Last updated on December 31, 2020 by Liza Hawkins
This classic beef stew simmers slowly, resulting in mouthwatering bowlfuls of savory deliciousness that’s perfect for days where football is on in the basement man-cave all evening, when everyone’s activities are pulling them in different directions, if we’re hosting a large family gathering, or when we’ve decided that it’s time for a Harry Potter movie marathon — and we don’t even attempt a family meal at the table.
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It’s days like these where I like to make easy-to-eat one-pot meals that can be served up at each family member’s discretion, or buffet-style in the kitchen.
Classic beef stew is a great option because the longer it simmers, the better it gets. When it’s time to eat, the beef cubes literally fall apart. Drool
Don’t have a dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot?
This classic beef stew recipe’s easily adapted for the slow cooker — which can also come in handy if you’re running around all day, and can’t be home while the stew’s simmering. You can even use an Instant Pot for a quicker approach (and equally as tender beef).
And, as an added bonus, leftovers reheat great for lunch (or another dinner later in the week)!
This classic beef stew is also freezable, so if you end up with with a large batch that can’t be finished at dinnertime, consider freezing it in single serving portions to reheat next month in lieu of take-out or a TV dinner.
Enjoy!
Classic Beef Stew
This classic beef stew simmers slowly, resulting in mouthwatering bowlfuls of savory deliciousness.
Ingredients
- 1 pound stew beef cubes
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 whole carrots, peeled and cut into 2″ pieces
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped mushrooms
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1 14.5-ounce can beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/8 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. While the oil is warming, sprinkle the beef cubes evenly with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Add the flour to a large zip-top bag, then drop the beef cubes in all at once. Seal the top and then shake the bag until the cubes have been coated with flour.
- Add half the beef cubes to the pot and brown them on all sides – about 2 minutes per side. Remove them to a plate lined with a paper towel, and then repeat the browning process with the rest of the beef cubes.
- (Depending on the size of your pot, you may be able to fit more beef cubes at one time. Take care not to crowd them, or else you won’t get a nice brown crust.)
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pot, followed by the onions, mushrooms, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, allspice, paprika and parsley. Cook the mixture until the onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes, and then stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the beef broth all at once, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the bits that were stuck to the bottom of the pot. Next, add the water, bay leaves and the beef cubes and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce heat and cover, then let it simmer for 1 hour.
- After an hour, add the potatoes and carrots, then cover and cook for another 30 minutes.
- Ladle out 1 cup of the hot liquid into a bowl and whisk in the cornstarch until the mixture is smooth. There might be a few small white lumps, and that’s okay. Pour the cornstarch mixture back into the pot, and stir to incorporate it fully – this will help thicken the stew. If you like a thinner, brothy-er stew you can omit this step!
- Cover the pot and cook for another 30 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves, and serve the beef stew with a sprig of fresh parsley and a loaf of crusty French bread.
Notes
This recipe can easily be adapted for a slow cooker, but you still need to take the time to brown the meat stove-top at the beginning!
Recommended Products
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OXO Good Grips Large Wooden Spoon, Beech -
Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven. Classic Red Enamel Dutch Oven (Island Spice Red) -
Instant Pot Lux 6-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Sterilizer Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, and Warmer, 6 Quart, 12 One-Touch Programs -
Hamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker With Temperature Probe, Lid Lock, Stainless Steel (33969A)
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 341Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 2465mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 29g
This is the best stew I have ever made. Thank you!
Wow! Thanks so much!
This stew is wonderful! I made it today and my husband & I loved it! Perfect. Thanks for sharing…
Victoria – I’m so glad. Thanks for coming back to report!