This slow cooker beef and parsnip stew is an easy dinner that quickly becomes a family favorite you’ll want to make again and again. Parsnips add a soft, sweet taste that goes really well with the hearty chunks of beef, and the slow cooker does almost all the work after just a few minutes of getting things ready. It’s a plain, warm meal made from simple ingredients, perfect for busy days when you still want a cozy, homemade supper waiting for you later in the day.
Serve this stew with thick slices of crusty bread, buttered egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or a light green salad to make it a full meal. For a cozy family dinner, I like to put out crackers or warm biscuits too, so everyone can dip them in the tasty broth. A little sprinkle of chopped parsley on top also makes each bowl look and taste even better.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat
- 1 1/2 pounds parsnips, peeled and cut into small bite-size pieces
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Slow Cooker Beef and Parsnip Stew: Directions
- Add the beef. Place the beef stew meat into the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Use a spoon or your hands to spread the pieces out into one even layer so the meat cooks evenly on all sides.
- Add the parsnips. Pour the chopped parsnips over the beef. Try to spread them out so they cover as much of the meat as possible, rather than piling them all in one spot.
- Add the seasoning and liquid. Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly across the top of the parsnips and beef. Then slowly pour in the beef broth followed by the Worcestershire sauce, making sure the liquid spreads out over the whole pot.
- Cook it low and slow. Put the lid on the slow cooker. Cook it on LOW flame about 7 – 8 hrs, or on HIGH heat for 4 – 5 hours. The stew is ready when the beef feels very soft and pulls apart easily, and the parsnips have turned tender all the way through.
- Stir and serve. Once the cooking time is finished, take off the lid and stir the stew gently so the beef, parsnips, and broth mix together nicely. Ladle the hot stew into bowls right away and enjoy it warm.