Sweet Potato Stew: hearty, delicious, and slow-cooked to perfection! Sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, corn, tomatoes, beef, and perfect seasoning!
The Easiest Sweet Potato Stew
Sweet potatoes are my favorite veggie! They’re super versatile—baked, roasted, or in burrito bowls are just a few ways I love them.
I combined my go-to cold-weather recipe (stew) with sweet potatoes, and that’s how this sweet potato stew was born.
It’s full of flavor, hearty, and so easy to make. Just chop a few things, dump everything into the crockpot, and let it cook!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Sweet Potato Stew:
- Beef chuck roast: Or use pre-cut stew meat for less prep.
- Flour: Helps thicken the stew nicely.
- Sweet potatoes: Peel and cut into consistent 1-inch chunks for even cooking.
- Celery: Adds crunch and flavor.
- Onion: Yellow onions work best for a mild, sweet taste.
- Carrots: Petite-cut carrots are ready to go! Just dump them in!
- Corn: Use frozen corn, no need to thaw.
- Diced tomatoes: Fire-roasted tomatoes add more flavor.
- Bay leaf: Adds depth of flavor.
- Garlic: Minced garlic offers a strong, fresh flavor.
- Paprika: Adds a hint of smokiness.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds umami and depth.
- Parsley: Fresh parsley brightens up the stew.
- Beef bouillon powder: Boosts the rich beef flavor of the stew.
How To Make Sweet Potato Stew
1. Prep the slow cooker: Spray CrockPot with cooking spray.
2. Coat the beef: Toss beef with flour, seasoned salt, and pepper.
3. Add ingredients: Add beef and remaining ingredients, stir to combine.
4. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 5-7 hours.
5. Finish and serve: Remove bay leaf, mash some sweet potatoes, and garnish with parsley.
How to Pick a Good Sweet Potato
- Stick with orange or red-skinned sweet potatoes (like Red Garnet or Jewel) for a sweeter, creamier texture.
- Choose firm potatoes without growths or discolorations; avoid soft or wet ones.
- For freshness tips, check out this article.
What To Serve with Sweet Potato Stew:
- Rice or Quinoa – Serve the stew over rice or quinoa for a heartier meal.
- Crusty No-Knead Bread – Perfect for dipping into the stew. Or serve with dinner rolls.
- Garden Salad – A light green salad with a tangy dressing to balance the richness.
Storage
How to Store Sweet Potato Stew:
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Reheat: Warm on the stove over low heat or in the microwave until heated through.
More Easy CrockPot Recipes:
- Crockpot Cowboy Casserole with Italian sausage
- Shredded Beef Enchiladas with the best seasoning blend
- Crockpot White Chicken Chili with green enchilada sauce
- Crockpot Chicken Tacos easy taco-spiced chicken
- Crockpot Chicken Stew with carrots and peas
Sweet Potato Stew
Equipment
- Crock-Pot 6-quart
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 pound beef chuck roast cut into 1/2-inch chunks (or pre-cut stew meat for super quick prep)
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups chopped sweet potatoes see note 1
- 1/4 cup chopped celery
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- 1 (8-ounce) bag petite-cut carrots
- 1-1/2 cups frozen corn
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley see note 2
- 1 tablespoon beef bouillon powder
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Lightly coat the Crock-Pot with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, toss the beef with flour, seasoned salt, and pepper until well coated.
- Place the beef in the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and stir everything together. Make sure the meat is submerged under the vegetables.
- Cover and cook on low for 7–9 hours or on high for 5–7 hours, until the sweet potatoes and beef are very tender. For best results, cook on low.
- Before serving, remove bay leaf. Stir everything together and gently mash some of the sweet potatoes to thicken the stew.
- Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This looks great! I have never used bullion before. I have always used broth, but I would like to try to make this as you have instructed. Can you tell me if I need to dissolve the bullion in the water before adding it to the crock pot or if I just toss in the cubes and the water to let it dissolve during the slow cooking process? If I were to use beef broth instead of the two cubes and water, would I just use one cup (the same amount of water that is used)?
Thank you!
Hey Sara, thanks for the comments and questions! If you use the boullion just throw in the cubes and it will dissolve 🙂 And you’ll still want just 1 cup of broth, but you won’t have a very strong flavor with just 1 cup like the boullion cubes will bring so I would try to stick to those for this recipe.
I put this together this morning because we had an INCREDIBLY busy day ahead. When everybody got home, a fabulous hearty stew awaited. Great recipe! Thanks!
So glad to hear it!! Thanks so much for the comment! 🙂
I just put this is the crock pot for dinner! But, I am out of diced tomatoes. Would it be ok without or should I add in some tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes?
I’d put in some crushed tomatoes 🙂
I am SO EXCITED to try this recipe tomorrow! A few questions – can I sub the boullion cubes and water for beef broth? And how essential is the bay leaf (I’ve never used them) thanks!!!
Well I hope you love it! 🙂 Yes you absolutely can do boullion cubes instead of beef broth! And I love the flavor the bay leaf adds, but it will be okay without it 🙂 If you are looking to try them out they are just with spices in the store, enjoy! 🙂
Have made with both beef and another time chicken. Great both ways.
So glad you enjoyed! Thanks Karen! 🙂
Made it tonight. So yummy! It even appeased the picky 4 year old. But I have to ask, what bread is also in the picture? Recipe, perhaps?
Has anyone tried this without the meat in it? This looks AMAZINGLY yummy, I just don’t do meat 🙁 just wondering if it changes anything
I would just add in extra sweet potatoes! 🙂
Black beans would go great!
Can I make this with beef broth or bone broth instead of boullion cubes?
You can, it will lack a bit of flavor though
I would add chickpeas for the protein. Would be excellent!
I made this yesterday and it turned out fantastic. Thanks for the recipe!
So glad to hear it!! 🙂 Thank you Kim!!
Can I use chicken instead of roast?
Chicken will cook much quicker!
I am making this today for the first time. Followed recipe, but is 1 cup water truly enough?
Yes it is!
Might this be my new favorite thing? I LOVE sweet potatoes AND corn in stews, though I don’t think I’ve ever had them together in the same pot. Can’t wait to try it this way… plus, dump it all in the crockpot and forget about it? It really doesn’t get any better than that 🙂
This stew looks so heart and healthy!
Wow! I never would have thought about sweet potatoes in stew, but I love that idea! I adore stew and I can hardly wait to add corn (fire-roasted of course) and sweet potatoes next time! Thanks Chelsea.