French Onion Beef Stew

Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 10 hours | Course: Dinner | Serves: 4

C0zy beef stew cooks in a crock pot, top with French onions and gruyere croutons before serving. Cook the beef stew in the slow cooker all day (making your house smell delicious and homey) and begin the French onions in the last hour of cooking. Inspired by Lucy Parissi of Super Golden Bakes https://www.supergoldenbakes.com/french-onion-beef-stew/

2 lbs stew meat 

2 15-oz cans diced tomatoes

7 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp onion powder 

Salt and pepper, to taste 

½ cup dry sherry or wine

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard 

1 Tbsp tomato paste 

¼ cup flour 

1 quart beef broth 

3 bay leaves 

French Onions:

6 onions, sliced thin

3 Tbsp butter 

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt 

¼ tsp sugar 

3 Tbsp dry sherry or brandy

Gruyère Croutons:

12 slices sourdough baguette bread

2 Tbsp butter

2 cups Gruyère cheese, shredded 

Season the stew meat with salt, pepper, and onion powder. Place in the crockpot and add garlic and tomatoes. Stir in or Chestershire sauce, Dijon, mustard, tomato paste, flour, beef, broth, and bay leaves. Cook over low heat for 10 hours. During the last hour of cooking, start browning the onions over the stove.

Melt butter with the olive oil over low heat in a large stock pot. Stir in the onions and let them cook for 15 minutes. They will not need to be stirred during this timeframe. Stir in salt and sugar and allow to caramelize for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add brandy or sherry and cook 10 minutes longer. Add the onions to the crockpot. 

Preheat oven to 400*. Lay bread on a baking sheet and spread with butter, and top with ½ the cheese. Bake for 12 minutes. Place croutons on top of onions in the crockpot and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover until the cheese melts.