Beef Stew Crock Pot Recipes Fall

Your Crock Pot’s Fall Calling: 5 Beef Stew Recipes That Smell Like Autumn

Let’s set the scene. The air is crisp, the leaves are doing their spectacular death-flame thing, and you’ve officially dug your favorite sweater out of storage. You know what’s missing? The smell. That deep, savory, heart-warming aroma that can only come from a beef stew crock pot recipe simmering all day long.

But this isn’t just any stew. This is fall stew. We’re trading boring basics for the rich, cozy flavors of the season—think sweet apples, earthy mushrooms, hearty squash, and spices that taste like a hug. Your crock pot is about to become the most popular appliance in your kitchen, transforming cheap cuts of beef and autumn’s best produce into a pot of pure, liquid comfort.

Forget the bland stuff. This fall, we’re making stews with character. The kind that makes coming home feel like an event.

1. The “Classic with a Fall Twist” Beef & Butternut Squash Stew

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → It’s your familiar beef stew, but the butternut squash melts into the broth, making it velvety and sweet, while keeping that classic savory backbone.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cubed
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 cup dry red wine or apple cider
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 small butternut squash (about 1.5 lbs), peeled and cubed
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2 bay leaves

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Toss beef cubes with flour, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet and brown the beef in batches. Transfer to your crock pot.
2. In the same skillet, cook onion until soft. Add garlic and tomato paste, cook 1 minute. Pour in wine or cider, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2 minutes.
3. Pour this onion mixture over the beef. Add broth, cubed butternut squash, carrots, rosemary, and bay leaves.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours. Remove rosemary stems and bay leaves. The squash will partially break down, naturally thickening the stew into something luxurious.

Why You’ll Love It

The butternut squash is the star. It adds a subtle sweetness and a gorgeous orange hue that just screams fall. It’s a comforting, familiar stew that feels new and seasonal. Using apple cider instead of wine? Even more autumnal. It’s a perfect bridge from summer to cooler days.

2. The “Cozy Pub” Guinness & Mushroom Stew

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → Dark, malty Guinness and umami-packed mushrooms create a deeply rich, almost gravy-like stew that’s perfect for a chilly football weekend.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 8 oz cremini mushrooms, halved
• 1 large parsnip, chopped
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup Guinness Draught (or other stout)
• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (for finishing)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place beef, mushrooms, parsnip, carrot, and onion in the crock pot.
2. In a bowl, whisk together Guinness, beef broth, Worcestershire, brown sugar, and thyme. Pour over the ingredients in the pot. Add bay leaves.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
4. In the last 30 minutes, stir in the cornstarch slurry. This will thicken the stew into a glossy, perfect gravy. Remove bay leaves before serving.

Why You’ll Love It

This stew tastes like a cozy Irish pub. The Guinness adds a bitter, roasty depth that balances the sweetness of the parsnip and brown sugar. The mushrooms soak up every bit of flavor. It’s hearty, a little sophisticated, and the ultimate stick-to-your-ribs meal after a day spent raking leaves.

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3. The “Sweet & Savory” Harvest Apple & Beef Stew

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → Tender beef meets sweet apples and a touch of maple syrup. It sounds wild, but the flavors meld into a uniquely comforting and delicious autumn bowl.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 2 firm apples (like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled and chopped
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup apple cider
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place beef, apples, sweet potato, and onion in the crock pot.
2. In a bowl, whisk together beef broth, apple cider, maple syrup, Dijon, smoked paprika, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour the liquid mixture over everything in the pot.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours. The apples will soften almost completely, lending their sweetness to every bite.

Why You’ll Love It

This is the stew that surprises everyone. The apples and sweet potato create a sweet foundation, while the smoked paprika, Dijon, and beef keep it firmly in savory territory. It’s a beautiful, complex flavor profile that just feels like fall. Serve it with a crusty bread to soak up the incredible broth.

4. The “Set It & Forget It” French Onion Beef Stew

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → It captures all the rich, caramelized flavor of French onion soup and turns it into a hearty, beefy stew. Topped with cheesy toast? Forget about it.

Ingredients

• 3 lb beef chuck roast (leave whole)
• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (10.5 oz) cans French onion soup
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 lb baby potatoes
• 3 carrots, chopped
• For serving: Sliced baguette, provolone or Gruyère cheese.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place the whole chuck roast in your crock pot. Scatter the sliced onions, garlic, potatoes, and carrots around it.
2. Pour the French onion soup, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce over everything.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-9 hours.
4. Shred the beef in the pot with two forks. To serve, ladle stew into bowls, top with a slice of baguette and a slice of cheese, and broil for 2-3 minutes until bubbly (or microwave for 30 sec).

Why You’ll Love It

This recipe is a total cheat code. The canned soup is packed with slow-cooked onion flavor, saving you hours of caramelizing. The result is a deeply savory, sweet-onion stew that’s impossibly easy. The cheesy bread topping takes it over the top. It’s a showstopper with minimal effort—my kind of fall cooking.

5. The “Spiced & Warm” Moroccan-Inspired Beef & Chickpea Stew

Short Hook / Why It’s Awesome → It’s a vibrant departure from the norm. Warm spices like cumin and cinnamon, sweet dried apricots, and hearty chickpeas make this stew an aromatic adventure.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed
• 1 sweet potato, cubed
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• Fresh cilantro and plain yogurt for serving

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Combine beef, chickpeas, sweet potato, bell pepper, apricots, and onion in the crock pot.
2. Sprinkle all the spices (cumin, cinnamon, ginger, paprika) evenly over the top. Toss a bit with your hands.
3. Pour in the beef broth and diced tomatoes with their juices.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours. Serve over couscous or rice, topped with a dollop of cool yogurt and fresh cilantro.

Why You’ll Love It

This stew is a flavor bomb. It fills your kitchen with the most incredible, warming smell. The spices are cozy and complex, the apricots add little pockets of sweetness, and the chickpeas make it extra hearty. It’s a healthy, exciting twist on a beef stew crock pot recipe that’s perfect for shaking up your fall routine. IMO, the yogurt is mandatory to cut through the richness.

So, there you have it. Five ways to answer the fall craving for something deeply satisfying. The beauty of a crock pot is that it does the work while you’re out enjoying the season—or just enjoying not having to cook.

This fall, don’t just make beef stew. Make a memory in a pot. Let it be the reason your home feels like a sanctuary from the chill. Choose your adventure, from the classic squash upgrade to the spiced Moroccan journey, and let your slow cooker work its low-and-slow magic.

Now, go pick a recipe, embrace the coziness, and let the best smell of autumn waft through your house. Dinner is handled.