This Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe transforms the classic comfort food into a hearty Middle Eastern-inspired dish! Made with tender beef, fresh veggies, and loads of warm spices, it’s warm, flavorful, and unbelievably delicious. 

Middle Eastern Beef Stew

This crock pot beef stew recipe is our Middle Eastern take on everyone’s favorite cold-weather comfort food! Containing all the ingredients you know and love like thick beef, chunky potatoes, and a rich broth, it’s bulked up even more with the addition of bright veggies and warm spices. Cooked long and slow in the crock pot, the end result is a juicy dish that is bursting with flavor and is incredibly easy to make! One bite, and you’ll never go back to the original recipe again. 

seared beef, onions, potatoes, and spices in a crock pot

Ingredients You’ll Need

For this crock pot beef stew, we took the original recipe and spruced it up with even more nutrients and flavor. Here’s everything you’ll need: 

  • Butter and Olive Oil – Used to sear the beef and lock in flavor. 
  • Chuck Roast – This tough cut of beef cooks down to tender, juicy perfection. 
  • Seasonings – Bay leaves, cardamom pods, smoked paprika, coriander, sea salt, and black pepper combine to create a bold, Middle Eastern flavor. 
  • Vegetables – Potatoes, onions, grape tomatoes, and bell peppers help bulk up the dish, adding color and nutrients. 
  • Broth – We use beef broth, but chicken or vegetable broth would work, too. Whatever you use, we recommended opting for low-sodium varieties. 

The Best Beef for Crock Pot Beef Stew

When it comes to stew recipes, it’s best to use a tough cut of beef that has lots of fats and tendons, because they break down as it cooks. As a result, the meat turns out super tender. Our favorite cuts include: 

  • Chuck Roast
  • Rump Roast
  • Bottom Round 
  • Chuck Steak

How to Make Middle Eastern Crock Pot Beef Stew

The great thing about this stew is that it’s so hands-off to make! All you have to do is combine the ingredients and come back to dinner waiting for you. 

  1. Sear the Beef. Warm the butter and oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef in a single layer, searing on each side until brown. Add the seasonings, and sauté until fragrant. 
  2. Combine the Ingredients. Add the beef to the bowl of the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients. 
  3. Cook. Cover, and cook until the meat is fully cooked and the vegetables are tender. 
  4. Serve. Adjust the seasonings to taste, and serve warm with your favorite sides.

Pro-Tips

Sear the Beef in Batches. You want to make sure to sear the beef before adding it to the crock pot. However, it’s important to cook it in a single layer to lock in the moisture. So, work in batches if needed until all of the beef is cooked. 

Keep the Potatoes Chunky. Make sure to cube the potatoes into decent-sized chunks. This will allow them to become tender without falling apart. 

Avoid Overcooking. It’s important to cook your stew long and slow in order for the meat to become tender, but you don’t want to overcook. If it is left in the crock pot for too long, the veggies will begin to disintegrate and turn to mush! 

How to Store 

This crock pot beef stew is great to make ahead of time and enjoy the next day! Just follow the storage tips to keep it fresh. 

Refrigerator: Let the stew cool completely, transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days

Freezer: Pour the stew into an airtight container, leaving an inch or two of space at the top, and freeze for up to 4 months

Reheating: When you’re ready to eat, warm your stew frozen or thawed in a large pot on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring frequently until your desired temperature is reached. 

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09/25/2023 12:07 am GMT

Serving Suggestions

You can definitely serve this Middle Eastern crock pot stew on its own for a satisfying meal! Or, pair it with all your favorite sides for a family-friendly dinner. Some of our favorite pairings include: 

Crock Pot Beef Stew Common Questions

Do you have to brown stew meat before putting it in the crock pot? 

You don’t absolutely have to sear the beef before adding it to the crock pot. However, it makes the flavor so much better if you do! 

What is the secret to tender Middle Eastern beef stew? 

The secret to tender stew is cooking it long and slow. Be sure to take your time searing the meat and cooking it for several hours to allow the fat to break down. 

Can I put raw beef straight into the slow cooker? 

Yes! The meat will cook, eliminating any possible germs. To ensure it’s safe to eat, use a food thermometer to check that it reaches an internal temperature of 145° Fahrenheit. 

More Satisfying Beef Recipes

Looking for more easy beef recipes? Try out more of our favorites below! 

a bowl of Middle Eastern Beef Stew

Middle Eastern Crock Pot Beef Stew

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Author: Food Dolls
Servings: 10 servings
Prep: 25 minutes
3 hours
Total: 3 hours 25 minutes
This Crock Pot Beef Stew recipe transforms the classic comfort food into a hearty Middle Eastern-inspired dish! Made with tender beef, fresh veggies, and loads of warm spices, it’s warm, flavorful, and unbelievably delicious.

Ingredients  

  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds chuck roast fat trimmed and cubed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
  • 1 pound yellow potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 1 yellow onion sliced
  • 8 ounces grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 1 cup low-sodium beef broth

Instructions 

  • In a pan on medium-high heat, melt the butter and olive oil. Add the beef in a single layer, making sure not to crowd the pan, Work in batches if necessary. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until browned. Flip, and brown the other side for an additional 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaves, paprika, cardamom pods, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Sauté for 1 minute or just until fragrant.
  • In the slow cooker, add the sliced onions, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, broth, remaining salt and pepper, and cooked beef. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. Note: Slow cooker times may vary.
  • Adjust seasonings to taste for seasoning. Serve warm with vermicelli rice.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 588mg | Potassium: 653mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 382IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Meet Alia & Radwa

Welcome to Food Dolls! We’re so glad you found us. We are Alia and Radwa, sisters who want to share simple and easy recipes with you. We hope you find recipes here that you enjoy making as much as we do! Learn more about us!

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4 Comments

  1. You mentioned cardamome pods but you don’t talk about it in the instruction. Same things about garlic….it’s not in the ingredient,