This hearty crockpot elk stew is the perfect warm meal for fall. This stew is full of healthy vegetables and lean elk meat, simmered in broth and herbs to create rich, full flavors. This recipe for elk stew is so versatile - I like how I can change up the vegetables and herbs to use whatever I have at hand. This Crockpot Elk Roast is another great slow cooker recipe.
Quick Look at the Recipe
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 3o minutes
- ⏲️ Cook Time: 5 hours
- ⌛ Total Time: 5 hrs 30 min
- 🍽️ Servings: 12 servings
- 🔥 Calories: 181 kcal
- 🍪 Perfect for busy days when you are gone.
- ✅ Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients and Substitutions
The ingredients are pretty simple pantry items, and don't let the number of ingredients scare you! it only takes a few minutes to stir it all together, then it gets to simmer all afternoon.
Elk Steak: Any steak will work here. I usually only keep the backstrap (loin) so that is what I use. Or you can cut a roast into cubes, as well.
Red Potatoes: I really like the color and texture of the little red potatoes. But honestly? You can use any kind of potato that you like.
Onion: I use yellow onion but again, any type will work.
Jalapeño: This is optional, but definitely gives it just a bit of a kick, for those who enjoy spice.
Beef Broth: I keep bouillon in the fridge to stir up some beef broth whenever I like. It's so economical and stays fresh for months.
How to make elk stew in the slow cooker
- Step 1: Start with two pounds of cubed elk meat. You can cut a roast or steaks into cubes, or if you have it - just use elk stew meat. I usually just cube some steaks. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add some olive oil. Add the elk stew meat and brown . You can do it in batches, to evenly brown all of the cubes, but to save some time, I often just dump all the meat in at once and stir it a few times to get most of the sides browned.
- Step 2: When the meat is all browned, put it in the crockpot. Place the skillet back on the burner and add 1 cup beef broth to the hot skillet. Stir and scrape up the browned bits of meat, and bring the broth to a simmer. Remove from heat and pour the broth into the crockpot with the meat.
- Step 3: Dice the onion and garlic, and add to the meat. Add the seasonings, herbs, and bay leaves.
- Step 4: Dump a can of diced tomatoes in with the meat. Any kind of tomatoes will work! Stir together and turn crockpot to high. Cook on high for 2 hours.
- Step 5: After the elk stew has cooked for 2 hours, add the potatoes, carrots, green beans, and jalapeño. Pour water over and stir together. Cook on high for an additional 3 hours.
- Step 6: Serve with cornbread or biscuits.
Crockpot Elk Stew FAQ
Cooking elk meat in a slow cooker or crockpot is the best way to make elk meat tender.
I cooked a total of 5 hours on high, but you could also cook it on low for 7-8 hours. Try not to open the lid more than necessary, as each time you lift the lid on a crockpot, it can add an extra 15-30 minutes cooking time.
Salt, black pepper, juniper berries, thyme, and rosemary are favorites.
Searing the meat before adding into the slow cooker, adding plenty of spices, and quality ingredients makes the best stew!
Yes, if frozen at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, meat stays fresh and good to eat.
No, it is unnecessary to soak elk meat in milk. However, if you have an older animal that tastes stronger, you can reduce the flavor with a milk soak.
Elk meat that has been properly cared for, should not be gamey. However, if you aren't used to wild game, it does have a much stronger flavor than beef. Also, if you are eating an older bull elk that was in the rut, it may also be stronger flavored. Flavor of wild game is just different than beef, and something you will get used to over time. Dedicated hunters like to say there is no such thing as gamey meat, but I would argue that wild game does indeed have a wild game (gamey) flavor. Some people enjoy that flavor and some don't.
This recipe includes plenty of onions, garlic, and other herbs that really help with the wild game flavor. If you don't tell anyone it is elk, they will probably never guess. Strong game flavor depends a lot on what type of animal you are using, and also on how you field dress the animal. But, using onions and garlic really help. For my in-depth guide to great venison, download a free copy of my Wild Game Printable.
What to serve with elk stew?
We like to enjoy a large square of homemade cornbread with this stew. A fresh salad on the side is nice, although I often skip the salad because there are so many veggies in the stew. Finish the meal with a soft molasses cookie or piece of apple pie.
This hearty elk stew would be great served in some homemade bread bowls!
More Elk Meat Recipes
If you tried this elk stew or any other recipe on my website; pull up a chair and tell me how it turned out in the comments below! Don't forget to leave a 🌟 star rating!
Crockpot Elk Stew
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 lbs elk steak cubed
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 lbs red potatoes cubed
- 1 large onion diced
- 1/2 lb carrots diced
- 1 jalapeño diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 can green beans (15 oz)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz)
- 6 cloves garlic sliced
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 2 teaspoons salt
- teaspoon black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in large skillet over med-high heat. When oil is hot, add meat.
- Let meat brown well, stir every 2-3 min. Let meat fry for 7-8 minutes. Place meat in crockpot.
- Place skillet back over heat, and add broth. Stir and scrape the browned bits, and bring the broth to a boil. When it boils, remove from heat and pour broth into the crockpot with the meat.
- Add onions, garlic, tomatoes, spices and bay leaves to crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.
- After meat has cooked for two hours, add potatoes, jalapeño, carrots, bell pepper, green beans, and water. Continue cooking on high for 3 more hours.
- Stir and serve.
This is a great recipe! Stew came out delicious. A couple of things I did differently: I added a little bit of flour to thicken up the broth, I replaced green beans with peas and I sautéed the onions prior to putting them in the crock pot.. everyone loved it! Thank you for sharing your recipe, can't wait to make it again!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your tips.
I have to say...this was by far one of the best recipes I have made with my elk stew meat! The meat was tender and tasty and the rest was very flavorful too. I did add a couple tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce and I made a small batch with one lb of meat. I will make this again for sure and double it so I have some for an extra meal or to pass on.
Thank you for your review! Adding Worchestershire sauce sounds great.
How long did you cook it for with half the meat? I have 1 lb and wanted to cook it on low. I'm guessing about 6 hours 🤷♀️
Amazing recipe! I added celery and some extra garlic. Many thanks for sharing your recipe.
You can never have too much garlic! Happy you enjoyed it!
So very yummy and perfect for Colorado winters. I added Worcestershire, corn, and brussel sprouts. Will definitely be making again. Thank you so much, Kay, for sharing your wonderful recipes.
(Also, I have some family in Wyoming that shares your last name, were you married into the Schrocks?)
My apologies, meant to give 5 stars.
Yes, My husband is a Schrock. I have heard of Schrock in WY but haven't met any yet!
Best wild stew ever. I make it w/elk or venison then I put it in a pressure cooker & can it for the boys in the winter month w/honey cornbread. It's a must have. Thank you for posting the recipe.
Canned stew is a wonderful addition to the pantry!
For the spices do you use fresh or dried?
I use dried.
delicious! keeping this recipe 😋
I made that elk stew today on my day off, Fantastic!!!! I did the xtra garlic and Worcestershire 😋
Great! Glad it worked for you! You can never have too much garlic!
Amazing stew! Swapped peas for green beans and added a little flower. The flavor is amazing! Thanks for the recipe.
sounds wonderful. making it today. can you also make this in a Dutch oven pot?
The elk stew was delicious! The minor changes we made were to roll the cubed elk in four seasoned with Montreal Steak Seasoning. We used frozen green beans as well as frozen crushed garlic by Dorot Gardens. We would definitely make it again. Thanks for the recipe. Ginger from Montana.
Might be a dumb question -
Add onions, garlic, tomatoes, spices and bay leaves to crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.
After meat has cooked for two hours, add potatoes, jalapeño, carrots, bell pepper, green beans, and water. Continue cooking on high for 3 more hours
Can i just add all in and cook for the total 5 hrs?
Not dumb at all! 😊 yes, you can add it all at once, but the potatoes and veggies will be very soft and falling apart at the end. The reason I add them later is so the potatoes hold together better at the end. However, personally I often add them all at the beginning because I’m going to be gone. I don’t mind everything a bit mushy. Haha!
I added cinnamon, nutmeg and instant coffee for deeper level flavoring.
I haven’t done a stew in probably 40 years. In fact I haven’t done much other than grilling for all those years. Pbj’s, eggs n French toast! My bride passed and the neighbors made sure I was fed.
Time for a little time in the kitchen. I had an elk roast so found your recipe. My 9 year old granddaughter and I got it done. Fed my lovely neighbors and had a bowl myself.
It turned out amazing!
Thank you!
BH