recipes
Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Merlot and Bacon
Beef Merlot Crock Pot Recipe
Cook Time: 10 hours
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 10 hours 15 minutes
Description:
This is a rich and flavorful twist on classic beef stew, perfect for slow-cooking in a crock pot. The beef is sautéed in bacon fat, giving it a deep, savory flavor. Combined with the richness of Merlot, this stew is perfect for cold evenings. Serve it with mashed potatoes or rice and enjoy with a side of buttered broccoli and crusty rolls.
Ingredients & Nutritional Information
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Bacon fat | 1 ½ tbsp |
| Onion, chopped | 2 medium |
| Garlic cloves, minced | 1 clove |
| Water | 5 cups |
| Beef bouillon cubes | 1 cube |
| Red wine (Merlot or any red wine) | ¼ cup |
| Nutrition Information (per serving) | Value |
|---|---|
| Calories | 448.4 kcal |
| Fat | 32.9 g |
| Saturated Fat | 13.4 g |
| Cholesterol | 114.2 mg |
| Sodium | 403.6 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 4.5 g |
| Fiber | 0.5 g |
| Sugar | 1.5 g |
| Protein | 31.8 g |
Instructions
| Step | Instruction |
|---|---|
| 1 | Heat a frying pan over high heat (remember: hot pan, cold grease = no sticking!). |
| 2 | Add 2 tablespoons of bacon fat to the pan and melt. |
| 3 | Once the bacon fat has melted, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. |
| 4 | Turn down the heat to medium-low and sauté the onions and garlic for about 5 minutes until soft and fragrant. |
| 5 | Remove the onions and garlic from the pan and set aside. |
| 6 | Increase the heat to high again. If the pan seems dry, add a bit more bacon fat or olive oil. |
| 7 | Brown the stew meat quickly on all sides, making sure each side gets a nice brown sear. |
| 8 | Transfer the browned meat into the crock pot. |
| 9 | Add 1 cup of water to the frying pan to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. |
| 10 | Stir in 2 bouillon cubes, breaking them up into the liquid until dissolved. |
| 11 | Add ¼ cup of Merlot (or your favorite red wine) to the beef stock mixture. |
| 12 | Pour this beef stock and wine mixture over the browned meat in the crock pot. |
| 13 | Spoon the sautéed onion and garlic mixture over the meat in the crock pot. |
| 14 | Cover and cook on low for 10 hours. |
| 15 | Serve with mashed potatoes or rice, along with buttered broccoli and crusty rolls for a complete meal. |
This hearty Beef Merlot Crock Pot dish offers a perfect balance of bold flavors. The bacon fat adds richness, while the red wine and onions impart depth.
