Slow Cooker Bourbon Beef Stew

Tender, rich, bourbon braised beef nestled into a pillow of garlicky, creamy, sweet potato mash. The prep time is minimal and the beef does all the work in 4-5 hours in the crock while you get on with your day!

Large plate with garlic mashed sweet potatoes and bourbon braised beef garnished with fresh chopped parsley

What cut of meat should I use?

I like to use a beef chuck roast for this recipe because it's inexpensive and after a little simmer in the crock pott it becomes perfectly fall apart tender and just dreamy. Beef short ribs or even a pork roast would also be great in this recipe. You can get away with using a little tougher cut of meat because the braising process will make the meat super tender!

How should I cut the chuck roast?

It's completely up to you, but for ease of serving I like to cut the roast into short ribs size pieces. While the pieces of meat may end up falling apart because they are so tender, it's helpful when I'm portioning out my meals for the week or even just serving my guests if I have portions that are the same size. Make sure you have a nice sharp knife as this will make the cutting process easier. If you're in a rush, you can just leave the roast whole and following the directions accordingly. You may need to add extra time to the cooking process as well; you'll know it's done with falls apart easily when shredded with two forks.

How do I make bourbon braised beef?

As the name suggests, you'll braise the the beef in a mixture of bourbon, beef broth, veggies and spices. But before you braise, you should always sear! Giving the meat a quick sear in a saute pan helps to seal in the flavor and give it a delicious crust. If you're in a pinch, you can skip the searing step, but I wouldn't recommend it! Just look at the dark brown crust in the picture below...I am drooling already!

What should I serve with braised beef?

My personal favorite is my garlic mashed sweet potatoes! They are creamy, dreamy and oh so delicious. The thick, homestyle mashed potatoes are the perfect nest for the rich, tender, bourbon beef. This beef would also pair well with a creamy polenta or cheesy grits!

Bourbon Braised Beef

This slow cooker braised beef is an easy solution to the weeknight dinner dilemma facing your family. Let the slow cooker do all the work for you!

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x
Category: Main Dish
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: American

3 lbs. beef chuck roast (cut into large cubes)
1 large yellow onion (diced)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
4 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons olive oil
4 cups beef broth
1 cup bourbon
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper

Heat 2 tablespoons oil a large saute pan over medium high heat. Season beef with a liberal amount of salt and pepper.
Working in batches, sear all sides of each piece of beef until dark brown. A good rule of thumb is that the meat is done searing when it can easily be removed from the surface of the pan; if it's sticking it's not done yet. You are not trying to cook the meat through at this point, just adding a layer of flavor.
Transfer seared beef to a large crock pot. Add 2 more tablespoons olive oil to the pan and sear remaining batch of beef, then transfer to crock pot.
Add remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil to the same pan and turn heat to medium. Add onion and a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute, stirring frequently for 4 minutes.
Then add garlic and saute for another minute, stirring frequently. Transfer onion and garlic to the crock pot.
Then add beef broth, bourbon, Worcestershire, Dijon, thyme and a liberal amount of salt and pepper.
Stir to combine, cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or until the beef is fork tender and pulls apart easily. Serve with my favorite garlic mashed sweet potatoes. Enjoy!

Keywords: mashed potatoes, crock pot, easy, simple, recipe, family, dinner, weeknight, meal, comfort food, meal prep