Filled with tender beef, vegetables and made in your slow cooker, Italian Beef Stew is rich, savory and delicious! Don't stand over the stove, let the crockpot do all the work for you! This slow cooker meal is perfect for busy weeknights and chilly evenings for a hearty, wholesome meal!
Love this meal? Next time try slow cooker beef stew and dumplings next!
Why you'll love this recipe
Today we're talking Italian Beef Soup. It's hearty because it's made with ground beef and filled with vegetables. But shh.... we're taking an easy shortcut with this meal because we're using frozen vegetables!
✔️It's an easy slow cooker recipe and comes together in a snap and it's souper delicious! Get it? soup-er? 😋
✔️It tastes even better the next day!
Ingredients
- ground beef - I choose 80/20 mix for more flavor.
- beef broth - choose low sodium when possible. Always review the breakdown of ingredients. Some broths are incredibly high in sodium!
- crushed tomatoes - if it's summertime and you're making this recipe, consider using fresh tomatoes - substitute four cups chopped tomatoes for one can of crushed tomatoes.
- cannelloni beans - can substitute with white beans if you'd prefer. Red potatoes would be a great substitute.
- onion, celery, garlic - for seasoning.
- frozen mixed vegetables - great freezer shortcut!
- dried Italian seasoning, bay leaf, salt, and pepper for seasoning.
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, drain well and add it to the crockpot.
- Dice the onion and celery and add to the slow cooker.
- Top with the frozen vegetables and sprinkle with the spices. Top with cannellini beans, crushed tomatoes and beef stock.
- Cover - Cook 8 hours on low heat or 6 hours on high. Remove the bay leaf prior to serving.
Stove top and pressure cooker instructions
To make this soup on the stovetop, simply brown the beef, then add the remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour to allow the flavors to combine.
To cook this using your instant pot, brown the beef, add the remaining ingredients. Cover and seal, using the manual setting, set the timer to 8 minutes. Quick-release at the end.
Equipment
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This is my crockpot! I love it because it's programmable and easy to use.
FAQ's
Though you can certainly use stew meat, ground beef is my first choice for this meal. I choose 80/20 or 85/15 fat content for flavor.
There are several ways to thicken this soup. You can use 3 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch, mixed with cold water until smooth and add it to the soup about an hour before it's done which will thicken the soup.
You can mix equal parts of flour/butter until smooth and creamy and add it to the crockpot an hour before it's done.
Or in this soup I do not rinse the beans - I add them, juice and all to the slow cooker to simmer along with the other ingredients. The starch slightly thickens the soup. No muss-no fuss!
Absolutely! It freezes great and if well sealed, will keep in the freezer up to three months.
I do not recommend it and here's why; canned vegetables are filled with sodium. You'll need to adjust the seasoning or the soup may be too salty. Additionally, because the canned vegetables have already been cooked/processed the texture may be mushy.
Tips
There's no reason to pay the higher price for a leaner mixture of ground beef, plus the higher fat content will lend more flavor to the soup!
And you can customize it with your favorites! Don't be afraid to toss in a can of mushrooms or extra can of beans.
Love pasta? Cook it on the stovetop and ladle the soup over it when serving. Don't add it to the crockpot with the soup. It will absorb all the broth in the soup.
Storage
Refrigerate - allow the crockpot Italian Beef Stew to cool completely, store in an airtight container 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer - freeze up to three months.
Reheat - allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Related recipes
Making soup in the crockpot is such an easy way to get dinner on the table! Check this out for a list of 40+ Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for a ton more easy meals!
Whether it's a bowl of Potato Soup, Slow Cooker Enchilada or Corned Beef Stew, it's always good food. We eat soup all year round, how about you?
This Crockpot Lasagna Soup Recipe is so simple to make and really a great meal.
In fact soup is such a large part of my life I've written a complete guide post sharing tips and tricks to make the BEST soup right in your own home - Click here to learn all about it!
- First up is this recipe for Crockpot Beef Stew - super yummy beef stew and filled with veggies, topped with dumplings, yum!
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy is a big favorite on the blog - I hope you try it soon!
- Be sure and try this recipe for Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup - loads of flavor and so easy to make!
- And this recipe for Corned Beef Stew is one of my favorites! You don't have to wait for st. Patrick's Day to enjoy this recipe!
- Bell Pepper Stew Recipe - easy to make, a vegetarian stew with loads of flavor!
- This Slow Cooker Paella Recipe is so very good and there's no standing at the stove all night!
Serving suggestions
If you're looking for something to pair with this meal - you know rolls are (almost!) always my first choice! or maybe some yummy pretzel bites? Yes!! Here are a few more of my favorites!
Iceberg Wedge Salad - simple to put together it's always a great side dish! Or how about a fresh Garden Salad - this one has a homemade creamy vinaigrette - delish!
Making homemade cornbread is easy. This starts with a box that's doll'd up. It bakes up with a crispy crust in a skillet.
Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️
If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Crock Pot Italian Beef Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 quart beef broth
- 28 oz. crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz. cannelli beans canned, do not drain
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 16 oz mixed vegetables use frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Brown hamburger, drain if desired - transfer beef to the slow cooker.
- Dice the onion and celery and place it in the slow cooker on top of the beef.
- Next add the frozen vegetables and spices. Top with cannellini beans, crushed tomatoes and beef stock.
- Cover - Cook on low for 8 hours or 6 hours on high. Remove the bay leaf prior to serving.
- Optional - finishing the soup by stirring a couple of tablespoons of minced parsley into the big pot of soup will brighten the flavors. Topping individual bowls with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese? Heavenly!
Kathleen
This is so delicious! Easy to follow and SOOO yummy, our family loved it!
Lois
I made this soup today and it is outstanding in taste and texture. Love it. Will be making it again soon.
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoy this soup as much as we do. Thank you for letting me know!!