quart slow cooker.

How long does Slow Cooker Beef & Gravy Stew cook on LOW?

Cook it covered on LOW for 7–8 hours.

How long does it cook on HIGH?

The supplied HIGH setting is 4–5 hours.

How do I know when the beef stew is ready?

The beef should be fork-tender and the vegetables should be cooked through before the recipe is finished.

Do I need to brown the beef first?

No. The main method places the beef directly in the slow cooker. However, the supplied optional tip suggests searing it for 2–3 minutes per side if you want additional browned flavor.

How does the gravy get thick?

During the final 20 minutes, whisk 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of cold water. Stir the smooth slurry into the hot stew, cover and continue cooking until the gravy thickens.

Can I add the cornstarch at the beginning?

The supplied method does not do so. It specifically adds the cornstarch slurry during the final 20 minutes.

What seasonings flavor the broth?

The seasoned broth combines Au Jus gravy mix, dry onion soup mix, Italian dressing and seasoning mix, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper with beef broth.

What vegetables are in this beef stew?

The recipe includes halved baby potatoes, carrots cut into chunks, sliced onion and minced garlic.

What can I serve with beef and gravy stew?

The supplied serving suggestions are crusty bread, mashed potatoes or warm dinner rolls.

How many servings does this recipe make?

The supplied recipe does not state a serving yield, so an exact number of servings has not been assigned.

Related Recipes

• Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
• Beef Stew Recipes
• Beef and Potato Recipes
• Crockpot Comfort Food Recipes
• Easy Slow Cooker Dinners

Recipe Card: Slow Cooker Savory Beef & Gravy Stew

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 packet Au Jus gravy mix
• 1 packet dry onion soup mix
• 1 packet Italian dressing and seasoning mix
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
• 3 large carrots, cut into chunks
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cold water

Instructions

1. Layer the Ingredients: Place the beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic into a 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Make the Seasoned Broth: Whisk together the Au Jus mix, onion soup mix, Italian seasoning mix, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper. Pour the mixture over the beef and vegetables.
3. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
4. Thicken the Gravy: During the final 20 minutes, whisk the cornstarch with cold water until smooth. Stir it into the hot stew, cover, and continue cooking until the gravy thickens.
5. Serve: Give everything a gentle stir and spoon the tender beef, vegetables, and rich gravy into bowls. Serve with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or warm dinner rolls.

Recipe Notes

• Cut the beef stew meat into bite-size pieces.
• Halve the baby potatoes and cut the carrots into chunks before slow cooking.
• Cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours.
• Use fork-tender beef and cooked-through vegetables as the doneness cues.
• Add the cornstarch slurry only during the final 20 minutes.
• For the optional extra-flavor step, sear the beef in a hot skillet for 2–3 minutes per side before slow cooking.
• Packet weights for the three seasoning mixes were not supplied.
• No serving yield or nutrition information was supplied.

Storage and Reheating

Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the original recipe.