Easy Hearty Beef Stew Recipe That Warms Your Soul

Crafting a mouthwatering hearty beef stew brings comfort straight to your kitchen on chilly evenings.

Tender chunks of meat simmer slowly with robust vegetables and rich, deep flavors.

Rustic and satisfying, this classic dish transforms simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece.

Home cooks appreciate how easily the recipe comes together with minimal prep work.

Robust seasonings and slow cooking create an incredible depth that warms you from the inside out.

Each spoonful promises a delightful blend of savory notes and hearty textures.

Let this stew become your new go-to meal that makes everyone at the table smile with pure contentment.

What Makes Hearty Beef Stew So Great

• Savor Deeply Layered Flavors: This recipe builds complex taste profiles through strategic cooking techniques like rendering bacon, browning beef, and deglazing with red wine, creating a rich, multi-dimensional dining experience.
• Master Professional-Level Cooking: Each step requires precision and technique, helping home cooks develop advanced culinary skills while producing restaurant-quality results with simple ingredients.
• Perfect Comfort Food for Gatherings: Designed as a hearty, one-pot meal that feeds multiple people, this beef stew becomes an ideal centerpiece for family dinners, potlucks, or weekend get-togethers where warmth and satisfaction matter most.
• Nutrition-Packed Meal Solution: Packed with protein from beef, vegetables offering diverse nutrients, and a balanced combination of ingredients, this stew delivers a complete, wholesome meal in a single pot.

What Ingredients Go Into Hearty Beef Stew

• Beef Cubes: Well-seasoned meat that becomes tender and flavorful after slow cooking.
• Bacon: Adds rich, smoky depth and renders fat for cooking other ingredients.

• Onions, Carrots, Celery: Classic stew base that provides sweetness and foundational flavor.
• Garlic: Adds sharp, aromatic essence to the stew.
• Potatoes: Hearty addition that absorbs the stew's rich flavors and provides texture.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall taste of the beef.
• Thyme, Rosemary, Bay Leaves: Fragrant herbs that contribute depth and complexity to the stew.

• Red Wine: Adds complexity and helps deglaze the cooking pot.
• Beef Broth: Creates the liquid base for the stew.
• Tomato Paste: Provides richness and helps thicken the sauce.
• Flour: Helps to thicken the stew and create a more cohesive texture.

How to Cook Hearty Beef Stew from Scratch

Step 1: Prep Beef for Browning

Select high-quality beef chuck roast and pat dry with paper towels. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring an even coating for maximum flavor development.

Step 2: Crisp Bacon Base

Heat large Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook bacon pieces until crispy and fat renders completely. Transfer crispy bacon to a separate plate using a slotted spoon, reserving flavorful bacon fat in the pot.

Step 3: Brown Beef Cubes

Working in batches, add seasoned beef cubes to hot bacon fat. Brown meat on all sides, creating a deep golden crust. Avoid overcrowding the pot to ensure proper caramelization. Each batch should take 3-4 minutes.

Step 4: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

• Chopped onions
• Diced carrots
• Sliced celery

Sauté vegetables until they soften and develop slight golden edges, approximately 5-6 minutes.

Step 5: Enhance with Garlic

Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning. The kitchen will fill with an incredible fragrant aroma.

Step 6: Create Thickening Roux

Sprinkle all-purpose flour over sautéed vegetables. Stir thoroughly to coat and cook for 1-2 minutes, eliminating raw flour taste and creating a thick base for the stew.

Step 7: Build Flavor Foundation

• Beef broth
• Tomato paste
• Fresh thyme sprigs
• Rosemary leaves
• Bay leaves

Step 8: Combine Ingredients

Return browned beef and crispy bacon to pot. Ensure meat is mostly submerged in liquid for even cooking.

Step 9: Slow Simmer

Cover pot and reduce heat to low. Simmer stew for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.

Step 10: Add Potatoes

During final 45 minutes, add cubed potatoes. This prevents them from becoming mushy while absorbing rich flavors.

Step 11: Final Touches

Remove bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary sprigs. Stew should have thick, luxurious consistency with fork-tender meat when ready to serve.

Easy Advice for Making Hearty Beef Stew Better

• Dry and Season Beef Perfectly: Pat beef cubes completely dry to achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust, which locks in incredible flavor and creates restaurant-quality texture.
• Brown in Batches: Never overcrowd the pot when browning meat, as this prevents proper caramelization and results in steaming instead of beautiful searing.
• Layer Flavor Strategically: Cook bacon first to render fat, then use the same pot to build depth by sautéing vegetables and deglazing with red wine, capturing every delicious browned bit.
• Control Potato Cooking: Add potatoes only during the last 45 minutes of simmering to prevent them from becoming mushy and maintain their perfect tender-yet-firm texture.
• Choose Meat Wisely: Select well-marbled chuck roast or stew meat with good fat content, which breaks down during slow cooking and creates meltingly tender, rich results.

Hearty Beef Stew Twists You Can Try

• Mediterranean Lamb Stew: Replace beef with tender lamb, swap red wine for white wine, and add oregano, mint, and kalamata olives for a Greek-inspired flavor profile.
• Spicy Chorizo Stew: Substitute beef with Spanish chorizo, incorporate smoked paprika, add diced bell peppers, and use beer instead of wine for a rich, bold taste.
• Root Vegetable Harvest Stew: Include parsnips, turnips, and sweet potatoes alongside traditional vegetables, use chicken broth for lighter base, and sprinkle fresh parsley before serving.
• Mushroom Burgundy Stew: Enhance with mixed wild mushrooms like porcini and shiitake, use burgundy wine, add pearl onions, and finish with fresh thyme for an earthy, elegant version.

Tasty Sides to Match With Hearty Beef Stew

• Pair with Rich Red Wine: Choose a bold Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah that matches the hearty beef stew's robust flavors and complements its deep, meaty profile.
• Create Rustic Bread Accompaniment: Serve warm, crusty sourdough or garlic-rubbed French bread to soak up the delicious stew liquid and provide textural contrast.
• Elevate with Fresh Green Salad: Prepare a crisp mixed green salad with light vinaigrette to cut through the stew's richness and add refreshing brightness to the meal.
• Enhance with Roasted Root Vegetables: Serve simple roasted parsnips or glazed carrots alongside the stew to echo the dish's earthy, comforting flavor profile.

Hearty Beef Stew Storage Tips and Tricks

• Store leftover beef stew in an airtight container, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Transfer cooled stew to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air. Label with date and contents. Freeze for up to 3 months for maximum flavor and quality.
• Thaw refrigerated or frozen stew in the refrigerator overnight. Warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add a splash of broth if the stew seems too thick.
• Use glass or ceramic containers with tight-fitting lids for best preservation. Avoid storing in metal containers, which can alter the stew's taste and potentially react with acidic ingredients.

Answers to Your Hearty Beef Stew Questions

• Why should I pat the beef dry before seasoning?

Patting beef dry helps achieve better browning by removing excess moisture, which allows the meat to develop a rich, golden crust and enhances the overall flavor of the stew.

• What's the purpose of browning the beef in batches?

Browning beef in batches prevents overcrowding, which would cause steaming instead of searing. This technique creates a flavorful caramelized exterior that adds depth to the stew’s taste.

• How does adding flour to the vegetables help the stew?

Sprinkling flour over vegetables and cooking it briefly helps thicken the stew and creates a rich, smooth texture by allowing the flour to lose its raw taste and act as a natural thickening agent.

Hearty Beef Stew Recipe

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4.8 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Rustic Beef Stew invites comfort and warmth with tender meat slow-simmered in rich, savory broth. Robust flavors blend perfectly, promising a satisfying meal that warms hearts and nourishes souls with each spoonful you savor.

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Ingredients

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Meat:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 oz bacon, chopped

Vegetables:

• 3 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 large onions, diced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb potatoes, cubed

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Pat beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper, ensuring even coating for better browning.
2. Render bacon pieces in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy and fat is released, approximately 5-6 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
3. In the same pot, brown seasoned beef cubes in batches, creating a deep golden crust. This process takes about 3-4 minutes per batch, preventing overcrowding.
4. Remove browned beef and sauté onions, carrots, and celery in remaining bacon fat until vegetables soften, around 5 minutes.
5. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring continuously.
6. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir to coat, cooking for 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
7. Deglaze pot with red wine, scraping up browned bits from bottom. Add beef broth, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
8. Return beef and bacon to the pot, ensuring meat is mostly submerged in liquid.
9. Cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
10. Add cubed potatoes during the last 45 minutes of cooking to prevent overcooking.
11. Remove bay leaves before serving. Stew should be thick and meat tender when done.

Notes

• Ensure beef is thoroughly dried to achieve perfect golden-brown searing without steaming the meat.
• Use thick-cut bacon for richer flavor and save the crispy pieces as a delicious garnish.
• Layer flavors by browning meat in batches, creating deep caramelization that develops complex taste profiles.
• Adapt for gluten-free diets by substituting flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder for thickening.
• Control liquid consistency by adjusting broth quantity if stew becomes too thick during slow cooking.
• Enhance meal prep by making larger batches, as this stew tastes even better the next day after flavors meld.
• Consider wine alternatives like beef stock or grape juice for non-alcoholic versions without compromising depth.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 455
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 32 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg