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On quiet afternoons, there is nothing quite as beautiful as the rhythm of chopping root vegetables on a heavy wooden board. Potatoes still dusted with earth, sweet carrots and thick onions-all tumbling into your slow cooker alongside rich cuts of beef.

This isn’t a quick thirty-minute weeknight meal. This is a meal that takes time, patience and a low steady flame. Though the hours pass, the house fills with the savory, rich aroma of woodsmoke and savory broth. In that moment, you will realize that the wait was entirely part of the magic to this amazing meal.

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Buttermilk & Burlaps Old-Fashioned Hearty Beef Stew

Prep Time: 20 minutes Simmer Time: 2-2 1/2 Hours Yield: 6-8 hearty bowls

Gather Your Provisions

2 lbs Stew Beef (Chuck roast cut into thick 1 1/2 inch chunks)

1/2 cup. All-Purpose Flour (For dredging)

3 tbsp. Lard, Bacon grease, or Vegetable oil (For searing)

1 large Yellow Onion (Chopped thick)

3 cloves Garlic (Minced)

2 tbsp. Tomato Paste

3 cups. Beef Bone Broth

1 cup. Water

4 large Carrots (Peeled and cut into thick coins)

4 large Russet or Yukon Gold Potatoes (Scrubbed and chopped into large chunks)

2 stalks Celery (Sliced thick)

2 Fresh Bay Leaves

A few springs of Fresh Thyme & Rosemary (Tied with kitchen twine)

Salt & Black Pepper (To taste)

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The Method

The Quick Sear (Optional but Highly Recommended)

Dredge your beef chunks in the flour (season the flour to your liking) and sear them in a skillet with lard or bacon grease until a deep crust forms. Toss in the onions at the very end just to help pick up the flavor.

Layer the Vegetables

Place your thick-cut potatoes, carrots, and celery at the very bottom of your crockpot. Hard root vegetables are known for taking longer to cook in a slow cooker. Keeping them closest to the heat ensures they get perfectly fork-tender.

Add the Meat and Aromatics

Layer the seared beef and onions on top of the vegetables. Tuck your garlic, tomato paste, bay leaves and herb bundle into the center.

Pour and Deglaze

If you seared your meat in a skillet, pour a splash of your broth into the hot skillet to help scrape up the browned bits, then pour it all into the crockpot. Add the rest of the broth and water.

Set it and Forget it

Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours (highly recommended for the most tender beef) or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.

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How to Thicken Crock Pot Gravy

Slow cookers tend to keep all of the moisture trapped inside, making the gravy come out a bit thinner. If you prefer a thicker, heartier broth/gravy at the end of the day, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water in a small cup to make a smooth slurry consistency. Stir it into the bubbling stew during the last 20 minutes of cooking, turning the crockpot to HIGH. It will thicken up beautifully!

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With warmth and savory aroma,

The Buttermilk & Burlap Family