Once onions are soft, add in your tomato paste and spices. Stir until it forms a smooth sauce, then toss in your browned beef, broth, Worcestershire Sauce, and bay leaves. Stir well.
Bring this to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and cover. Let this simmer 1.5-2 hours or until beef is tender. If the broth level looks low, add a little more.
Once beef is very tender, add vegetables and continue to simmer for 30 minutes (or until vegetables are tender). If you prefer a thicker soup, allow to simmer longer uncovered.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Instructions:
Arrange all cut vegetables, cubed beef*, and other ingredients into a slow cooker. Stir well so that liquid and seasoning coats all ingredients. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high 4-5 hours. If the meat doesn’t feel tender, let it cook a bit longer.
**If possible, brown your cubed beef in a skillet on medium heat before putting into the slow cooker. This adds a ton of flavor and helps create juicy, tender, flavorful chunks of meat! However, if you are unable to do this, your stew will still be delicious!
