Spicy Beef Stew (Slow Cooker)

This Spicy Beef Stew recipe is so easy and versatile making it perfect for weeknight dinners. It's customizable using your favorite vegetables and choice of heat level! All cooked up in the slow cooker for the most tender beef stew.

This slow-cooker beef stew is a comforting and flavorful dish that can warm you up on a chilly day or simply satisfy your craving for a hearty meal. This classic dish is characterized by tender chunks of beef simmered in a rich sauce, combined with a variety of vegetables and spices.

This was inspired by my slow cooker cabbage roll stew and beef and mushroom stew recipe. Enjoy any of these amazing stew recipes with any dishes in this collection of what to serve with beef stew.

Why You Will Love This Slow Cooker Spicy Beef Stew

• You can easily adjust the heat level to suit your preferences, whether you prefer a milder stew or something with a more fiery kick.
• This flavorful, hearty, warming dish is perfect for the colder months, offering comfort and satisfaction with every bite.
• This one-pot beef stew is a fantastic way to turn less expensive cuts of beef into a mouthwatering meal. The slow cooking process allows the meat to become more tender and delicious.
• This stew is an excellent choice for gatherings or family dinners, as it can easily serve multiple people and be enjoyed by everyone.

Ingredients

Here's a look at the ingredients you need to make this slow cooker beef stew recipe. Everything should be easy to find at your grocery store. The full list of ingredients and quantities of each one is in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes: Add a more complex flavor that's a little smoky and richer than regular canned tomatoes. Feel free to use regular diced tomatoes (canned or fresh) or diced tomatoes with green chile peppers for some extra heat would also work.
• Green Chiles: Adds some mild heat to the stew but are totally optional! You can also use Rotel tomatoes instead of using the fire-roasted tomatoes AND green chiles.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic works great but you can also swap it for a half teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
• Taco Seasoning: Choose hot or mild depending on your preferences. It contains all the spices you need to make a flavorful beef stew.
• Sweet Onion: My favorite onion but you can use any type of onion you enjoy or have on hand.
• Beef Broth: Beef broth gives the stew more intense flavors making it more satisfying. In a pinch, you can use bouillon but be sure to check the flavor before adding any salt as it can often be saltier than broth.
• Black Beans: You can easily leave these out or use another bean such as red beans or pinto beans.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a savory and slightly smoky essence to the stew. Soy sauce will work similarly.
• Beef Chuck Roast: This makes a budget-friendly option over buying stew meat already cut. You can also use a well-marbled cut like chuck roast or Blade roast but Tri-tip, top or bottom round roast will work well too.
• Yellow Potatoes: What's stew without potatoes?!? Red potatoes will do the trick as well but try to avoid russet potatoes because they tend to crumble in a crockpot when cooked low and slow.
• Baby Carrots: A convenience item but you could chop up standard carrots into 1-inch chunks instead.
• Garnish: Jalapeno peppers, cilantro, and lime slices dress up the bowls and enhance the stew's flavor.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't be afraid to experiment with your beef stew recipe by adding or substituting ingredients. Adjust flavors according to your personal taste, and enjoy creating your perfect spicy stew flavor.

• Spicy: Add a bit of cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno pepper, homemade hot pepper sauce, our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the stew mixture for a bit more heat.
• Add Salsa: Add your favorite salsa, spicy or not for more flavor.
• Add Bacon: Add some cooked, crumbled, and crisp bacon or pancetta to add a smoky flavor and more depth to your stew.

How to Make Spicy Beef Stew

Here's a look at the simple steps for making this spicy stew recipe. You can find the full details in the recipe card further down the page.

1. Add the tomatoes, green chilis, garlic, taco seasoning, onion, beef broth, black beans, and Worcestershire sauce to the crockpot.
2. Mix everything together.

3. Add the beef, potatoes, and carrots to the pot.
4. Stir until everything is well mixed.

5. Cover with a lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 8-10 hours. Give the stew a good stir before serving. Serve. Serve warm garnished with lime wedges and fresh cilantro

Hint: Throughout the cooking process, taste your beef stew as you go and adjust the seasonings as desired. You may need to add more salt, pepper, or spices to find the perfect balance for you.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy my grandma's slow cooker beef stew.

Storage

Refrigerator: Place the cooled stew in an airtight container and store up to 3 days inside your fridge.

Freezer: Place it in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving some space for it to expand, and store it for up to 2 or 3 months in the freezer.

Thaw it in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. You can also use a microwave to thaw it on the defrost setting for thawing.

Reheat: You can reheat the stew either in the microwave or on the stove. Using the microwave, cover the bowl with a lid or damp paper towel, and heat for 1 minute, followed by 30-second intervals until heated through. Remember to stir between each interval.

To heat on the stovetop, place the soup in a saucepan over low to medium heat, and simmer to ensure even heating, stirring occasionally.

Regardless of which method you use, you may need to add a bit of liquid to the stew if it's too thick.

What to Serve with Beef Stew

• Crusty bread: A fresh, crusty loaf of bread like sourdough, multi-grain, French baguette, Italian, or your favorite is an excellent choice for dipping into the stew and soaking up its rich, flavorful sauce. You might also enjoy some pizza dough breadsticks or air fryer garlic bread!
• Mashed Potatoes: Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes can provide a comforting contrast to the spiciness of the beef stew. You might also enjoy these mashed potato fries or mashed potato patties.
• Fresh Salad: A crisp, refreshing salad can balance out the richness of the stew such as this Amish broccoli salad or cold asparagus salad.
• Cornbread:. This warm, slightly sweet bread complements the spiciness of the stew and provides a nice contrast of textures. Enjoy homemade cornbread either crumbled into the stew or enjoyed as a side. You might also try our broccoli cornbread with cheese.
• Rice or Pasta: Serve on a bed of your favorite rice or pasta as the starch helps to absorb the flavors of the stew.

Tips

Here are some tips to elevate your spicy beef stew to the next level and will surely impress your friends and family with a delectable dish that's packed with flavor.

• Cook your stew slowly. It's best to use low heat giving the beef plenty of time to tenderize as well as the flavors to develop and meld together. Don't rush it.
• Taste your spicy stew as you go and adjust the seasoning and heat as desired.

FAQ

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about it.

Video

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Do you like stew? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

This post was originally published November 2016. It has been updated with new content and images.