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Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes

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This classic French beef stew is the ultimate cold weather comfort food. After a few hours in the oven, the meat becomes meltingly tender and enveloped in a rich wine sauce.

Spoon in a bowl of beef stew with carrots and potatoes.

With over 4,000 5-star reviews, this classic French beef stew is the all-time most popular recipe on my website. It is the ultimate cold weather comfort food. Chunks of well-marbled beef are seared in a hot pan, then gently braised with garlic and onions in a rich wine-based broth. After a few hours in the oven, the meat becomes meltingly tender and enveloped in a deeply flavorful sauce. It takes a few hours to make, but the recipe is mostly hands-off. Go ahead and make it a day or two ahead of time; the flavor improves the longer it sits.

This stew is part of my classic French recipe collection, which includes similar slow-cooking comfort food recipes, like coq au vin and braised short ribs, and impressive main courses, like steak au poivre or roast beef tenderloin with red wine sauce.

what you’ll need to make beef stew with carrots & potatoes

Stew ingredients including carrots, tomato paste, and beef broth.

The most important thing is to start with the right cut of meat. You want to buy chuck roast that is well-marbled—that means it should have a good amount of white veins of fat running through it. Stay away from meat generically packaged as “stew meat,” especially if it looks lean (I can guarantee you it will not get tender, no matter how long you cook it).

For the wine, use any dry red (Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.) that is inexpensive but still good enough to drink.

How To Make Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes

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Begin by removing any large chunks of fat that are easy to get to (like the one my knife is pointing to below), but don’t overdo it with the trimming, as the fat helps make the beef tender.

Knife cutting beef on a cutting board.

Next, season the meat generously with salt and pepper.

Seasoned beef on a cutting board.

Heat a bit of oil in a Dutch oven or large pot and brown the meat in batches.

Pieces of beef in a Dutch oven.

This step is a bit time-consuming but browning the meat adds depth and dimension to the stew. (Note: it’s important not to crowd the pan — if you try to brown all the meat at once, it will steam instead of sear and you won’t get all that lovely color and flavor.)

This step is a bit time-consuming  but browning the meat adds depth and dimension to the stew.

Remove the meat and add the onions, garlic, and balsamic vinegar to the pan. The vinegar will loosen all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan and add flavor.

Onions cooking in a Dutch oven.

Cook until the vegetables are softened, then add the tomato paste and cook for a minute more.

Tomato paste in a Dutch oven with onions.

Add the beef back into the pan and sprinkle with the flour.

Flour in a Dutch oven with beef.

Stir until the flour is dissolved.

Beef mixture in a Dutch oven.

Add the wine, broth, water, thyme, bay leaves, and sugar.

Broth and seasonings in a Dutch oven.

Bring to a boil, then cover and braise in the oven for 2 hours.

Broth boiling in a Dutch oven.

After 2 hours, add the carrots and potatoes.

Carrots and potatoes in a Dutch oven with broth.

Return to the oven and continue cooking for one hour, or until the meat is fork-tender, the broth is thickened, and the carrots and potatoes are tender.

Dutch oven of beef stew.

Feel free to adapt the recipe to your liking. You can leave out the potatoes and serve it over buttered egg noodles, or toss in some frozen peas or sautéed mushrooms at the very end. Either way, it’s soul-satisfying comfort food for a cold night.

Bowls of beef stew.

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Video Tutorial

Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes

This classic French beef stew is the ultimate cold weather comfort food. After a few hours in the oven, the meat becomes meltingly tender and enveloped in a rich wine sauce.

Servings: 6
Total Time: 3 Hours 30 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds boneless beef chuck (well-marbled), cut into 1½-inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 7 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups dry red wine
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1½ teaspoons sugar
  • 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks on a diagonal
  • 1 pound small white boiling potatoes (baby yukons), cut in half
  • Fresh chopped parsley, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and set a rack in the lower middle position.
  2. Pat the beef dry and season with the salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven or heavy soup pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering. Brown the meat in 3 batches, turning with tongs, for about 5 minutes per batch; add one tablespoon more oil for each batch. (To sear the meat properly, do not crowd the pan and let the meat develop a nice brown crust before turning with tongs.) Transfer the meat to a large plate and set aside.
  3. Add the onions, garlic and balsamic vinegar; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon and scraping the brown bits from bottom of the pan, for about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute more. Add the beef with its juices back to the pan and sprinkle with the flour. Stir with wooden spoon until the flour is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine, beef broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, and sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid, transfer to the preheated oven, and braise for 2 hours.
  4. Remove the pot from the oven and add the carrots and potatoes. Cover and place back in oven for about an hour more, or until the vegetables are cooked, the broth is thickened, and the meat is tender. Fish out the bay leaf and discard, then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Serve the stew warm -- or let it come to room temperature and then store in the refrigerator overnight or until ready to serve. This stew improves in flavor if made at least 1 day ahead. Reheat, covered, over medium heat. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
  5. Note: If you don’t have a Dutch oven or covered pot that is appropriate for the oven, the stew can be cooked on the stove. The timing will be the same and it should be cooked over the lowest setting.
  6. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The stew can be frozen for up to 3 months. Before serving, defrost the stew in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot.

Pair with

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (6 servings)
  • Calories: 539
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated fat: 6g
  • Carbohydrates: 32g
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 54g
  • Sodium: 1189mg
  • Cholesterol: 143mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • This was incredible!

  • Great recipe. I want to make some for St. Patrick’s Day – may add some Guinness to the mix!

    Cheers –

  • This recipe is great. It reminds me of my mother’s goulash soup she made when I was a kid!

  • What a fabulous recipe! A keeper 🙂

  • My kids love this stew! I made a huge pot and froze it in small containers.

  • I have made this a few times now and it is a favorite, the beef gets so tender and the sauce is rich and very flavorful. Love it with your corn muffins or crusty bread or over egg noodles.

  • I have tried and failed to make a beef stew that actually tastes/looks as good as it smells while being prepared. THIS recipe was the answer to my prayers! What a tasty dinner 🙂

  • I’ve made many stews but this is the only recipe I return to over and over again. It’s always so delicious, easy, and the house smells great while the stew braises!

  • I made this stew several weeks ago for myself and a friend who just had a baby. My house smelled amazing all day!

    I usually make beef stew in a crockpot, but this method made a tastier stew. The beef was much more tender than it is after spending 8 hours in a crockpot, and I loved the idea of adding the veggies at the end so they didn’t turn mushy. I also added mushrooms and peas to mine. Delicious!

  • I was thrilled to find your simplified, but just as fabulous, version of Julia Child’s classic Beef Burgundy. My family loved it & I may not go back to Julia’s recipe 🙂

  • I made this last night and it was incredible! I usually do buy pretty lean meat so the marbling tip was a great one! Thanks!

  • Had been wanting to make this recipe for a while and finally made it today! It is DELICIOUS! Thank you for sharing!

  • My daughter asked for this dish for her birthday dinner. It was delicious – a great Sunday meal.

  • This receipe is great. I always used stew meat in the my beef stew – that is why it always was chewy and not tender. Thanks for the tips!

  • I loved this recipe, I’ve made beef stew before but the meat came out rubbery, Thanks for the tip on not buying prepackages stew meat… What a differance it made… This is the perfect stew for cold rainy days…

  • LOVE stews…especally beef 🙂 Thanks for the great recipe!

  • Sounds SO delicious! I just have to get a pot I can throw in the oven first, and then I’m definitely making this.

  • Yummy and full of flavor!

  • I thought I had the best beef stew recipe already, but I was wrong. This is delicious!

  • The only thing I would do differently is use my crockpot instead of the oven, mmm-mmm good!!!!

    • — LaDonna Hopkins
    • Reply
  • I absolutely love this recipe! I have celiac, and the only thing I had to do is replace the flour with cornstarch. It was so delicious and I will be keeping it in my “make again!” box to enjoy every winter!

  • This is such a classic and delicious dish! A real crowd pleaser…even my 1 year old loves it!

  • This looks absolutely delicious and not too hard to make. I’ll be trying it out soon!

  • This was one of the best stews I’ve made… and it was so simple! Thanks for a great recipe!

  • This recipe had become my husbands favorite to eat and make! Of course the whole family enjoys it as well. Thanks!

  • My husband’s favorite dish. I always put peas in (add some nice color) and sometimes I will include other vegetables I have on hand. Thanks for the great recipe.

  • I have never in my opinion made a beef stew that was a hit with the family. I will absolutely make this feel good recipe with the Le Creuset Oval French Oven if I win one in the sweepstakes! 🙂

  • I love this recipe! It’s so easy to make and it’s perfect for the cold days in the winter. It certainly warms my tummy and my soul. I love the fact that, there are only a few ingredients and this dish turned so flavorful and hearthy. hm…I guess it would be perfect to cook in the Le Creuset Oval French Oven too. 😉 Hope I can win one. Thanks for a chance to win.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  • Thank you for the beef stew recipe, which is simple to make and tasty to eat. This dish is a keeper!

    • — Susan Richards
    • Reply
  • Made this today and my house never smelled so good!!! My family ate it for dinner tonight and LOVED it–even my 2yr old and 5yr old gobbled it up! So easy to make-Thanx!!

  • Added applewood smoked bacon for a refreshing smoky flavor. Overall solid recipe.

  • […] I actually found this recipe doing a Google search and it showed up in the top few results.  The Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes recipe from the Once Upon a Chef blog leveled whatever recipes I have in cookbooks, stuffed in […]

  • I have made this at least five times since it was posted last winter. For years I prepared Julia’s beef burgundy, but this is now my family’s favorite. Used fingerling potatoes this week; you can’t go wrong. Amazing flavor, the BEST beef stew recipe ever!!! Thanks, Jenn!!!

  • This makes me long for a heavy snowfall, but none yet here in L.A. Looks delicious+++++!

    Like the new website.

  • Hi Jeannine, You can replace the wine with more beef stock. Hope that helps!

  • I can’t have alcohal in my food, what should i replace it with??

  • Just made this for tomorrow night but after one bite my wife and decided we needed to check this out right away!

  • When I asked my husband this week for dinner ideas, he suggested stew. “OH NO!” I thought…

    I found this recipe when browsing pinterest for ideas and decided to try it. This was THE BEST stew I have ever had, and I don’t even like stew! I will definitely pass this recipe on to friends.

    Thank you SO SO SO SO much for sharing and for changing the way I think about stew!

  • We made this recipe yesterday and I am glad we did! Best stew we’ve ever had 🙂 Thank you for sharing the recipe.

  • Made this couple days ago-easy to make and soooo delicious–very tender, and my husband just could not get enough. Great heated up the next day. Yummy-the best beef stew we have ever had-thanks for sharing!

  • Best beef stew EVER. You are the cooking goddess!I love this website. I am a registered dietitian and I find myself bringing up your website on my cellphone to show to friends, relatives, and clients.

    • — Sheryl Rosenberg Thouin
    • Reply
  • This recipe looks delicious! I can’t wait to make this, but — I do not have a cast iron pot (or any large pot that can go into the oven). Do you have any suggestions on how to cook this solely on the stove, or do you believe that will change the flavor? Thanks!

    • Hi Cynthia, It is fine to simmer the stew on the stovetop. Just stir every so often so the bottom doesn’t stick and burn.

  • I have officially thrown out all my other beef stew recipes in favor of this one! Absolutely dreamy, and so easy! Thanks!

  • Hey Jenn- I made this Saturday- awesome! thank you!

  • This made my mouth water. Your version looks much simpler then Julia Childs!

  • Made this on Saturday to serve on Sunday. My son was crazy about it. Had two big bowls full and took some home with him. Definitely a hit. I brought some to work with me for lunch today! Thanks!

  • I can`t stop looking at this! It`s absolutely divine and I want to try this…

    Have a great time,
    Paula

  • Gorgeous family! Thanks for sharing.

  • Well timed recipe, thanks. And your family is just gorgeous!!!

  • I love beef and I love this recipe…

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