Don’t be fooled by the humble appearance of this stew. It’s one of my favorite comfort dishes that’s punched up with some of my favorite flavors, like Caribbean allspice and thyme.
The best part of this dish is that it’s a slow-cooker recipe.
When I was kid, my mom used a slow-cooker all the time. When you have 9 kids, that’s just what you do. And to this day, she calls it a “crock pot”, and I do too. But somewhere along the way, “crock pot” gave way to “slow-cooker”. Maybe because crock pot is a brand, but whatever the reason—so long as it can extract the flavors of slow cooking, I don’t care what its nomenclature is: crock pot, slow-cooker, time saver, sanity preserver—I can’t imagine life without one.
Up until I started cooking for myself, I had no idea how convenient a crock pot could be. Seriously, you throw it in a pot, set it on low, go about your day, then 7-8 hours later, done? Why doesn’t everyone parent teach their child this? This could have saved me numerous fast food meals and a few five dollar bills (and by a few I mean a lot!).
Do yourself a favor, make this comfort meal and then send your college-aged child off to his or her dorm with one of these. Yay, I’m preach’n, but I’m a huge a slow-cooker fan. And while we’re on that note, don’t forget to check out my slow cooker ribs recipe.
Slow Cooker Caribbean Beef Stew
By Published: September 16, 2014
- Yield: 4-6 Servings
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 7 hrs 0 min
- Ready In: 7 hrs 10 mins
Don't be fooled by the humble appearance of this stew. It's one of my favorite comfort dishes that's punched up with some of my …
Ingredients
- 3 sprigs thyme
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 lbs. beef stew
- 1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, quartred
- 5 medium carrots, peeled cut crosswise into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 1/2-inch piece ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 14.5 OZ can diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Strip the leaves from 1 sprig. ; combine with flour and allspice, salt and pepper. Add beef and toss to coat. Place potatoes, carrots, the remaining two thyme sprigs, ginger, and garlic into a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Add the beef, reserving any flour in the bowl. Whisk1/2 cup of water and Worcestershire sauce into the reserved seasoned flour, then add it to the slow cooker. Pour the tomatoes on top. Cook on low for 7 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- **NOTES** (1) This recipe is adapted from the Food Network Magazine. (2) The changes I made: I decreased the ginger from 1 inch to half an inch. I increased the carrots from 3 to 5 carrots. I used regular diced tomatoes rather than Mexican-styled diced tomatoes with green chilies.
Whoa whoa whoa, 9 kids?! That’s crazy!
We also called it the crock pot growing up! But, no matter whatcha call it, I want this stew! I can taste the flavah coming through my screen! Pinned!
I don’t know how my mom did it, I can’t imagine! Thanks Taylor!
I’m a total sucker for beef stew. So perfect for this time of year!
It will be even better when it cools down here! Thanks Rina:)
LOVE the flavors in this “humble” stew 🙂 Seriously, I’m all about the crockpot!! Life is busy in our house, LOL.
Same here Aimee, so this helps big time:)
Tis the season for slow cooker stews 🙂
Thanks Jennifer!
Such great hearty flavors! Perfect for Fall 🙂
Thanks Rachel!
I love these flavors! What a great idea to turn them into stew!
Thanks Tieghan!!
Now that there’s a chill in the air I’ve been craving stew. Looks fab!
Pinned.
I wish we had that chill here Melanie!
The perfect fall stew. I love it!
Thanks so much Jen!
Beef stew is not an easy thing to photography! Nicely done!!
It’s a mad scramble:) Thanks Ashley!
YES and YES! To Slow Cookers and Crock Pots and BEEF STEW! It’s barely 50-60 degrees around here so this loveliness should be happening like yesterday!!
You are so lucky, dyin’ for that weather!
I LOVE beef stew!!! I’m totally trying this soon!
Thanks Jen!!
I love beef stew. I haven’t had it in a long time. I better make this soon. It looks so hearty!
It is so hearty, you would love it Mandy. Thanks!
I still call it a crock-pot too! I haven’t dusted mine off yet from it’s summer time nap. But I think I’m ready now. This looks delicious!
I always will:) Thanks Liz!
I can not wait to try this out Matt! We love beef stew at our house (who doesn’t?), it will be fun to change it up with these flavors. Vive La Slow-Cooker!! ; )
Ha! Totally agree, thanks Crystal!
My son and his house mates arrived at university with three crock-pots (that’s what I call them too). I will definitely be sending this recipe to him and I have already added it to my meal plan for next week. Looks delicious and I love left overs:)
That’s so awesome to hear!! Let me know if they make this. Thanks Debbie!
You just said the magic words Matt: slow cooker and Caribbean allspice. Great dish man!
Thanks Mike!
Slow cooker recipes ARE the best — it’s ridiculous how easy and convenient they are!! This one sounds like a winner!
Especially during the week, couldn’t agree more. Thanks Mary!
THIS is exactly what I want to be eating for fall 🙂
Thanks so much Erin!
I’ve only ever had Carribean-style chicken, so thank you for reminding me I can do beef with it too! Your stew looks awesome, and you’re right, Crock Pots are the most amazing invention since sliced bread. Pinning and sharing!
Aren’t they, a must when you have kids! Thanks Meggan!
oh my goodness, nine kids God bless her! No wonder she used the crock pot all the time, I would too 🙂 This looks great and my family will love it!
I didn’t even appreciate that until I was older, she’s a saint! 🙂 Thanks so much Diane!
Beef stew can be a challenge to photograph. You did well here! The flavors sound good too. This is the time of the year when I find myself stockpiling slow cooker recipes 😉
And I can’t wait for it to get cold out down here Brandon, that’s when it’ll really get fun. Thanks so much!
So hearty. So delicious. Great pics too!
Thank you Maggie!
YUM! Loving the allspice in this! Slow cookers can be big time time savers!
I do too, thanks Shashi!
I LOVE beef stew and your’s looks SO yummy, Matt!! I agree, slow cookers are priceless!
Thank you Paula!
Ok, having just returned from the Caribbean… I need this in my life this week.
I still say crock pot, btw, but find myself adding “slow cooker” into posts so no one misses it. I am sure Archie Bunker would not approve of that. 😉
Pinning this deliciousness!!
Looks like we aren’t the only ones, thanks Claire!
Stew is always one of my favorites – and I love it’s humble means, and BIG BIG COMFORTING flavors!! Homerun!
Thanks Megan!
Humble appearance? No way, Matt. This looks fabulous! This is home cooking. That’s why I love my slow cooker. . because of the method in which you’re cooking, all the flavors meld together and it’s amazing. . . love this Caribbean Beef Stew. . pinning and definitely trying this one soon!!!
That’s what I love about it as well, Alice! Thanks so much!
I’m all about comfort food in the fall, love these flavors!
Thanks so much Laura!
I need to buy allspice!! I love the flavors and the fact that its a slow cooker. I just love how slow cookers fill the house with such beautiful smells! Need to try! Thanks, Matt 🙂
Isn’t that really the best part Kelly? Walking back in the house and being smothered by the smell what’s in the crock pot? Love that!
Haha humble?! I’ve never seen a stew look SO good! You nailed these pictures and this stew sounds amazing.
Wow thanks Chelsea! It really is so good and I can’t wait to make this again when it really cools down here. Have a great weekend!
I’m not getting the “humble” in this picture perfect stew! It’s recipes like this that make me adore my slow cooker!
Thanks Justine! It really is a humble little dish, but packed full of flavor. Hope you have a great weekend!
NINE kids?? The crock pot definitely got a lot of use, I’m sure! I can’t wait to enjoy a big bowl of this with those delicious flavors when the weather cools down. I’m hoping it’s soon!
I am hoping it cools down here too Marcie, this will be even better then! Have an awesome weekend!
Matt, I just received a slow cooker from a brand and I can’t wait to fire it up..the flavors in this stew sound amazing!
As soon as it cools down down here Gerry, bust that bad boy out!
Beef stew makes me excited for fall! Looks delicious!
It does the same for me too Amber!
My grandparents live in the Caribbean and this looks a lot like something that would come from their kitchen. Oh, I can just taste the comfort!
That’s so cool to hear, Jacqueline, thanks so much!
Holly molly, 9 kids? Wow. I have actually just started using a slow cooker about a year ago and OMG. In Europe no one uses such kitchen appliance so I didn’t know about it but after I started using it truly rocked world. I did too called crock pot not knowing any better. Great looking beef stew!!
Thanks Miryam! Seriously? I had no idea slow cookers aren’t big over there. They’re missing out!
I always need more recipes for beef stew, it’s a winning meal in the house with my sons. Looks delicious Matt!
Perfect for a house full of boys Helene!
This recipe looks delicious! Beef Stew is one of my favorite comfort foods. Glad I’m not the only one who refers to a slow-cooker as a crock-pot.
Ours too, especially this time of year. Thanks so much Holly & Katie!
Love the all spice and ginger in the stew! What a fabulous flavor combo and easy to boot! Pinning this for later!
Super easy and love the flavors too, thanks Serena!
This looks awesome! I am on a lookout or great slow cooker recipes and this looks right up my alley! Thanks for sharing!
One question though, since the meat usually (without the slow cooker) cooks for hours and the potatoes are done in 15 minutes, how do the potatoes retain their shape while being cooked for so long? Want to make this, but don’t want the potatoes to turn mushy 🙁
Thanks Marina, put them all in at the same time (and not too small of pieces) and do not stir and it should come out perfectly:)
This looks like a Greek stifado. Yum!
Matt,
I’m not a huge fan of diced tomatoes, can I use tomato sauce instead?bor what would you suggest?
made this last night and it was the best slow cook beef stew I have made to date. The beef staid juicy which is a first for me with a slow cooker. I did add an onion quartered because I like onions and a little more salt to flavor! but everything else was good and this will be on the rotation for slow cooker meals!
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Hi! I just made this and while it looked delicious and the stew flavors work, it didn’t come out well at all. I followed the recipe to the letter and the beef came out really really dry, almost inedible. I know it’s not the top of the line beef’s fault because I quickly stir fried some up while I was waiting for the slow-cooker meal and those were delicious. This was the first time I risked slow cooking beef without first browning it and I won’t be doing it again.
Ok I saw two comments (who actually made this) one said totally dry the other said fine. DID >ANYONE else actually >try it? I really don’t want to waste my time.