Best Ever Slow-Cooker Beef Stew

 

Sometimes it's magic.  And, this, my friends, is magic. 

It may be the ugliest cooked dish I have ever served, but...hey...I'm not a food stylist.  So, really...who cares???  

Let's begin...here is your

Shopping List

3 lbs of beef tips (you want BIG chunks or they'll disintegrate)

3 lb bag of red potatoes

4 stalks of celery

6-7 carrots (use the big kind...not the baby kind...they wash them in bleach & they have no flavor...except bleach.)

2 BIG onions

4 cloves of garlic

2 cups of chicken broth

Pepper to taste

1 packet of Zesty Italian dressing 

2 tablespoons of McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning

2 tablespoons of Tony Chacere's Brown Gravy Seasoning

2-3 tablespoons of Olive Oil

1/4 cup of flour 

Dice all your veggies & potatoes.  Place potatoes, onions, peeled whole garlic cloves, and meat in bag.  Drizzle with olive oil...enough to cover.  Seal bag & smoosh. 

Open bag & add spices.  Re-seal bag & smoosh again.  Store carrots & celery in separate bag.  I did this simply because I didn't have room in my gallon bag for the carrots & celery.  If you do, add them!  Refrigerate overnight.

The next morning dump ingredients and chicken broth into your crock pot and cook on warm for 8-10 hours.  Now, my crock pot cooks hot.  And, I work all day...so, I know that my meal will be cooking for AT LEAST 10 hours.  However, if you have a "normal" crock pot or won't be cooking the stew as long...put it on low & cook away. 

Remove all ingredients from the au jus and put on platter.  (told you...ugly, but delicious!)

Next, pour your au jus into a sauce pan & heat until simmering.  Add a quarter or so cup of flour & whisk until smooth.  If your gravy becomes to thick, add a bit of warm water. If it's too runny, a little more flour.  But, only a little!  A little flour goes a long way in gravy.

Dish into shallow bowls.  Top with some gravy.  Serve with some delicious bread.  I am partial to Panera's Asiago cheese bread.  However, it would be delicious with a crusty Italian or Sourdough.

Obviously, this is not the prettiest meal you will serve.  But, it will be one of the easiest & tastiest.  And, for those meat & potato kind of men...this will knocks their socks off!

Yum!  

(we're all fighting over the leftovers!)