Beef stew in a crockpot is great, but you won't have the same result as cooked in a dutch oven ,either on the stove or in the oven. To get a tasty color and finish to your stew cooked in the crockpot, be sure to brown the floured and seasoned stew meat really well (probably a little at a time) in a generous amount of oil (2-3 TBS at least, and don't be afraid to add more.). Then scrap up the bits stuck to the pan and include them in your stew. Delicious.