Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (2024)

Nothing compares to the cozy comfort of classic Beef Stew. Tender morsels of beef practically melt in your mouth, and the combination of vegetables and beef infuse the dish with incredible flavor as they simmer together in a rich broth.

Beef is naturally juicy and adds so much flavor to dishes like our Chili Recipe, and of course Meatloaf. If you let it cook low and slow, it becomes wonderfully tender and so satisfying. All you need with this are soft Dinner Rolls and it’s a one-pot meal.

Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (1)

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The Best Beef Stew Recipe

Beef stew is a very hearty soup with a blend of beef and humble vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onion in a richly flavored wine and tomato broth. This hearty beef stew is every bit as good as its cousin, the famous beef bourguignon, andLamb Stew. We love beef stew so much that we even have a Slow Cooker Beef Stew.

What is the secret to good stew? When the stew is slow-cooked, the beef becomes meltingly tender and full of flavor. We also love to add mushrooms and bacon which add a rich depth of flavor to make this the best beef stew we’ve ever tried.

Beef Stew Video

You can do this! Homemade stew takes some time to make because it needs to slow roast in the oven but it is simple to prepare. One bite and you’ll realize why this beef stew is one of our most popular recipes.

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Ingredients

These are the ingredients often used in beef stew. They aren’t overly complicated, but the flavors work together so well. P.S. You can make your stew thicker by adding more flour (see tips below).

  • Beef – you can use beef stew meat or cut up your own beef chuck roast or other well-marbled steaks.
  • Bacon – center cut is always my favorite cut of bacon. It adds a wonderful richness and a salty bite to the stew.
  • All-purpose flour – used to dredge the beef and to thicken if desired
  • Red wine – use a drinkable red wine and avoid anything labeled “cooking wine” (see below for our list of recommended wines for cooking)
  • Mushrooms – use brown or white mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • Carrots, Onions, and Garlic – the aromatics which release a fragrant aroma and add flavor when cooked
  • Tomato Paste – adds acidity to balance the broth
  • Beef Broth – you can use beef bone broth, beef stock, or even substitute with chicken stock
  • Bay leaves and thyme – these simple seasonings round out the flavors of the soup
  • Potatoes – new potatoes or fingerling potatoes make the soup look extra fancy but you can dice up and add waxy potatoes such as yukon gold or red potatoes.
Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (2)

What is Stew Meat?

Beef stew meat is a great choice for your next meal – it’s made up of tender pieces of beef, ranging from filet mignon and prime rib to trimmings from steaks that may have been too large for their packages. I’ve even spotted pieces of filet mignon and prime rib in my packs! Not only is it reasonably priced, but it’s also incredibly versatile.

We love beef stew meat recipes such asInstant Pot Rice and Beef and Rice Soup. If you aren’t able to find stew meat, another good option is boneless beef chuck which you can buy and cut into bite-size pieces yourself.

The Best Red Wine for Cooking

The wine adds so much flavor to this classic beef stew. For most cooking, dry red wine is best. Avoid anything labeled “cooking wine.” A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t drink it, you should not cook with it. Some good red wine options include:

  • Pinot Noir
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Savignon
  • Soft Red by Ste Chapelle (our favorite local brand)

How to Make Beef Stew

Here is a quick visual reference of how to make beef stew but be sure to watch the full video tutorial above and you’ll see just how easy this is to make Beef Stew.

  1. Brown the bacon in a large, oven-proof pot, then remove to a plate.
  2. Season beef in a separate bowl with salt and pepper then toss with flour. Sautee beef in 2 batches, adding more oil as needed.
  3. Add red wine and scrape to deglaze the pot. Add mushrooms and cook over medium heat 10 minutes.
  4. Sautee Vegetables – In a large skillet over medium/high heat, add oil, carrots, onions and garlic then sautee until softened. Stir in tomato paste and transfer the veggies to the pot.
  5. Combine and bake – Return Beef and bacon to the pot, add beef broth, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper, and potatoes. Stir to combine and make sure the potatoes are submerged. COVERand bake at 325˚F for 1 hour and 45 min.
Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (3)

For a Healthier Stew: you can tilt the pot after it comes out of the oven to allow the liquid to pool to one side, then skim off any excess fat with a spoon.

Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (4)

Pro Tip: Make sure to use a tight-fitting lid so you don’t lose too much steam while the pot is in the oven. We love cooking beef stew in a dutch oven since it has an ideal heavy lid.

How to Thicken Beef Stew?

Beef stew is not supposed to be gravy. Tossing the beef in flour and the natural starch from the potatoes will make the sauce slightly thicker than a typical soup base.

For a thicker stew with a more gravy-like consistency, melt 2 Tbsp butter and stir in 2 Tbsp flour to make a paste. Once the stew is out of the oven, place it on the stove, add the paste a little at a time (to reach desired consistency) then bring it back to a boil for a few minutes to thicken and cook the flour.

Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (5)

Can Beef Stew be Cooked on the Stovetop?

You can finish your stew on the stovetop instead of the oven. Be sure to use a heavy-bottomed pot or dutch oven and keep it at a low simmer and stir occasionally to make sure you don’t scorch the bottom. It should take about 1 1/2 hours on the stovetop or until your beef reaches the desired tenderness.

To Serve

Since stew is a meal in itself, loaded with beef and vegetables in a rich broth so we love to serve it with simple sides:

  • Soft Dinner Rolls – to soak up the tasty broth
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes – the stew is almost a light gravy with potatoes.
  • White Rice – steamy, buttery and so simple
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes – so comforting in the cooler months
  • Beet Arugula Salad – we love a fresh green salad with stew
  • Caesar Salad – with the best homemade dressing
Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (6)

Now go forth and conquer this classic homemade beef stew! There’s nothing quite like curling up with a bowl of steamy, hearty stew in the colder months.

More Beef Recipes for Dinner:

  • Beef Stroganoff – in mushroom cream sauce
  • Lasagna – classic with a beefy sauce
  • Baked Ziti – irresistibly cheesy pasta bake
  • Meatloaf – with our favorite glaze
  • Beef Chili – easy, one-pot 30-min dinner

Beef Stew Recipe

4.96 from 822 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (8)

Every bit of this beef soup is infused with wonderful flavor from slow roasting in the oven. Pair with beef stew recipe with fresh bread or serve it over mashed potatoes.

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Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 2 hours hrs

Total Time: 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 8 people

  • 6 oz bacon, chopped into 1/4" strips
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil, to sautee
  • 2 lbs beef stew meat, (or beef chuck cut into 1″ pieces)
  • 2 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste, divided
  • 1 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, divided
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups good dry red wine
  • 1 lb mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2″ thick pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 4 cups low sodium beef broth , or beef stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 lb small potatoes, new potatoes, or fingerling, halved or quartered

Instructions

  • In a large, oven-proof pot, sauté bacon over medium heat until golden brown and fat is released. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to a separate bowl.

  • While bacon is cooking, place beef in a large mixing bowl and season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Sprinkle beef with 1/4 cup flour and toss to combine and evenly coat beef. Transfer beef in 2 batches into the hot bacon fat and cook over med/high heat, until beef is browned (3 min per side). Add olive oil if needed. Transfer browned beef to the bowl with bacon.

  • Add 2 cups wine to the pot and bring to a boil, scraping the bottom to deglaze the pot. Add sliced mushrooms and simmer over medium heat about 10 min.

  • Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick skillet over medium/high heat and add 2 Tbsp olive oil. Add sliced carrots, diced onion, and 4 chopped garlic cloves, and saute 4 min. Add 1 Tbsp tomato paste and saute another minute. Transfer veggies to the soup pot.

  • Add 4 cups beef broth, 2 bay leaves, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Return beef and bacon to the pot then add potatoes. Stir to combine and make sure potatoes are submerged in liquid.Cover with lid and bake at 325˚F oven for 1 hour and 45 min.

Notes

For a healthier stew, you can tilt the pot after it comes out of the oven to allow the liquid to pool to one side, then skim off any excess fat.

Nutrition Per Serving

365kcal Calories21g Carbs35g Protein10g Fat2g Saturated Fat70mg Cholesterol1479mg Sodium1194mg Potassium3g Fiber3g Sugar5125IU Vitamin A16.1mg Vitamin C48mg Calcium3.6mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Beef Stew Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

365

% Daily Value*

Fat

10

g

15

%

Saturated Fat

2

g

13

%

Cholesterol

70

mg

23

%

Potassium

1194

mg

34

%

Carbohydrates

21

g

7

%

Fiber

3

g

13

%

Sugar

3

g

3

%

Protein

35

g

70

%

Vitamin A

5125

IU

103

%

Vitamin C

16.1

mg

20

%

Calcium

48

mg

5

%

Iron

3.6

mg

20

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Beef Stew, Beef Stew Recipe

Skill Level: Medium

Cost to Make: $$

Calories: 365

Natasha Kravchuk

Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (9)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Beef Stew Recipe (VIDEO) (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

What gives beef stew the best flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

What not to put in a stew? ›

But the liquid itself should not be thick in the same way that gravy is thick. So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.

What's the difference between stew beef and beef stew? ›

Stew meat is made from cuts of beef with lots of tough connective tissue, namely chuck and/or round. When you simmer it in a liquid, the connective tissue breaks down and becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender. That's why it's traditionally braised in stock and turned into beef stew.

What is the best tenderizer for stew beef? ›

The choice becomes easier when you realize that simple baking soda can be an ideal meat tenderizer that helps to bring out all the aromas and flavors in every sizzling beef stew or charburger.

When to add vegetables to stew? ›

Add vegetables: After 1 hour 30 minutes, carefully remove pot from oven and use oven mitt to remove lid. Add vegetables and stir gently to combine. Carefully replace lid on pot and return stew to oven to cook for an additional hour.

How do I make my stew taste richer? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

What are the best vegetables to put in beef stew? ›

Root Vegetables

Carrots are a go-to for stews and braises, but look beyond them to parsnips, turnips, rutabaga, celeriac, and sweet potatoes. Be sure cut them on the larger size so they don't dissolve into mush.

How to add depth of flavor to beef stew? ›

There are flavors in tomatoes that are alcohol-soluble, so adding red wine along with tomato paste also helps to enhance beef stew." Laurence has a few other tricks I've borrowed to create the best beef stew, including adding Worcestershire, which gets a serious umami punch from anchovies.

Why put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

We recommend using tomato paste for this recipe. Tomato paste adds crucial flavor and body to the stew meat when cooked with herbs, garlic and wine. If you don't have any on hand, try one of these tomato paste substitutes. Just keep in mind, it may change the stew's flavor.

When should celery be added to stew? ›

Once all the meat has been seared and transfered out of the pan, cook the vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium and warm another teaspoon of oil. Add the onions and celery, and cook until the onions are softened and translucent, 8-10 minutes.

Why put celery in stew? ›

In the original version, celery, carrots and onion are added to the meat. Usually just one onion, a celery rib and three carrots – enough to give a good amount of sweetness to the sauce. Make sure all these are sliced thin, so that they can brown well in a little bit of olive oil.

Is it necessary to brown meat before stewing? ›

Very simply put, browning equals flavor. As beef sears, the outside caramelizes, adding extra flavor to the beef, not to mention creating these tasty little browned bits that form on the bottom of the pot. Without browning, the finished stew just won't taste as good and the sauce won't be as dark.

How long should I simmer stew meat? ›

Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook stew at a simmer until the meat and vegetables are very tender, 3 to 4 hours.

How to cook beef stew meat so it is tender? ›

We simmer the stew on the stove top for 2 hours with the lid on, stirring occasionally, then remove the lid and simmer for another 1-1/2 hours, or until the beef is fall apart tender and the gravy is nicely thickened.

How do you soften tough beef for stew? ›

Cook it slow and steady.

This gives collagens in the tough muscle tissue time to melt and make the meat tender. Try tasting a bite after an hour, two hours, and three hours — you'll see how the meat goes from chewy to pretty good to fall-apart tender.

How to make beef tender like Chinese restaurants? ›

There are a few methods, but this is the easiest way:
  1. Sprinkle 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate soda) on 250g / 8oz sliced economical beef cuts.
  2. Toss with fingers, leave for 30 minutes.
  3. Rinse, pat off excess water.
  4. Proceed with stir fry recipe. It can be marinated with wet or dry seasonings, or cooked plain.
Feb 23, 2019

How long to cook beef stew until tender? ›

Cook over medium-high heat, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the beef, beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Cover and cook, skimming broth from time to time, until the beef is tender, about 1½ hours.

How do you cook beef so it's tender? ›

To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

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