The Best Crock Pot Pumpkin Beef Stew Recipe
For the Best Crock Pot Pumpkin Beef Stew recipe, we give you a full on Fall journey into a cozy and soul warming flavor explosion of Fall.
Our Best Crockpot Pumpkin Beef Stew will warm your senses and leave you fuzzy and satisfied. With tender stew beef, cubed pumpkin and savory seasonings and vegetables that are slow cooked, this will be your favorite taste of Fall.
As the weather turns cooler, crock pot cooking saves you time and gives you more time to gather together to enjoy the season, not to mention, slow cooking fills your home with the scent of comfort food.
This delicious recipe celebrates the thrill of Fall and will allow you to enjoy the simple pleasure of comfort food shared with the ones you love. Love in a bowl!
What is the secret? Slow Cooking
The secret to any really good beef stew is in the cooking method. This Pumpkin Beef Stew is no exception. Taking a low cost cut of meet and transforming it into one that melts in your mouth is something that is hard to replicate in any other way but slow cooking.
The long cooking time also enhances the flavors from all of the ingredients allowing them time to marry and become a rich, comforting stew.
Some other really good slow cooked options you will find here at The Buttered Home follow these same principles. Recipes like, BEEF AND BROCCOLI, MISSISSIPPI ROAST and even BLUEBERRY COBBLER .
The Ultimate Fall Comfort Food
By combining beef broth, bay leaves and thyme, we achieve this combination of fall flavors we all look forward to.
Slow cooking the beef for hours allows for a tenderness to the beef and the pumpkin and radishes absorb that fall flavor goodness. With very little effort on your part, this is the easiest way to achieve this flavorful fall homemade soup or stew.
By substituting the Pumpkin and Radishes for the normal potatoes and carrots, you are also getting the added health benefits of lower carb vegetables.
A healthy option that still has all of the Beef Stew flavor you love.
Ingredients for Crock Pot Pumpkin Beef Stew
A simple prep and go and cook, this is a very easy recipe. We start by searing the beef to help it become tender beef!
After that, there is minimal effort aside from prep of the vegetables to enjoy this healthy and delicious Fall comfort food dish.
The full ingredient list and quantities are listed at the bottom of this post on a printable recipe card.
- Stew Meat, beef
- Cubed Fresh Pumpkin
- Smoked Paprika
- Salt and Black Pepper
- Radishes
- Mushrooms
- Beef Broth
- Tomato Paste
- Red Wine or Red wine vinegar
- Dried Thyme
- Bay leaf
- Parsley
- Chopped Onion
- Minced Garlic
How to Make this Warm and Cozy Beef Stew
The only special equipment needed for the best crock pot pumpkin beef stew, is a tried and true Slow Cooker. We love our CROCK POT. It turns itself to warm when the cooking time is done! The only other requirement is a willingness to be patient when you start to smell that glorious smell.
Season Beef with smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Sear in a skillet for 2-5 minutes until slightly browned on all sides.
Add to the bottom of your crock pot liner. Pan drippings and all!
Add cleaned and trimmed radishes and cubed pumpkin that have been cut to be all about the same size. Add in mushrooms and chopped onions. Mix to combine.
Add tomato paste, red wine vinegar, thyme and garlic and mix well to season.
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Pour in broth and add the bay leaf.
Place in sleeve of crock pot, cover with lid and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until beef is tender and almost falling apart.
Garnish with parsley, more thyme and salt and pepper if need be. Enjoy!
The Best Crock Pot Pumpkin Beef Stew Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use another cut of Beef?
Certainly! Other cuts of beef that would work very well are cubed chuck roast and chuck eye. Lamb or even Chicken cubed would also be very good!
How do I pick a pumpkin?
The best pumpkins are pretty heavy. The heavier they are the more flesh. They can be cumbersome to cut so be sure and check out my post on HOW TO EASILY CUT SQUASH. Most all winter squashes are difficult but this post on Spaghetti squash, the microwave method works just as good for any winter squash.
My friend Jere’ has some great tips too!
I love using fresh pumpkin for pies and bars and find the best pumpkins are the little “Sugar Pumpkins.” I look for the ones have green stems and the skin is smooth with a deep orange color, so I am assured to get one that is fresh. The big pumpkins don’t have the flavor that Sugar Pumpkins do.
— Jere’ Cassidy, One Hot Oven
What can I substitute for pumpkin and radishes?
These are low carb substitutes for traditional potatoes and carrots. If you are not watching your carb intake, feel free to use those traditional ingredients.
Can it be frozen?
Yes! Once it has been cooked and has cooled to room temperature, store in a freezer safe container and freeze. It can be kept frozen for about 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
How long will it last?
After cooling, the stew can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator. It is even better the next day!
Can I make it spicy?
Of course! Add a pinch of red pepper or even cayenne to kick the spice up! A shake or two of hot sauce after serving is a good option too!
Can I make this on the stovetop instead of the Crock Pot?
Yes. This can be simmered over low heat, stirring every now and again until the beef and vegetables are tender.
What goes well with Pumpkin Beef Stew?
This beef stew is a whole meal in one pot. Below, here, we have suggested some of our favorite recipes to pair with this Fall favorite meal! Cornbread is the perfect recipe to pair with this beef stew.
If you make this recipe, be sure and post it to Facebook or Instagram and tag us. We love pictures of food. Also, if you pin this recipe, we would appreciate that when you make it, you use the Made It function in Pinterest too.
And as always, we would love it if you shared this recipe with your family and friends. Over to the side on this post and all of the others are handy dandy share buttons. We would sure be grateful if you shared the love!
The Best Crock Pot Pumpkin Beef Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 3 cups radishes
- 4 cups pumpkin cubed
- 8 oz mushrooms
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp garlic minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup onion
- parsley
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Prep pumpkin and radishes by washing. Peel and cube the pumpkin, trim and cut the radishes into pieces about the same size as the pumpkin.
- Season 2 pounds of stew beef with ½ tsp smoked paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Sear the seasoned beef in a skillet for 2-5 minutes until slightly browned on all sides.
- Add to the bottom of your crock pot liner. Pan drippings andall!
- Add 2-4 cups cleaned and trimmed radishes and 4 cups cubed pumpkin to the beef in the crock pot. Add in 8 oz mushrooms, ½ cup onion and mix to combine.
- Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste, ¼ cup red wine vinegar,1/4 teaspoon dried thyme and 2 tablespoons minced garlic and mix well to season.
- Pour in 4 cups beef broth and add the bay leaf. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours until beef is tender.
- Garnish with parsley, more thyme, salt and pepper if need be. Enjoy!
This turned out so delicious!! It was perfect to mix up on Saturday morning before we went out for the day and came home to a hot meal. I’m not a fan of radishes so I subbed out some baby potatoes and it still turned out great. YUM!
Great! Thank you so much!