Cozy Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup 🍲🥕

This hearty and savory Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup is packed with flavor, making it the perfect comfort food for chilly days or anytime you crave a warm, filling dish. It's super easy to prepare, with minimal hands-on time, and you can customize it based on the vegetables and seasoning you love most. Serve it with some crusty bread or crackers for a complete meal! 🍞🥣

Ingredients

For the soup base

• 1 lb (450g) beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 cup green beans, chopped (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
• 2 medium potatoes, diced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For serving

• Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
• Crusty bread or crackers

Instructions

• In a slow cooker, combine beef stew meat, beef broth, diced tomatoes, garlic, and onion.

🥄 Mixing in the liquid and aromatics first helps the flavors meld beautifully as they cook all day.

• Add the sliced carrots, celery, green beans, corn, and diced potatoes. Season the mixture with thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.

🌱 Feel free to add other vegetables you enjoy, like bell peppers, zucchini, or peas. Just adjust cooking times if adding more delicate veggies.

• Stir gently to combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until the beef is tender and the flavors have developed.

• Once done cooking, remove the bay leaf and taste the soup. Adjust seasoning as needed before serving.

🔥 For added zest, try a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes when serving!

• Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired, alongside the crusty bread or crackers.

Variations

• Vegetarian version: Substitute beef with chickpeas or lentils and use vegetable broth for a hearty plant-based alternative. You can also add in more vegetables like mushrooms or squashes for extra flavor. 🌱
• Spicy Kick: Add 1-2 chopped jalapeños or a spoonful of your favorite hot sauce to spice things up! 🌶️
• Italian Flair: Stir in a tablespoon of Italian seasoning and substitute the broth with a rich tomato broth for an Italian-style soup.
• Meal Prep: This soup freezes beautifully! Make a double batch, allow it to cool completely, then store in freezer-safe containers for an easy future meal.

Enjoy your warm bowl of Cozy Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup! 🍲