This Crock Pot Dr Pepper Beef Stew is hearty, flavorful, and slow-cooked to perfection with tender beef, veggies, and a thick and savory broth!A FILLING AND EASY CROCK POT DINNERGrab a can of Dr Pepper from the fridge and put it to work in this tender Crock Pot Dr Pepper Beef Stew! Its a comforting dinner recipe that is stuffed with hearty veggies, tender beef (thanks to that soda and the magic of a slow cooker) and a rich savory flavor from the broth. You dont really taste the soda, it just adds to the magic of the recipe tenderizing the beef and bringing that extra little background flavor!FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:Why use Dr Pepper or any soda in a stew? The soda is a secret weapon. It tenderizes the beef as it cooks and it adds that little something you cant quite put your finger on flavor. You dont taste Dr Pepper specifically, but it brings a world of flavors to your stew that you cant just make up any other way. What to serve with Crock Pot Dr Pepper Beef Stew? Beef Stew can be very filling, but it also goes great with your favorite side dishes. I like to serve it with some Mashed Potatoes. If you have an extra Slow Cooker, these Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes are another great way to serve them. You can not go wrong serving this with some steamed vegetables or a big green salad. Serve with some Garlic Breadsticks or Dinner Rolls to soak up some stew. Should I brown the meat? Its not required for this recipe but it can be done to get even more, deeper flavor. Sear the meat in a skillet with a little oil or butter. Why did my potatoes breakdown so much in the stew? Typically this happens when you over stir the stew. You only want to stir just enough to combine it altogether, then leave the stew alone. If you do it too much while its cooking, the potatoes will start to break down. Also, the stew meat will become tough the more you mess with it and constantly opening the lid. If youd rather, you can use a Yukon Gold or baby red potato as they tend to hold their shape and consistency better when slow cooking. How can I thicken this stew? To thicken the beef stew, remove the lid during the last 3045 minutes of cooking, or you can mash a few extra potatoes into the stew broth at the end of the cooking time. How else can I change things up with this Crock Pot Dr Pepper Beef Stew? There are quite a few ways to change things up with this stew recipe. First thing you can try is to add some more veggies, like frozen peas and frozen green beans during the last hour of the cooking time. This will bring a pop of green color and another texture to the mix. Instead of just storing leftovers as usual, you can pop any leftovers into a baking dish and then add some puff pastry or a layer of leftover Mashed Potatoes and then it can be a simple Beef Pot Pie for the next night. If you like spicy dishes, try adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, or a dash or two of hot sauce for a slight, mild kick of heat. How long are stew leftovers good for? Leftover Dr Pepper Beef Stew can be transferred to an airtight container after it has cooled off. Once in a container, you can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze leftover stew in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Remove from freezer and thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stove. INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)stew beef You can use chuck roast cut into chunks, or go for a leaner option and use sliced sirloin.onion dicedcarrots cut into chunks. When cutting any of your vegetables, try to cut them in similar size so they cook evenly.russet potatoes you can peel them or leave unpeeled. If you are worried about texture, you can use a baby gold potato or red potato. They tend to hold their shape a bit better and are less likely to get mushy while cooking.Or swap them out altogether and use sweet potatoes instead.celery slicedcloves garlic mincedlow sodium beef broth if you have a no sodium beef broth you prefer, you can use that and then taste test and add salt later if you deem necessary. If you need to try to change things up, try water with a bouillon cube or vegetable broth instead.tomato pasteDr Pepper you can use diet Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola, root beer, or even a splash of balsamic vinegar and brown sugar if you dont have Dr Pepper and still want to make a tender and flavor stew.low sodium brown gravy mix I prefer to use the low sodium versions here because its really easy for this to get too salty too quick. I always suggest using the low sodium options when you can and then salt to your desired taste later. beefy onion soup mix You can make a Homemade Onion Soup Mix if desired. I dont add any salt to mine if youd like to try try that recipe. You could even use Au jus mix in a pinch.HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT DR PEPPER BEEF STEW:To a 6-quart slow cooker add the stew beef, onion, carrots, potatoes and celery. To a mixing bowl whisk together the beef broth, tomato paste, Dr. Pepper, brown gravy mixes and beefy onion soup mix.Pour the liquid mixture into the slow cooker and stir to combine.Cover and cook on low 6 hours or high 4 hours until the vegetables are soft and meat is tender. Note: do not keep opening the lid and messing with stew or trying to stir it. Just cover it and leave it alone or you are constantly releasing the steam and it will take longer to cook and the meat wont be as tender. CRAVING MORE RECIPES?Slow Cooker Poor Mans StewCrock Pot Chicken StewCrock Pot Beef StewBest Ever Beef StewCreamy Chicken StewInstant Pot Beef StewBrunswick StewCrock Pot Chicken Pierogi Stew PrintCrock Pot Dr Pepper Beef StewTender beef and veggies in a flavorful stew made in the Slow Cooker.Course Dinner, Main CourseCuisine AmericanPrep Time 10 minutes minutesCook Time 4 hours hoursTotal Time 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutesServings 6Calories 362kcalAuthor Brandie SkibinskiIngredients2-3 pounds stew beef1 small yellow onion, diced diced3 carrots, cut into chunks3 russet potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces (can peel or leave unpeeled)2 stalks of celery, sliced2 cloves garlic, minced14.5 ounce low sodium or no sodium beef broth2 Tablespoons tomato paste1 cup Dr. Pepper (can use diet)2 (0.87 ounce) packets low sodium brown gravy mix (0.87 ounce envelopes)1 ounce packet beefy onion soup mixInstructionsTo a 6-quart slow cooker add 2-3 pounds stew beef, 1 small yellow onion, diced, 3 carrots, cut into chunks, 3 russet potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces, 2 stalks of celery, sliced and 2 cloves garlic, minced. In a mixing bowl, whisk together 14.5 ounce low sodium or no sodium beef broth, 2 Tablespoons tomato paste, 1 cup Dr. Pepper, 2 (0.87 ounce) packets low sodium brown gravy mix and 1 ounce packet beefy onion soup mix. Whisk gently as the soda will get really fizzy as you stir. Pour the liquid mixture into the slow cooker and stir to combine.Cover and cook on low 6 hours or high 4 hours until the vegetables are soft and meat is tender (meat comes out best when cooked on low.)Note: do not keep opening the lid and messing with stew or try to stir it as it cooks. It is not necessary. Just cover it and leave it alone or you are constantly releasing the steam and it will take longer to cook and the meat may come out tough.Then enjoy! NotesPlease refer to my FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.NutritionCalories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 8g | Sodium: 723mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g