Mom’s Crockpot Apple Cider Beef Stew

Ingredients

2 ½ pounds beef stew meat, cubed
6 carrots, cut into bite sized pieces
6 medium potatoes, cubed
4 celery stalks, chopped
2 apples, cored and chopped
1 cup frozen peas
½ cup diced onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups apple cider
2 cup beef broth
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon dried thyme, or 2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons cornstarch, optional for thickening

Directions

Add the beef, carrots, potatoes, celery, apples, peas, onion and garlic to a crockpot. Pour the apple cider over the stew.

In a bowl, combine the broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and salt together. Pour over the stew. Add the thyme and bay leaf.

Cover tightly with a lid and set on high for 6 hours, or low for 8 hours. Stir occasionally, if you are able to.

When the meat is tender, the stew is ready to eat.

If you wish to thicken the broth, remove 1/3 cup broth from the crockpot. Add the cornstarch and whisk until smooth.

Pour back into the crockpot and stir to combine. Let cook about 15 minutes, stirring a couple of times, until thickened.