Barbecue beef stew combines two wonderful comfort foods – beef stew and slow cooked bbq sauce. It is delicious, comforting and very filling.
The idea for barbecue beef stew came to me when I was staring at the beef stew meat I had in the fridge, wondering if I could make something different with it. Something a bit more exciting than plain beef stew.
Then it occurred to me – beef stew is such a classic comfort food. And the same is true for pulled pork and pulled chicken.
I was curious to see what would happen if I combine the two, making slow cooker beef stew with healthy homemade barbecue sauce?
MY LATEST VIDEOSThe resulting barbecue beef stew is amazing – rich, flavorful, filling and comforting.
I like to serve this delicious stew over cauliflower rice, with a side of microwave steamed broccoli.
Leftovers keep very well in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat them covered, on 50% power, to prevent them from over drying.
Barbecue Beef Stew
Ingredients
Barbecue sauce:
- 1 (7 oz) jar tomato paste, no salt or sugar added (3/4 cup)
- ¾ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (not fine table salt)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons sweetener of choice (I used xylitol; sugar or honey will work too)
Beef Stew:
- 2 lb. extra lean beef stew meat (boneless chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (not fine table salt)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (use organic to avoid GMOs)
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce ingredients. Set aside.
- Season the beef with the kosher salt and black pepper.
- Heat a very large, 14-inch skillet, or a double-burner griddle, over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes. Brush with half the olive oil. Add half the beef in a single layer and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes total. Transfer the browned beef to your slow cooker and repeat with the remaining olive oil and the remaining beef.
- Pour the barbecue sauce over the beef and stir to combine. Cover, and cook on low for 7.5 hours.
- Whisk the cornstarch with the water until smooth. Stir into the beef mixture. Set to high, cover, and cook 30 more minutes, until the sauce thickens.
