Root Beer Beef Stew Recipe
This Root Beer Beef Stew is a comforting and flavorful slow-cooked meal featuring tender beef stew meat simmered with carrots, potatoes, and a unique twist of root beer in a rich, thickened broth. The combination of aromatic herbs, Worcestershire and soy sauces, and a hint of brown sugar creates a deliciously balanced stew perfect for cozy family dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1-inch chunks
- 1 ½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Stew Sauce
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 (12-ounce) can root beer (not diet)
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 bay leaves
Thickening Mixture and Garnish
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Place the beef cubes at the bottom of the slow cooker and season them with salt and pepper. Layer the diced onion, sliced carrots, and chunked potatoes on top of the beef.
- Make Sauce Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, flour, root beer, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, dried thyme, and smoked paprika until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Cook Stew: Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetables in the slow cooker. Add the bay leaves, cover the slow cooker, and cook on Low for 8 hours or on High for 4 hours, until the beef is tender and the potatoes are cooked through.
- Thicken Stew: In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Stir this mixture into the stew, cover the slow cooker again, and cook on High for an additional 15 to 20 minutes to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove and discard the bay leaves. Taste the stew and adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving for a fresh accent to the rich stew.
Notes
- Do not use diet root beer as it won’t caramelize or add the desired sweetness and depth to the stew.
- For a thicker stew, you can add the cornstarch slurry gradually and cook longer if desired.
- You can substitute russet potatoes with Yukon Gold for a creamier texture.
- Slow cooker times vary; check for tenderness before the minimum time if your cooker runs hot.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors meld, and stew can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Keywords: root beer beef stew, slow cooker stew, beef stew recipe, comfort food, easy stew recipe
Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/root-beer-beef-stew-recipe/
