Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes
We had the best snow day last week…school was cancelled, work wasn’t happening and the only thing to do was hunker down in the house or go outside to play. With little kids, we didn’t have much choice, so we dug our saucers and sleds out of the garage, bundled up and invited friends over for a day of sledding. Not surprisingly, the boys (and I’m including husbands in this category) took charge of the fun, creating a luge-like course on a steep hill in our backyard and risking life and limb to see who could get to the bottom the fastest. When we finally came back inside, it was almost dark and everyone was starving. By chance, I’d made a big pot of this beef stew the day before so we warmed it up in the oven for an impromptu dinner party. Everyone agreed: it hit the spot.
It’s a classic French beef stew, otherwise known as Beef Bourguignon. The meat is seared in olive oil first, then slowly braised with garlic and onions in a wine-based broth. After a few hours in the oven, the meat becomes meltingly tender and enveloped in a rich, deeply flavored sauce.
It takes some time to make (about an hour of active cooking), but I promise you it’s well worth the effort. Aside from being delicious, it’s a one pot meal that feeds a crowd. You can also make it a day ahead—in fact, you should because the flavor improves the longer it sits.
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. As someone who has fed an entire pot of leathery stew to her dog, I can guarantee you it will not get tender, no matter how long you cook it.
The first step is to season the meat generously with salt and pepper and brown it in batches in a large, heavy pot. This caramelizes the meat, which adds depth and dimension to the stew.
Next, add the onions, garlic and balsamic vinegar to the pot. The vinegar will loosen all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan and coat the onions and garlic.
Add the tomato paste, then toss the beef back into the pan with the flour. Pour the wine, stock, water and spices over the meat, then cover with a lid and braise in the oven for two hours.
Towards the end of cooking, add your carrots and potatoes (this prevents them from getting mushy)…
Cook an hour more, until the vegetables are cooked and the meat is almost falling apart.
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 sauteed mushrooms at the very end.
This is soul-satisfying comfort food for a cold night. Enjoy!
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Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless beef chuck (well-marbled), cut into 1-1/2-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
- 1-1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups dry red wine
- 2 cups beef broth (I like the Pacific organic brand)
- 2 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into one-inch chunks on a diagonal
- 1 pound small white boiling potatoes (baby yukons), cut in half
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F with rack in middle.
- Pat beef dry and season salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering. Brown meat in 3 batches, turning with tongs, about 5-8 minutes per batch, adding one tablespoon more oil for each batch. (To sear meat properly, do not crowd the pan and let meat develop brown crust before turning with tongs.) Transfer meat to a large plate and set aside.
- Add onions, garlic and balsamic vinegar; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape brown bits from bottom of pan, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook a few minutes more. Add beef with juices back to pan and sprinkle with flour; stir with wooden spoon until flour is dissolved, 1-2 minutes. Add wine, beef broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, and sugar; stir with wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits from bottom of pan and bring to a boil. Cover pot with lid, transfer to preheated oven and braise for 2 hours.
- Remove pot from oven and add carrots and potatoes. Cover and place back in oven for 50-60 minutes more, or until vegetables are cooked and meat is very tender. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of sugar go a long way). Let cool, then store in refrigerator overnight or until ready to serve. This stew improves in flavor if made at least 1 day ahead. Reheat, covered, over medium heat or in a 350°F oven. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 539
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Sugar: 8g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 54g
- Sodium: 1189mg
- Cholesterol: 143mg
Reviews & Comments
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Wow, just wow. Absolutely delicious! I lost all hope of ever making a rich flavourful stew but this recipe is insane. I’m so glad I found you Jen!
This is hands down the best beef stew I have ever had. (And I followed it exactly). My husband agrees. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
Amazing recipe, thanks for sharing. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed it, especially since it is beginning to be cold!
I added Worcestershire sauce to give it a little bit more of a kick!
This was my first attempt at making a stew, and I must say it turned out quite tasty!! Even though I was not able to cook it exactly as called for, due to the fact that I just don’t have the cooking equipment. Instead of finishing it in the stove I had to leave it on the burner, and just let it simmer for a few hours occasionally stirring.
I have since modified the way I cook the recipe even further… My family is outdoorsy and it gives me access to things like Elk meat, so for this run at it, I left out the wine and added an 8oz can of tomato paste. I also added one Red Bell pepper, and a few good shakes of Cayenne to add a little spice and it turned out Delicious 🙂
This recipe looks absolutely delicious. I have planned to make it for myself and my boyfriend tomorrow for dinner. However, would it be possible to cook this Beef Stew in a Crockpot after searing off the beef? If so, how long would I cook the stew and would I cook it on high or low? Thank you so much. I love your cooking blog. My boyfriend and I have tried multiple recipes and they have all be fantastic.
Sure, Taylor. I’m guessing 5 hours on low or until the beef is tender. Please LMK how it turns out!
Our first cool weather meal of the season and it was great! I added a sweet potato and the sauteed mushrooms and served with egg noodles. Definitely a keeper!
This is an absolutely perfect beef stew recipe! I didn’t have to change a thing, just added some buttered Italian bread. My husband, a long time lover of beef stew, thought it was fantastic! Will definitely make again.
This is the first recipe of yours I’ve tried and I’m not disappointed! I’ve never had a stew turn out so flavourful before. Thanks so much for sharing. Even my boyfriend, who HATES stew, is a fan.
This recipe was wonderful! It had a lot of depth and flavor. I added sweet potatoes instead of regular ones as I paired the stew with mashed potatoes. I followed the directions up to braising in the oven. Instead, I put everything in the Crock Pot on high for 5 hours. During the last hour is when I added the carrots and sweet potatoes. My whole family enjoyed it immensely! Thanks for a great recipe; I can’t wait to try more!
We absolutely love this! It’s the perfect comfort food and it’s great leftover. My daughter, husband and I all look forward to this. It’s great to make for a small group or to have for leftovers to take to lunch or for dinner the next day. We really like having a lot of “sauce” to pull it together so we usually up the liquid (water, wine and beef broth) to 2.5 c. It doesn’t seem to effect the taste and helps make sure we have a lot of the yummy goodness that is the sauce per serving. The seasonings are perfection. Love, love this!
This stew was delicious! I followed the recipe almost to the letter and it turned out great. I added just a little bit of ketchup at the end to give it an extra savory kick. Great recipe!!
i have made this stew several times first time with tri tip it was delicious than t here after the chuck as per jen’s receipe…listen to the chef..outstanding..its easy and all i can say super delicious..chuck was tender and mouth watering…bon appetit a bottle of merlot or cab would be splendid…pat
I only had chix stock, but followed the rest of recipe, will it b ok? It in oven now. Thank you.
Yes, Cathy – it will still be delicious!
Family raved about how tender and tasty the stew was! This was a very successful dish.
If I only have about 1 pound of meat, would the cooking times still be the same? I’ve scaled back all the other ingredients.
Yes, Alyson, cooking time would remain the same. Enjoy!
If you enjoy vaguely beef flavored red wine, I guess you’ll like it.
Rude and uncalled for. The stew was fantastic…i added purple cabbage, peas and dumplings. My man thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved every bite. My man is Caribbean and I am a black Canadian and we couldn’t have been more pleased.
Sincerely, Demarrah BROOKS
This has been my “new” stew recipe for about a year now! Used to use dad’s, but it definitely lacked the flavor this one packs! The flavors are so deep and delicious and the directions are perfect. Describing the best cut of meat to use, and each step explained and even put into photos! I’m making this again tonight simply because I am craving it!
I followed the recipe exactly as written and added corn and mushrooms. My dear hubby just kept saying “Oh My”….I think that he really liked it (so did I) Thanks for a great dinner!
Does this recipe freeze well?
It does!
Awesome stew! Added can of diced tomatoes with green peppers and onion. Used my nephews red skinned potatoes from his garden. Served with olive bread from local bakery.
How do I make this for 100 people, soup kitchen style? Thanks
Wow, that’s a lot of stew! You’d need to multiply the recipe by 16 or 17. I’d suggest making several separate batches. Maybe triple the recipe and make 6 batches of the tripled recipe. It will involve more time and labor but is still likely the most realistic way to make that much. If you don’t have enough room in your oven for a triple batch, you can cook the stew entirely on the stove. Good luck!
Can this be done in a slow cooker? I am looking for recipes for my elderly father who is not handy in the kitchen. If this could be done in a crockpot, that would be wonderful!
Hi Vicki-Lynn, The stew is much better when the beef is seared first on the stovetop, but if that’s not possible a slow cooker will be fine. Hope that helps!
My kids absolutely love this stew. Amazing flavor. Follow the recipe to a T, especially the initial browning of the meat. It works best when you braise in the oven but in a pinch I have slow cooked it when a dutch oven wasn’t avaiable.
Awesome!
Have you ever tried this over a campfire or on a hot set of coals? I’m assuming you would have to increase your cooking time? Would you recommend cooking this in a camp Dutch oven?
Hi Natalie, I can’t say that I have! If you want this for a campout, I would suggest fully preparing it at home and then reheating it over a campfire. (It may take a while, so make sure you’ve got plenty of wood 🙂
I’ve made this recipe a few times now and it’s my go-to for beef stew. It takes a while, but is worth it. I sometimes increase the quantities and freeze for later.
I can not eat garlic or onions (or hot peppers). Before I try this recipe simply omitting them any suggestions on herbs to try? Thanks in advance. I just found your site – first up will be the brownies!!!
Hi Christine, Glad you found the site! the garlic and onions definitely add a lot of flavor to this stew, but some potential substitutes for them include fennel or celery. Also, you may find this article helpful.
Should the stew be runny or thick ? Mine seems to be runny ?
Hi Heather, It should be a little thick — somewhere between gravy and broth. It doesn’t fully thicken until the very end of the cooking time, so you may need to simmer it a bit longer.
Would love to make this recipe except I don’t have a casserole dish big enough. Can it be done in a big pan instead on the stove. Would the cooking time change?
Hi Karly, You can fully prepare this in a pot on the stove. The cooking time wouldn’t change. Hope you enjoy!
This was a very good dish hands down!
Absolutely the best beef stew I’ve ever made/had! The flavors go so well together, and the meat just falls apart. I found this recipe a couple months ago, and this is my 3rd time making it. Thanks for the wonderful recipe. If you’re looking for a great beef stew, stop looking and go buy these ingredients immediately. You won’t be sorry.
I just looove making your recipes. Thankyou!!!
Odd question : but can I halve the recipe and it still turns out okay? I only have 1 1/2 pounds of meat but I really wanna make this! Also: what will happen to the cooking time in the oven? Still the same?
Thank you Jenn!
Glad you like the recipes, Sarah! Sure, you can halve the recipe; just make sure to use a smaller pot. The cooking time would be about the same. Enjoy!
Will you always specify when to use a fan forced oven in your recipes. I have just added the vegetables to the stew in the oven and my husband has advised he thinks I should have the fan on as I’ve been cooking without it for the last 2 hours! Eeek help please
Hi Emma, I’m assuming you’re referring to the oven’s convection setting when you mention the fan? If so, I test and publish all my recipes with the assumption that the convection setting will NOT be used (b/c not everyone has that functionality for their oven). Hope you enjoyed the stew!
Hi Jenn!
I’ve been looking for a recipe that would be as good as my Mama’s for years! (With tender beef, potatoes, carrots & savory garlic) Upon reading so many spectacular reviews I believe this is probably it!♡♡
I have one question, would the flavor be just as special if I used agave (or possibly a touch of honey if it’s a no on the agave) instead of regular sugar?
Blessings!
PS. Your family is so beautiful! 🙂
Hi Sandra, thanks for the kind words about my family! You could use just a touch of honey in place of the sugar, or you could just omit the sugar. It’ll still be delicious. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jen, Can I replace the wine with something nonalcoholic? Also, if I don’t have the herbs in the recipe, can I just use either mixed Italian herbs or oregano? Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks! -Alia
Hi Alia, you can replace the wine with additional beef broth and you could get away with using mixed Italian herbs here (but don’t skip the salt and pepper). Hope you enjoy!
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I am making it tonight and wanted to know if you could recommend a wine preference for this dish? It states “dry red wine”. What kind do you use?
Hi Carrie, You can use any dry red, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, etc. I’ve made it with all of the above and I promise it doesn’t make much difference. The main thing is to just use something inexpensive but still good enough to drink. Hope you enjoy it!
This is simply the best stew we have ever had!!
We add rutabaga with the potatoes and carrots. Yumm
Made this a couple of times now. Good flavors and good flexibility! Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you Jenn!!!! I have searched and searched for a great beef stew recipe. My hubs loves to make a good beef stew and would take the lead if I found a recipe. Each time, we would find it lacking. Not this time!!!! So super good. It is everything a stew should be: full of rich, deep flavor; tender, and saucy for dipping crunchy Italian bread! Next time, we are serving it over polenta! I have tried several of your recipes and they haven’t failed. Great site!
Sooooo good! This is the only beef stew recipe I use now.
I need to make a large batch for a father’s and son’s camp out. Can I double or triple the recipe? Or should I make it in three separate batches and then just combine in one big pot?
Jeffrey, feel free to double or triple the recipe if you have a pot that’s big enough!
This was excellent! My hubby has said that it is excellent at least 7 times tonight. ?
This is thee most delicious stew I’ve ever tasted. I added some biscuits with cheese and it was the perfect compliment. I did add celery too… perfect little red potatoes. YUM!
How would this be done in the pressure cooker? Cannot wait to make it 🙂
Hi Mel, I’ve never prepared this in a pressure cooker, but another reader commented that she did with really good results. If you look for Kamaria’s comments from November 1, 2016, she gives a pretty detailed rundown of what she did.
This is too good! I simplified it a bit to fit to a midweek dinner:
https://bulachki.com/recipe/perfect-beef-stew/
I think I’ve made it about 10 times in the past month, thank you for this great recipe!
This was delicious! I added chunky mushrooms and fresh green beans.
I have made this a number of times and each time it has been a huge hit. I have used stewing beef and increased the cooking time and it has been tender and favorful! In fact, my husband now asks, “What’s Jen making for dinner tonight?” If I say your beef stew, it puts a huge smile on his face.
Thanks, Jen.
I love this recipe! I use mini potatoes and baby carrots to cut down on vegetable prep. I also made the mistake the first time of using a red that was high in sugar as it was all I had on hand- it still tasted delicious but was definitely sweeter than expected. I’ve tried a drier wine this time. Super easy and great flavours!!!
This is an amazing beef stew recipe. Definitely use the chuck roast – I questioned it, but it is so, so good with it. I usually use the entire carton of beef broth instead of the water, just so I don’t waste. Still tastes great! Thanks for all the fabulous recipes! You are the only chef I trust not to have to preview recipes for company!
Can I add potatoes and carrots when braising for two hours so as not to take so long?
Hi Mary, the extra 50 – 60 minutes (after you put the potatoes/carrots in) are necessary for the beef as well, so I wouldn’t skip that step- sorry!
This is terrific!! Made it several times and the flavor is wonderful!
This is my go to beef stew recipe. I have made this several time and is always good. It has great flavor. I live in house of boys so hearty beef dinners are always a favorite.
Absolutely the best beef stew recipe I have ever made! The meat was perfect and I totally agree, must have nice marbling! The sauce was delicious and perfect. I made it with vegetarian type beef for my husband and he couldn’t believe how wonderful it was.
Thank you for making the directions so easy to follow. I love everything about your website and know that your recipes are all 5 stars!
Hi. Can I substitute balsamic vinegar with wine? And if yes, is it 1-1 ratio? Thanks
Yes, that’s perfectly fine Larisa. (And 1-1 is right.)
I’ve been making beef stew for over 40 years. This is the absolutely best recipe I’ve ever made!
Best beef stew recipe I’ve come across. The balsamic vinegar adds such a great depth of flavor and acid. Best! All of my guests raved about it.
This recipe is disgusting and WAY too much red wine. Wouldn’t recommend ever.
Why was it disgusting….in what way…..?
So tasty and easy!
Great recipe! Thank you!
Fantastic recipe!!!! Easy and Tasty!!!
Can this be cooked in a dutch oven on top of the stove or must it be in the cooked in the oven?
I question thinking it will be too heavy for me to lift in and out of the oven. Thanks so much. Looks great!!!!
Yes Sue, you can completely cook it in the stove if you prefer. Hope you enjoy!
This was amazing… Everyone loved it. . I highly recommended it.
One chilly, dreary day this winter I was craving a delicious Stew. I Googled beef stew and Jenn’s recipe popped up. I am so happy that I discovered it. Have made it four times. Using Jenn’s methods to tenderize the meat, it was a happy surprise to find the beef chunks to be melt in your mouth tender. I add several other vegetables to the stew; however, nothing else from original recipe is changed. Cannot recommend strongly enough. Incredible!
Hi Jen!
Do you think this recipe could work with lamb? I have some non-beef eaters but this sounds so good! (Allergic to your lamb stew recipe :/ )
Thank you!!!
Yes Bri, that would work!
I have this in the oven now. I haven’t tasted it but I give it 5 stars based on the great instructions and smell! I’m sure I will like it too though! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your recipes and stories. I love your website!
Can this beef stew be prepared in a slow cooker?
Hi Olu, I haven’t made this in a slow cooker, but it can be done. I’d suggest searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait). Enjoy!
Will this work with red or green peppers added? if so, do I just throw them in with the carrots and potatoes?
Yes and yes!
You have a beautiful family and a great recipe! I did omit the paste as I didn’t have any on hand, and I used a little red wine vinegar as I had no wine either. But it was delicious! My fussy eaters loved it. I also made mashed potatoes as the kids shy away from one pot meals. This was a hit!
FABULOUS!! I am a veteran making Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon and this is just as good and a TON easier. I did make it the day before and added more beef stock and no water. I added peas and a lot of mushrooms. Served with french bread. Delicious and definitely a keeper. Bravo.
What side dish is served with beef stew?
Hi Gladys, It’s really a meal in one but a green vegetable, like peas or string beans, would be nice. I also like to serve it with good bread and a salad, especially this one.
This recipe creates a delicious stew. I have made this twice now and I followed the directions to the letter the first time and deviated just a tad the second time in order to thicken it a bit. Although I traditionally think of a stew as a bit thicker I must say that I kinda prefer the original recipe as the taste of the broth, wine and spice comes through a little more vibrantly. Either way though it is one of the best beef stew dishes that I have produced. Thanks!
This stew is amazing. My family is obsessed. Just one thing I changed is I added more carrots. This is definitely a new winter staple. Thanks !!!!
I definitely agree with all the reviews; this recipe is absolutely amazing. The beef was so tender and just melts in your mouth.
My suggestion is after adding carrots and potatoes, bring the stew to boil before returning it to the oven.
Fabulous stew. I did use a frozen sirloin roast which “needed to be used” for the meat and only 1 cup red wine. It does take time to prepare but the taste is worth it.
I will definitely make this again for my family or for company. Thanks for a very detailed recipe that is easy to follow and produces a wonderful entree.
I don’t have any large dishes that can go in the oven… Would this work on the stove alone? If so, how long would you suggest?
Yes, it’s totally fine to simmer it on the stove. Just follow the same timing as that for the oven. Hope you enjoy it!
This was the best beef stew that I have every made. I prepared it for a pot luck at work and it was a total hit. The method for preparation is different from what I am used to but it works very well.
This will be my go to recipe.
I don’t have wine or any alcohol. What is a good substitute?
Wren, you can just replace the wine with more beef broth. Enjoy!
This “beef stew” is absolutely divine! I served it for my husband’s birthday party. My only change was to add another carrot and wine.
This is by far the best and easiest beef stew I have ever tried. Lots of flavor. Up until I found this receipt I was unable (although I tried) to make a good beef stew. Mine was usually flavorless or the meet was hard as a rock. I’ve made this recipe several times and have served it to guests, most recently on Christmas Eve, and they all loved it. I highly recommend it!!!!!!
What oven temp do i use
Hi Donna, the oven gets set to 325°F. Hope you enjoy!
Thank you I found it when I read the directions again
I made this yesterday and I’m not sure I have ever tasted anything better in my life. I did omit the sugar as I’ve never enjoyed any savory recipe to which I added sugar and I used almond flour instead of regular flour as I am gluten free but followed everything else to a T. At the end, I sprinkled some dried minced garlic on the top which added an extra pop to it. I believe this will be my go to recipe for family nights moving forward. Amazing!!
Made this yesterday. I have made many different beef stew and boeuf bourguignon, they can take hours to make and this one wasn’t short on time but very manageable. It is the best one I’ve ever made (ok tie with the Julia Child one but it takes hours to make). We had it yesterday and I think we’ll have it again today, as mentioned the flavours will be enhanced. I added mushrooms that I browned in cast iron and one celery rib.
Can this be cooked on the stove instead of the oven?
Yep– hope you enjoy!
could I cook this in a crock pot?
Hi Chloe, I haven’t made this in a slow cooker, but it can be done. I would suggest searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait).
This is super delicious! I made it once exactly as written and I was all set to make it yesterday when something came up and I couldn’t stay home for the three hours it needs to cook. I decided to try it in my stovetop pressure cooker because I’m determined to master that thing. In case anyone’s interested, this is what I did:
Followed the directions up until adding the tomato paste, then I also added the flour and wine and let it simmer a few minutes until thickened, scraping the bottom of the pan. Transferred that onion mixture, the beef, broth and spices to the pressure cooker, brought it up to pressure and cooked for 24 minutes (I have a cheap pot that only gets to 11.6 psi, so adjust accordingly).
I quick released the pressure, added the veggies, brought it back up to pressure and cooked for 12 minutes, then released the pressure by the natural release method.
Then I had to go out and all I could think about was eating that stew! It was sooo good!
(Also I did not use the sugar and I didn’t miss it.)
I loved it; my family loved it; my extended family loved it and it was a special treat to welcome my world traveling cousin home! Depth of flavor, overall ease of preparation and presentation all serve to make this recipe another winner from OUAC. Now it’s turned in to a regular meal for our family and many folks have asked for the recipe. Served with roasted butternut squash and onions and then steamed broccoli as the other side dish.
I have never had a beef stew I liked let alone loved! This is soooo good I would serve it at a dinner party! My husband is on a low carb diet, so I served it over your recipe for pureed cauliflower. AWESOME! I licked the bowl. 🙂
Since this is a bit time consuming to make, and very well worth it btw, I was interested in it’s freezability (is that a word?) Thanks for sharing your hard work!
So glad you liked it, Kerry! And yes, it freezes very nicely :).
Superb!!!
This was one of the best stew recipes! I made it minus the wine – just added a little more water/broth, also along with carrots and potatoes I added some fresh tomatoes – place them in hot water and skin them prior, and pickles – I know this sounds weird but actually adds a great flavor to stew.
This was the best beef stew I have ever made. It had a rich depth of flavor. The beef was melt in your mouth tender. I made it exactly as the recipe states and it was perfect. Just what you need on a cold winter day!
I made this delicious beef stew as a change-up from my customary ‘5 hour stew’ that uses Campbell’s tomato soup The flavor was exquisite, but I found my potatoes and carrots were not quite done in the stated time and the gravy was thin I was more than willing to overlook all of this because the flavor was that incredible!
Hi Kathryn, glad you enjoyed it! I’d suggest letting it simmer a bit longer next time so the vegetables can get more tender (and remove the pot lid toward the end to thicken up the gravy.
I didn’t have beef broth on hand, but I had beef stock. Is that ok?
Sure!
This recipe is hands down the BEST beef stew I’ve ever had! It takes some time to prepare but it’s easy and completely worth the wait. My picky eaters gobble it up – the meat always turns out so tender and flavorful! This has earned an honored spot in the rotation, we love it,and i love throwing it all together and then running off for awhile knowing magic will be there when i get back. Thanks so much for this delicious treat!
EXCELLENT beef stew/ the meat melts in your mouth- just the way I like it. Very flavorful!
Best Beef Stew Ever!
I made this for my family, I also have two young boys and they also loved this dinner. I wont make it any other way now. Hands down this is delicious!
Recently I began cooking Hungarian goulash for my Czech hubby. The recipe calls for caraway seeds. I have become totally addicted to them in beef dishes and added a pinch. For some reason these odd little seeds add depth to everything! Do you use them at all?
I do like them, Kim, but I can’t say I use them very much.
what can I substitute for red wine? thank you linda
Hi Linda, you could just use additional beef broth here. Hope you enjoy!
I made this stew for my mother’s birthday. Not only did it taste delicious, but it looked great. It became an instant favorite in our house. Thanks for the note about selecting well-marbled cuts of beef. I’m a bit of a rookie in the kitchen and have tried to make stew before using beef labeled “stew meat” at the grocery store. Since trying this recipe, I have learned that all “stew meats” are not created equal. The proper cut of meat made all the difference!
Fantastic Stew! I have made beef stew for years but this one really shines. I loved the balsamic vinegar in it; it added a depth of flavor that was wonderful. It is now my go-to beef stew recipe.
We truly enjoy this beef stew, it’s now our favorite recipe when making this for dinner. The red wine is wonderful! I’m wondering what the best way is to trim fat from the meat, though? It’s usually a lot of work for me to do that part!
Hi Susan, Glad to hear this has become your favorite stew recipe! I wouldn’t worry about the fat as most of it cooks off. If you feel strongly about having it removed, I would encourage you to ask your butcher. They will remove the excess fat for you. Definitely a nice convenience!
Absolutely love this stew-the only adaptations I have made are to use sweet potatoes or yams instead of regular potatoes and I use an entire carton (900ml) of beef broth and only 1/2 cup of water. I especially love drinking the “leftover wine”( I didn’t even realize there was such a thing!?) while the stew is in the oven!
Hi! Made this and greatly enjoyed. Have you ever prepared it in a crock pot? Would like to fix for a large group and was hoping I could go this route…
Thanks
So glad you enjoyed it! I haven’t made this in a slow cooker, but it can be done. I would suggest searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait).
I’m making for the first time and came to peel and smash garlic. Once you “smash” the garlic do you just throw it in the pan?
Yep!
Making beef stew for 90 people bought 30lbs of meat. How many pounds of potatoes, celery and carrots and onions do I need?
Hi Marion, it sounds like you multiplied the meat by 10, so I’d suggest the same for the veggies. Hope everyone enjoys!
I’ve made this stew at least a dozen times and it is always incredible. The first few times, I made it exactly as written. Ultimately, 2 cups of wine was just a little too strong for our tastes (and we love wine!) so I’ve started replacing one cup of wine with an extra cup of broth. Still just as flavorful and delicious. Sooo worth the prep time.
I have tried several different beef stew recipes over several years and have never found one that I would be willing to make a second time – until now! This is simply the best beef stew ever! It has a delicious, rich flavor with just the right balance of seasoning. My husband absolutely loved it!
This is the best beef stew recipe I have every made, and my family agrees. The many times I have made it we have eaten it the same day, rarely have we waited until the next day because it just smells so good while it cooks! I double the broth on occasion and serve it over egg noodles. Recently my daughter was sick and she asked if I could just make the broth for this recipe, it was the only thing that sounded good to her to eat!
Absolutely fabulous; this is my go-to beef stew recipe when it is freezing out or better yet snowing. I’ve made it both with wine and beef broth with great results. The beef chuck is extremely tender. Most stews taste better after a day, but this one is excellent right off the stove. Thanks!
Freezes well also – there really wasn’t enough but I wanted to test that 🙂
Thank you for this recipe! My only critique was that I found it had far too much wine/vinegar/tomato paste for my taste – resulted in a strongly tangy and acidic broth that I had to doctor and replace quite a bit, despite the use of good quality wine. However, the method and other ingredients were spot on. This is the most well explained beef stew recipe I’ve been able to find and I will make it again …but with less wine 🙂
Best Stew we have had ! Like just having the carrots and potatoes ……not too busy with mushrooms celery turnip etc altho we do turnips on the side :c)
Go to recipe !!
TY
Jen, my ex loved nearly everything I made, but your beef stew recipe was ‘the best thing he’d he ever eaten’! Moaning and groaning the whole time he was eating! Even made me hide leftovers from the grands the next day! Been following you ever since! (You were my first!) Many thanks!
I won’t like, this recipe is tedious but all really good beef bourguignon-like stews are. That being said. this recipe is amazing and worth the effort. If you are going to the trouble of making it though, you might as well double (or triple it – yes it does that that much longer to brown the meat in batches but if you can pull these out of the freezer and enjoy this amazing meal a second time without having to prepare it… trust me, just do it). I’d serve it with a crusty french bread good for dipping but other than that, it doesn’t need anything else because its all in the stew.
This is by far the best beef stew I have ever had. The rich flavor is beyond compare. My wife’s family made a soup that they called a stew. After I served them this dish they now know the difference. I followed the recipe exactly as written. Wouldn’t change a thing. DELICIOUS!!!
After years of trying, and never loving a beef stew recipe,…I’ve finally found ‘my’ beef stew! Perfection! Not over complicated, but so full of flavor! I’ve made it three times in the last month!
Delicious stew for a Canadian winter night. I made minor changes , adding some smoked paprika , splash of worcestershire and a spring of fresh rosemary along with fresh thyme. I added some celery and parsnips to go with the carrots and potatoes. Served it to a foodie and was told it was the best stew he had ever had.
The best Beef Stew ever! I have made this dish twice and received rave reviews. My only complaint is there are never any leftovers because everyone loves it so much. I followed Jenn’s recommendation and bought a whole chuck roast which my husband gladly cut up for me. The meat comes out so tender and it is a complete dinner.
This was the best beef stew I’ve ever had – even beat out my grandma’s amazing stew (forgive me, Granny!) My boyfriend thought the pieces of vegetables/meat were too large, but I found that part of the visual appeal and wouldn’t change a thing. If you are feeding a family with small kids, maybe consider making the portions a bit more bite sized.
My whole family loved this beef stew! The meat came out super tender and moist. The sauce was smooth and delicious (not too thick.). I followed the recipe as written except for starting with sautéing some thick sliced bacon, draining most of the drippings and then browning the meat. Added the bacon back to the stew at the end. Definitely will make again.
I made this fabulous stew AGAIN this past Sunday. It is absolutely delicious and a perfect recipe. YUM!
Hi Jenn, I am going to make your amazing beef stew again, but this time for 8 people. Can you tell me how I should adjust accordingly for 8: meat/carrot/potato quantity, as well as liquids and seasonings?
And…if you suggest I double the recipe: can I do it in my large le creuset (which is what I use for the standard 6 serving) or make it in 2 pots? Any advice would be great!
Thanks, Sarah
Hi Sarah, you could just make 1 1/2 times the recipe which will render about 9 servings. (You’d just need to multiply all the ingredients by 1.5.) You could double it as well. If you do, you’re likely to have leftovers, but they freeze beautifully! Regarding pot-size, you may need a larger pot than your le creuset. You could use two pots (and if oven space is an issue), you can prepare the whole thing on the stove.
I can’t believe how much better this classic stew turned out by braising in the oven!! Also suspect the balsamic vingear and red wine really added depth to this simple dish. I added button mushrooms & green peas at the end for added veggies. Great recipe, even kids went back for seconds! Thanks
I made this recipe as written , added sautéed shiitake mushrooms , this is the best stew I have ever made !
Found this recipe on-line today after googling “Beef Stew”. Looked at a few recipes and then decided on this…great choice! Followed recipe but did add a small can of sweet peas as my wife is a big fan of them. We thoroughly enjoyed this meal on this snowy Sunday evening and I will definitely make it again.
This was delicious, but I did not add potatoes and instead made it with lemon pepper papperadelle noodles. Yum! I also should have left out one of the cups of water (maybe more), because leaving out the potatoes caused the stew not to thicken very much. I corrected by adding 1.5 tablespoons of flour mixed smooth into a little cold water and then adding it into the liquid I had removed from the stew. When the noodles were cooked, I put some in each pasta bowl and poured a couple tablespoons over the noodles and jiggled them a bit to get it between the noodles to prevent sticking. Next I poured the remaining thickened liquid back into the stew, checked seasoning and heat, and dished the stew over the noodles to serve. It was very close to a stroganoff served this way – only without mushrooms.
Great recipe, other than serving over rice I change nothing. I will definitely be making this one again. Thank you….
Hi Jenn, I stumbled upon your website and this recipe looks great! However, I only have tapioca starch so could I use that as a substitute for the corn starch? Also, will it make a big difference to the taste if I omit the tomato paste? I have no access to the tube kind so opening one can to use a few teaspoon seems such a waste. Any substitute? Thanks!
Hi Lind, Tapioca starch would be fine here. If you don’t want to open a can of tomato paste, you could use canned crushed tomatoes instead. A good way to avoid wasting tomato paste if you only use part of the can is to freeze the rest. You can divide it into tablespoon-sized portions, put them into an ice cube tray and freeze them. Once frozen, you can wrap them individually, put back into the freezer and use as needed. Hope you enjoy the stew!
It looks great but to soupy I am adding the vegetables can I add cornstarch ??
Hi Jackie, It should thicken up nicely by the end. If you’d like it thicker, you can add a bit of cornstarch mixed with water.
I followed the recipe pretty much as written and it came out great. Best beef stew recipe I’ve ever made. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely great! Cooked stew on stovetop, slow cooker and now in oven. Oven cooked meat was the most tender by far. Left out the wine and sugar and added celery, cherry tomatoes and a can of mushroom soup. Balsamic vinegar added an interesting touch. Heated up at work for lunch and was asked for the recipe. Will definitely use this recipe again.
do you have to peel the baby yukon potatoes?
No- no need to peel them. Enjoy the stew!
Is it a possibility at all do do this all via stove top?
Yes, Joanne, yes, you can definitely simmer it on the stove. It would simmer for about 2 hours and then again for 50 – 60 minutes more after you’ve added the carrots and potatoes. Enjoy!
My family LOVED it!
Jenn, I just found Once Upon A Chef this week and made three of your recipes this weekend: Beef Stew, Best Blueberry Muffins and Grilled Chicken Fajitas! Everything was so good and I received lots of compliments from my friends and family! Thanks for the well written, easy to follow recipes and photos.
Hi Jenn,
Just for clarification on the slow cooker- do you add immediately after browning the meat and then add onions garlic wine etc to slow cooker or do you bring the ingredients with the meat to a boil then add to the slow cooker. Thanks!
Hi Lisa, I think you could get away with either, but I’d suggest getting to the point where you’re going to braise the stew before adding everything to the slow cooker. That way, you can scrape into the slow cooker all the tasty caramelized pieces that formed from the first several steps of prep.
Soooo tasty. I’ve made the same beef stew for years and enjoy it. It’s actually very close to this recipe with the exception of the balsamic which intrigued me. What a wonderful addition. It makes the stew. The only change I made was the meat. I cut-up some boneless short ribs I had and actually liked it better then the normal chuck or stew meat
Jen, thanks for all your great recipes. I can hardly wait fir your first cookbook
Can you substitute wine for?????
Hi Laurie, you can just use additional beef broth in place of the wine.
I’m looking forward to making this for my family later this week. Can you please recommend an alternative cut that would go well with this recipe? Thank you!
Hi Mari, I always recommend sticking with chuck for stew — nothing gets as tender!
Hi, will gold potoes cut in eighths work instead of mini yukons?
Sure!
My husband and I live in Utah. This is the best stew ever. This the sixth time we’ve made it over the past several months. Because we don’t keep alcoholic beverages of any kind in our home we use 4 cups of beef broth and two cups of water. The stew tastes magnificent despite the lack of wine. We look forward to the colder months so we can enjoy your stew. Thank you!!
Great flavors but meat was stringy although thoroughly cooked and easily broke apart. Butcher assured that meat was best chuck roast. What did I do wrong? I added salt to meat before browning. Would that have done it?
Thanks for any advice.
Hi Susan, sorry to hear that the meat was stringy– although the butcher said the meat was good, it could have been too lean. (The salting definitely wouldn’t have caused the problem.)
By stringy, do you mean like “jerked” or “pulled” meat? That is actually something I like very much because you can’t do it unless the meat is really tender. And if you’re using chicken, cubed chicken has no way to absorb a sauce and has a rubbery texture to my palate (which is off-putting). Just curious what you meant by too stringy?
I would Love to make this but only have semi sweet red wine. Would that be ok to use or should I go to the store? Thank you.
Hi Lisa, I think it’ll be much better with dry red wine; it’s worth making a trip to the store!
What about using a merlot if that’s all you have?
Hi Kathy, that would be fine. Enjoy the stew!
Can you cook this on the stove top? I don’t have an oven safe pot! (Plastic handles)
Yep!
How long, and how high heat would you suggest on the stove? Thank you!
Hi Lily, I’d set the heat so that the stew is lightly simmering on the stove. And the timing can stay the same as the oven timing (so for about 2 hours before you add the potatoes and carrots and 50 – 60 minutes after you’ve added them. Enjoy!
This was amazing! It’s EXACTLY what you want beef stew to taste like. The meat was falling apart completely — just the way I’d hoped! I think next time I will either omit the water or add a bit more flour to create a thicker sauce. I’ve been looking for that go-to stew recipe and I think I’ve found it! Thanks!!!
Great recipe! My family loved! Very delicious and tasty!
I used whole grain flour and decreased the sugar to 1/2 teaspoon for our liking. This is an amazing dish!!
Oh, and I also used grass fed round steak, and it still fell right apart!
I had never made a beef stew before and this was a BIG hit with everyone! As we’ve come to expect from this site. Thanks so much!!
Sara
I looked at several recipes before I decided to select this one for a very special memorial for my father, his soul rests. He rarely cooked but he would make the best French beef stew for his family of ten. This was definitely as good as I remember my dads. My family of 20 plus all loved it, including the kids and the very picky ones!!! It was very easy and got better through the week. I have made it 3 times in 2 weeks. If anybody doesn’t want to use wine, just use half grape juice and extra water or broth.
This is the best beef stew I’ve ever made! My husband is allergic to wine, so I used a little extra water and broth. I followed the rest of the recipe exactly and it turned out really great.
This is the BEST beef stew I have ever eaten! Thought to be delicious by all who had the good fortune to be seated at my dinner table.
Hi Jenn,
I decided to make your beef stew yesterday as written for my dinner party last night. It was amazing! I’m making it again today for a Sunday dinner when my parents come over! Thanks for sharing your delicious recipes. Love your website! xoxo
Sarah
Hi Jenn,
This recipe looks wonderful and I’m tempted to try this tomorrow morning. Sadly, I tried making my old guinness beef stew recipe and the meat is super tough and my carrots and potatoes are only halfway cooked through (despite being on simmer for 6hrs hoping to remedy the situation). My dinner party is tomorrow night. Ugh. I’m so disappointed. I was possibly going to dump my old stew and do yours tomorrow early morning. For 6 adults, should I double the recipe? Will the flavors be rich enough by 6:30 pm if made it in the morning? Am I better off searing the meat and then doing the 5-6 hour crockpot or instead do the stove/oven as in your instructions. Also, should I buy the meat as a whole piece and cut myself into cubes at home. I think that may have been part of my issue today. If I do the stove top/oven method and it’s “done” in the late AM, how do I store it during the day and then how to reheat? Can you tell I’m desperate ? 😉
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for all of the questions! I love your blog! I’m also serving your beet salad :)! Happy Friday!
Thanks, Sarah
Hi Sarah, Sorry to hear your first attempt at stew didn’t work out! Not sure if it’s too late to be answering your questions for my stew as your dinner party is in just over an hour! But for future reference… The recipe serves 6, so you wouldn’t really need to double it, but you would have just enough (so you could double it so that people could have seconds). I think either the stove/oven or the crock pot will work, but I’ve only made it using the stove/oven method. And you should buy one piece of chuck at the store, but you can have the butcher cut it into chunks if you’d like. And if you make the stew in the morning, refrigerate it for most of the day until close to dinnertime. Then you can reheat it on the stove until warmed through. Hope that helps!
Seriously! I don’t even like beef stew and I loved this!! My kids kept a asking for more. Sooo good. I halved the sugar otherwise didn’t change a thing!!
I’ve made this twice in the past few weeks, the second time to take to my mom and dad to treat them to dinner. My folks thought the stew was excellent, dad loved the tenderness of the beef, all in all they both loved it. What a great meal for a cold winter day! My mom is going to look up this recipe so she has it. Thank you for a easy great idea for dinner.
I made this for a Christmas party using elk tenderlion. (We are hunters up here in Montana!) I seared the meat very quickly on each side, leaving it rare in the center. I made the stew exactly as directed but omitted the meat for the braising period. Then, I put the stew and meat in the refriderator separately overnight. I added the elk meat the next day right before serving. It was wonderful and everyone asked for the recipe. My 14 year old hunter who harvested the elk was beaming with pride at all the attention. Thanks Jenn!
Absolutely delicious recipe! A much more elevated flavor profile than most beef stews. I’m very impressed and can’t wait to try some more recipes!
This recipe came out great. I did not add any water which made for a thick rich gravy. Excellent!
I love this recipe and have proudly served it many times. I do add mushrooms and have found using boneless short ribs definitely takes it to another level. A French friend recommended adding a touch of conqac, any reccommendations on how to add this? Thanks so much. John
So glad you like it! If you want to add cognac, add 1 – 2 Tbsp. about 10 minutes prior to removing it from the heat. It will make a nice finishing touch.
YUM-OLA. I’ve made this 6 or 7 times since I found it in October. It is always delicious. Thank you so much!
THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT RECIPE! My stew came out delicious! I will certainly make again.
Wow, I halved this recipe and it was absolutely fantastic! I learned the hard way that my oven runs way, WAY too hot, so 2 hours in I opened the pot to see almost all of the broth had steamed out, even with a tight fitting lid! Nothing wrong with her recipe – totally was my lack of knowledge of my oven temp. It was an easy fix — I simply filled the pot with more beef broth and another cup of red wine along with the vegetables, covered, and cooked as recommended in the oven for the remaining time. After the timer went off, I put the pot on the stove and mixed 1 tablespoon or so corn starch with 1/4c water or so and cooked on the stove until thickened to my liking. This was the the most amazing stew I’ve ever tasted. I let a couple of my coworkers try it and they insisted I forward them her recipe! The bf liked it so much, he requested we bring it to a friend’s family who’s in need of a hot meal. I can’t share this recipe enough! TRY IT!
Sooooo delicious!! Just ate a bowl, heading for seconds now ??.
Thank you for the recipe ?
Best stew I ever made.
Made it for a church group. a lot
of complimemts
I recently made this dish and it was THE BEST stew I have ever had. My family absolutely LOVED it!
Can I use this recipe with chicken? Would you change anything?
Hi Bonnie, So glad you enjoyed it! I don’t think I’d replace the beef with chicken as there are too many other things you’d need to change to make it work. Maybe you should try a coq au vin recipe if you’d like to use chicken. This one looks good and gets great ratings. (Keep in mind that I haven’t tried it myself!)
Thank you for an easy to follow and delicious recipe. I am not a talented cook; I have been spoiled as my husband has done the majority of the cooking for the past 27 years… He grew up cooking with his Italian-American relatives and is a great cook! I am between jobs for the first time in my life and decided it’s my turn to own dinner. This was my first attempt and it was a huge hit; we all all enjoyed this stew. (I did prepare the day before so the flavors would meld.) My husband and daughter were impressed and both agreed this was better than any version he has ever prepared. Trust me – they were not just being nice, so that is a big compliment to you, Jenn. Now my husband and I are searching posted recipes and planning other meals for me to tackle. Thank you again. Not only do the meals look delicious, the instructions are easy to follow and the pictures definitely will aid me in the process. Jenn – I know this must take tremendous time to manage this website. I truly appreciate your generosity to share these recipes.
Made a few days ago…exactly as the recipe is written….it is AWESOME! The best beef stew I have ever made! A lovely rich sauce! I do agree that making it the day before enhances the flavors. Thanks for a great recipe
Hi Jenn, I have made this recipe and absolutely love it but next time I would like more broth. I think I had less broth because I added extra carrots? Could I just add an extra cup each of broth, wine, and water? Or should I also tweak the flour and spices? Thank you for your amazing site!
Hi Melissa, Glad you like the stew! If you’d like to add more broth, wine and water, I’d recommend doubling the thyme,sugar and flour and adding an extra bay leaf. Hope that helps!
This was the best beef stew I’ve ever had. My family loved it and we ate every bite. Your directions and pictures were great and made it fun to cook! Can’t wait to try other recipes out.
Fabulous
Hi
Can I possibly serve it the same day it is made? I just put it in the oven and read the part of leaving it overnight 🙁
Hi Jackie, you can definitely serve it the same day- It will be delicious! It’s just even better the next day :).
Yum! I made this last night for my family. It was a cold, rainy day. Cooking this in the oven kept our kitchen nice and warm. What a treat it was to have such a delicious, hot dinner on such dreary day. The meat was tender and the flavor of the sauce was complex and delicious. We used sour dough bread to soak up every drop! I’m thinking that I’m going to make this for my dinner club. Thank you Jenn for ANOTHER fantastic recipe!
I have made a few different stews but I knew I hit a home run with this one. My hubby & son loved it. Needless to say, I have a keeper.
My problem now is i’am all ready to make it (at night because hubby works nights) I have realized I’m out of balsamic vinegar. Would omitting it alter the flavours?
So glad you enjoyed the stew. The balsamic vinegar really adds a nice boost to the flavors here, but you could substitute another vinegar, like red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar if you have one of those. Hope that helps!
A beef stew recipe I love is flavored with pinch of cloves or allspice. I suppose thyme is best with grape wines and vinegar?
Personally, I like thyme best here, but if you’re just adding a pinch of cloves or allspice, it certainly won’t change the recipe much.
Made this for dinner tonight. Yum! I used Killian Red (beer) instead of red wine, and decreased the overall amount of liquid added by about a cup. Simmered 2 hours on stove and then another 45 min. for vegs. Would probably have simmered it longer if I hadn’t gotten a late start. Was wondering, does the cast iron pot inside oven method require more liquid? Also, is there a substitute for potato you’d recommend?
Hi Mona, glad to hear you enjoyed it! The oven method shouldn’t require any more liquid assuming you have a good seal between the pot and the lid (so a lot of steam doesn’t escape). If you’d prefer not to use potatoes, you could double the carrots or use a different root vegetable like turnips or parsnips. A lot of readers have also added mushrooms and/or peas near the end of cooking.
I was in need of comfort food on Saturday and this hit the spot. The recipe was really easy to follow and the results tasted amazing. I love mushy stewed carrots, so I put my carrots in just after the beef instead of towards the end. I also added mushrooms because I adore mushrooms. I left out the sugar, and also left out the potatoes — I had cheesy mash on the side instead. This was the first time I made this recipe but I’m sure it won’t be the last, it was great! Thanks!
Hi
Can you tell me if you served it the day it was made? I just put it in the oven all excited to serve it tonight and realized the recipe called to let it sit in the fridge overnight before serving…
thanks so much
Jackie
This is THE best stew ever! The meat is so tender and the broth is amazing. I haven’t been able to make my former stew recipe (which was delicious, classic stew) since, because my husband and I love this one so much!
I am making this today. Can i finish it with the carrots an potatoes on top of stove?
Definitely- hope you enjoy!
Excellent. Had 1 lb. of stew beef so cut the recipe by 1/3 otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Will definitely do again.
This is by far, the best beef stew recipe I have ever had. The steps are clear and simple and the results were divine. Bursting with flavour. Thank you for the great recipe!
Hi, Jenn.
My mom and I made your stew for our Sunday dinner today but we got a bit sidetracked and it looks like it will be dinner for tomorrow and next Sunday (you say it freezes well). We followed your recipe exactly, except my mom wants to serve it over buttered noodles so we didn’t add potatoes. As a result, the stew seems a little thin. It smells absolutely delicious and everyone likes to dip bread in it, but I was wondering if you recommend thickening it a little and if so, how?
Thank you so much. Can’t wait to get to have this amazing stew for dinner! Promise to rate it tomorrow night! But by scent alone it gets five stars!
Jane
Hi Jane, You could thicken it by making a slurry. To do that, combine a 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water; mix until completely smooth. Whisk half of the slurry into the stew, bring to a gentle boil on the stovetop and simmer until the broth is thickened and any starchy taste has been cooked away. If you want the broth thicker, add the remaining slurry and repeat. Hope you enjoy!
Thank you, Jenn. The stew was delicious. I just used your thickening method and used very little of the slurry. I often find beef stew boring but this had a rich, delicious flavor. The flavors blended beautifully and the broth texture was perfect. Thank you! Perfect winter meal with warm French bread.
Loved this recipe. My family enjoyed very much. So flavorful. Next time will add mushrooms and peas. Thank you for the recipe. We baked chibatta bread and soaked with the gravy. So good.
Jenn,
I plan on making your beef stew recipe this week. I have a 10 oz. package of pearl onions. Can I sub. these for the yellow onions? Do I add mushrooms and/or froz. peas when the carrots & potatoes are added? Do you happen to have a recipe for stuffed cabbage?
Thks…Stan
Hi Stan, The fresh onions really add a nice flavor to this, so I think I’d suggest using the pearl onions in addition to the fresh ones. I would add the pearl onions and mushrooms/frozen peas near the end of cooking. Hope you enjoy!
I’m making this for the second time tonight. This is without a doubt the absolutely best stew – by FAR – I’ve ever eaten. The only thing I do differently – and this is purely a personal like, not because it’s not awesome as written – is that I brown diced bacon and then brown the beef in the bacon grease. An awesome cold weather meal and absolutely company appropriate!
What type of dry red wine did you use?
Hi Sefauna, You can use any red wine that is inexpensive but still good enough to drink. (Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc. will all work equally well.) Hope you enjoy!
Absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
What a great beef stew recipe. I usually just throw everything in a crockpot and let it go (and maybe I will do that with this in the future too) but today I was working around the house so I thought I’d do this using the prescribed cooking instructions. I made some minor changes. I used an espresso balsamic vinegar, fresh thyme, za’tar seasoning , and added chopped celery with the onion and garlic. The result was soooooo good! I almost always spoon beef stew over buttered noodles but didn’t even bother with them tonight. Thanks for a great recipe.
Hi Jenn,
Had my doubts about 2 cups of wine. Never again. Also about deglazing the pan with vinegar. Worked very well. Outstanding results. Thanks.
Jeffrey
Can you make this in a crockpot?
Yes Nisa, this can be made in a slow cooker. I would suggest searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait).
Hi Jenn,
I made the beef stew with carrots and potatoes. The flavor was great but would like more sauce. I was wondering should I half again or double? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Cheryl, this typically has a lot of sauce, but if you find you’d like more, I’d suggest adding about 1/2 an additional cup of the wine, broth and water.
I am making this at this very moment & can not wait!
I dont have an oven proof pot Can I use my soup pot on top of the stove & if so how long should I cook/simmer on stovetop
Thanks so much, Salivating over your reviews!
Hi Mimi, not sure if it’s too late and you’ve already eaten the stew, but yes, you can definitely simmer it on the stove. It would simmer for about 2 hours and then again for 50 – 60 minutes more after you’ve added the carrots and potatoes. Hope that helps that you enjoyed the stew if you already ate it!
This was dinner tonight ~ absolutely delicious! I added a little celery, fresh mushrooms & fresh thyme ~ just because I had them.
This beef stew is very, very good. I left out the sugar. Added peas. Perfect.
This was such an awesome stew. It was very simple to make but our taste buds exploded on our very first bite. It was a perfect meal for our weather. Thanks.
Best stew I ever made. Had most ingredients pretty much down. Had not realized that the technique mattered so much. Enamel cast iron is also a very important tool forvthe process. Never had any before 2014. Big difference! Thanks, Jen!
This is hands down the best stew I’ve ever had! I’m so amazed at the depth of flavor! Only thing I did different was use fresh herbs & threw in some rosemary.
If it’s better the next day then I cannot wait for lunch tomorrow! My kids loved it too!
Can you cook this on the stove vice the oven?
Sure, Zina – just simmer over low heat and stir occasionally so the bottom doesn’t burn.
I made this and it was absolutely the BEST stew ever!!!
If I halve this recipe for 2, do the cooking temps or times change at all?
Hi Stacey, the time and temp should remain the same. If you make the full recipe though, it freezes nicely!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stew. It’s the only one I make and everyone always raves about it. Is there any way it could be done in a crock pot? Would it work if after the initial cooking on stove the entire pot was transferred to crock pot for the day?? I would make it more often if that would work!!
Yes, Mary – that should work fine.
Fabulous! I will omit the sugar next time as the sauce is toooo sweet, but otherwise it is dark and rich and the chuck melts in your mouth! Jenn, why was the sugar suggested?
Thanks!
Hi Jean, I often add a bit of sugar to my sauces – it helps to bring out and balance the other flavors. But it’s fine to leave it out if you prefer.
I have to say, this is the best stew we’ve ever had! I added mushrooms and cabbage and it was phenomenal!
Just made this yesterday. Positive it was the best stew I ever made! My husband was raving to all his friends. The best! Thank you..also I subscribed to your newsletter yesterday!!
Sooooo goooood!
My headband said it was orgasmic.
My only change I made was that I added the whole small can of tomato paste to make it more tomato rich. I just subscribed to your site.
Thanks,
Jenn
Spell check and grammar corrections:
My husband (not headband) said it was orgasmic.
The only change I made was to add an entire small can of tomato paste to make it more tomato rich.
No matter how you say it, this stew is fantastic!!!
I’ve tried a lot of other recipes with too many steps and ingredients that resulted after many hours with less than tasty results. This recipe seemed to have clearer steps and simpler ingredients. Man, it is so good. The taste are so well balanced and rich. I can’t wait to try it tomorrow for even more flavor. This is my favorite Beef Stew recipe in my long search. Thank you so much.
Fabulous! I’ve been making beef stew for years, but nothing as good as this recipe.
I added a few stalks of celery & added sautéed baby Bella mushrooms at the end.
Crusty bread & a dry red wine completed the meal.
Stumbled across this while looking for a beef stew recipe. Made it yesterday and WOW!! The flavor was amazing! Hands down, the best set I’ve ever made. I added quartered mushrooms and peas and my family gobbled it up. Can’t wait to try some other recipes from this site!
Amazing I have made this a few times now and use steak but absolutely love this recipe!
I was often skeptical of this sites reviews as they are all SO positive….but I’ll be honest, I made this stew and it was incredibly good. I know that my own post trying to point out that this site isn’t filled with fake reviews sounds, itself, like a fake review…but I don’t care. This stew was amazing and everyone should know.
I made the stew tonight it is a freaking delicious….great recipe!!!
Absolutely the best beef stew I’ve ever eaten! With an approaching blizzard, I’m glad the family has delicious leftovers!!
my stew has the strong flavor of vinegar. Is there something i can add to take the strong flavor away?
Hi Estella, you could try adding a pinch or two of sugar (and stir well to fully combine with the soup) the help soften that taste. Another option is a pinch or two of baking soda as it will help to lessen the acidity of the vinegar— Once you add it, let it fizz until it subsides. When it has stopped, stir your soup and taste it. Repeat the process if needed. Hope that helps!
This is the most amazing and best beef stew I’ve ever had, and definitely the best I’ve ever eaten. It was well worth the expense of the ingredients, the time and effort. My husband raved about it last night. I served with white rice. I’m eating a bowl now for lunch, and we will have the rest of the leftovers for dinner. I plan on making corn bread muffins for tonight’s leftovers. I’m definitely a new fan of you, Jenn! Thanks so much!!
The best tasting beef stew recipe that I have ever tried – and I’ve tried a lot!
hi
can your recipe of beef stew with Carrots and potatoes be cooked in slow cooker instead of the oven.
this is the first time I am trying it. Also I am making it from steak because I don’t feel like eating steak.
Hi Angie, Yes, this can be prepared in a slow cooker. I would suggest searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait). And regarding using steak, I always recommend chuck for stew — nothing gets as tender. If you do end up using steak, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Wow best stew EVER
i will review it later but i was wondering would chopped fennel work with this blend of vegetables?
Sure, I think fennel would be a nice addition here. Hope you enjoy!
I have been making stew for over 20 years and wanted a change. This is the best stew I have ever had. The flavour is amazing. I used gluten free flour and cooked in the slow cooker. Absolutely amazing.
Absolutely the best beef stew! There was a great balance of flavor in the sauce. I added mushrooms and celery with the carrots and potatoes and frozen pearl onions and frozen peas at the very end on the stovetop. I would probably saute the mushrooms with the onions next time to give them more time to absorb the flavors.
Hi Jenn,
I make this stew frequently and we love it. It is the best stew I have ever made.
I have given your website out to many people after they tried this stew.
Thanks very much
Made this recipe last night for company today… We loved it!! I made a double batch and had nothing left over. Cooking stew in the oven was new to me..genius! Ive never achieved such tender beef in a beef stew before. And the flavor so rich and full bodied. Its a definite keeper ☺
I have 5 lbs of meat (unfortunately I already bought prepackaged stew meat so hopefully it will be “okay”). Should I just increase liquids by 1 1/2 C? And maybe add extra carrots and potatoes? Maybe increase bay leaf to 2. Anything else?
Hi Debbie, I think using those tweaks for the extra meat would be fine. For the most predictable results, you could also increase the other ingredient amounts as well, (like the garlic, onions, flour). Hope you enjoy!
I made this last night to eat tonight. It was very good! The only change I made was I substituted sparkling red grape juice instead of wine. My FIL won’t eat anything that has alcohol in it, even if it’s cooked out. Because I used the juice, I omitted the sugar. It smelled so good last night, it was really hard to just put it in the refrigerator without eating a bowl! Thanks for the recipe!
I made this stew tonight for my Mom and it was fabulous!! Such a flavorful broth and the meat was sooooo tender. I added extra carrots but otherwise followed the recipe exactly as written. I had to practice patience when browning the meat because I kept wanting to turn it but once I left it alone for at least 2-3 min per side it browned nicely. I really enjoyed making it and we loved it. Thank you Jenn!! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes …
When my boyfriend asked for beef stew for New Year’s Eve dinner I went in search of the perfect recipe! Yours is it! So delicious. The best I ever made… and it’s your amazing combo of ingredients !
My new favorite dish
I am totally looking forward to making this recipe. I have read so many of the reviews but cannot find one that asks how it tastes without the onions. No one is allergic in the family but I have folks ( including me for the most part) that are majorly anti-onion. Cooked or raw.
Any suggestions before I just leave them out and hope for the best?
My rating is based on anticipation!
Hi Rebecca, The onions add a lot of flavor but I think you could leave them out and still have a good result.
If I prepare this dish the night before, at what step do I stop and then complete the dish the day of the event?
Hi Rebecca, You can make it entirely ahead of time and just reheat the next day.
Incredible!!! This is a divine recipe – my family loved it! My stovetop was quite fat-splattered, but the whole house smelled wonderful!! I will definitely do this again!
This is the very first time I have done this so here it goes.
I am a novice when it comes to cooking meals really, but know what great food is.
I recently made this for weekend guests on a very cold evening. Everyone present at the table had at least two helpings.
This is absolutely the best recipe for Beef Stew I have ever had in my life! It’s Perfect!
I am making it again tonight as I write this.
Thanks Jenn.
This is very good tasty recipe ! Thank you . I just adjustment for my taste for more beef bouillon . But that’s it ! I ‘m gonna repeat this recipe !
Have not yet tried this recipe because it contains gluten. Can this be made with gluten free flour & still turn out great? I have Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Baking a Flour: a mixture of garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, Tapioca flour, white Sorghum flour & Fava Bean flour. Would corn starch work as well?
Hi Joni, Gluten free flour should work fine. Enjoy!
Oh yeah! I’d vote for the sorghum or potato!!!
I’ve doubled this recipe for a very large family Christmas dinner. Now I’m concerned how long I should braise the stew. Please advise if possible.
Hi Jean, The cook time should be about the same. Merry Christmas!
It’s me again, Caroline.
How long will the stew need if I put it in the slow cooker?
I’m so excited!!
Hi Caroline, I’m guessing 6-8 hours, but be sure to sear the meat on the stovetop first.
i would love to make this in a slow cooker. How did yours turn out? How long did you cook it & what setting?
Bet stew I’ve ever had!!! Absolutely delicious, I’m making this again for Christmas tomorrow, I would only change the wine to one cup as my little one didn’t like the taste of it, i guess…thank you so so much.
Hi!!! This recipe is simply AMAZING!!!! Made it last night to serve as my Christmas Eve dinner. Thank you so much for the recipe!!! Happy Holidays!!!!
I want to try the recipe tomorrow for Christmas, but we only got silverside beef from the supermarket, there was nothing else left.
We want to do it in a slow cooker,
Do you the beef will get nice and tender if we follow the recipe or should I don’t cut the meat and just cook it with the sauce in your recipe?
We really want to get meltingly tender meat but I have never made it before.
Your recipe looks so delicious we have to try it!!!
Hi Caroline, Silverside is a good cut for braising so it should work. I’d still cut it up as per the recipe. Happy Holidays!
I used a slow cooker to prepare the beef stew, and my family loved it! Could this recipe be modified for a pot roast? Thanks so much!
Yes Elena, I do think this recipe would work for a pot roast.
This has been my go-to stew recipe for a couple of years…simply amazing. I think next time I’m going to swap out the potatoes with parsnip and turnip (and serve over mashed potatoes) for a Sunday dinner (that usually has 8 people, so I will double the recipe— I wonder if I have a big enough pot!!). Awesome awesome awesome. Thank you!!
Jen,
This stew is AMAZING. I think I’ve made it at least 4 times since I found the recipe last year. It is a family favorite. Thank you for sharing your passion and talent with us!!
Thank you for the wonderful recipe and thoughtful instruction and direction. Would you or have you experimented with fresh herb ingredients? Perhaps two small bundles of time and rosemary (or by themselves) then discard pior to service. Anticipating my first taste while stewed aromas fill the house that is now salivating. Easy recipe to follow and timing is spot on.
Hi Levi, I think fresh herbs as you described would be wonderful in this. Please come back and let me know how it turns out if you try it that way.
Small tied bundle of 8 tyme sprigs and one sprig of rosemary blended wonderfully with the stew. Just finished my second helping. Onto a two finger neat bourbon for desert followed by a long winters nap.
Fantastic depth and flavor in this classic and absolutely delicious dish. Thank you! This will be saved a remembered for many years to come.
I want to can this for a gift. How many pints will one turn of this recipe make? If pressure canned will it over cook? Do I leave in refrigerator overnight then can or can I can it right away while it is still hot? It sounds like a great recipe but obviously haven’t made it yet so can’t rate it but I will after I make it. Thanks so much.
Hi Gail, I think this will make the equivalent of approximately 6 pints. Unfortunately, I don’t know enough about canning to provide you with any guidance in that regard, but I do know the stew freezes beautifully if you’d like to go that route.
This looks so awesome, I’m planning to make it tomorrow 🙂 Do you think I could add lentils towards the end if I added more broth?
Sure Emily, just make sure you give them enough time to cook/soften. Hope you enjoy!
BEST stew ever. My mom always made a great stew but this was hands down the best I’ve ever eaten. Whole family loved it. The sauce is so flavorful and I don’t even like wine. Also always had issues with getting the meat to be fall apart tender, and this recipe solved that for me! Just want to add I grew up also adding green beans to stew, and that is what I did and it came out delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipes
I like the looks of your recipe, though I haven’t tried it yet. I usually add some turnip, parsnip and celery to my stew. Have not used wine, beef broth or vinegar. How do you imagine adding my ingredients to your recipe would work?
Though skimming through reviews, I am seeing an awful lot of “best stew ever”!
🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
I think you could definitely add those vegetables. Depending upon how much you add, you may need to increase the liquid ingredients too.
I am cooking this today for lunch tomorrow. How long will it take to reheat in 350 oven? It is for company so I want to make sure the vegetables are hot, but not mushy. Thanks.
Hi Pam, Instead of using the oven, I’d probably just reheat it on the stovetop until heated through. (It’s easier to check it that way.) Enjoy!
Hi, Jenn! This sounds amazing, but I’m just wondering … would it work in a crock pot? If so, how long would you cook it and on which setting? (I’d still brown the meat before adding it to the crock pot, of course!) Thanks!
Hi Julie, Yes, this can be prepared in a crock pot. I would suggest searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait). Enjoy!
Thanks, Jenn! Can’t wait to try this tonight! ?
I don’t like the taste of wine by itself, would cooking it like this change the taste of it? I don’t usually cook but plan on making this today and need this one know before I start cooking.
Thanks
AL the Pal
Hi Al, I would recommend using the wine. The finished stew doesn’t taste strongly of wine at all; it just adds more flavor and body to the liquid. That said, if you’re really concerned about it, you can replace the wine with additional beef broth. Hope you enjoy!
Made this today and it is so worth the time! The beef was so tender and there is so much flavor! I made home made corn muffins with it and it worked really well. The only change I will make next time is less wine and more broth for a more hearty taste but I definitely enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing this fabulous recipe.
The most delicious tasting broth that I’ve had in a long time and we used diced tomatoes because we did not have tomato paste. I’m sure it would have been even richer if we had used the paste.
I’m making this tonight. I’m concerned about the 7 cloves of garlic. Is it too much/overpowering?
It really isn’t, Kimberly — I promise! The stew cooks for such a long time and there are so many bold flavors, it all balances out. Hope you enjoy it!
This is a very good recipe. My store only had two cuts of chuck, neither very well-marbled. So when I went to check the stew at the two hour mark, the leaner chunks of beef were too tough. If u find yourself in the same bind, try this: when the time comes to add the carrots and potatoes, move the pot from the oven to the stovetop, stir in an extra tablespoon of tomato paste, and simmer gently, covered, until they are softened but still retain their shape. This did the trick for me so I will stick with it next time. The meat was tender and I didn’t have to keep bending down to yank a heavy pot out of the stove. With a better cut and a longer wait to develop flavor next time, it should be even better
Has any one made this in a larger quantity? Maybe for 30 people or so? If so did you follow the recipe and just multiply all of the ingredients?
Hi I plan to make this today when I get off work. What wine do you suggest I use? I’m not to familiar with the different type.
Hi Ashley, You can use any red wine that is inexpensive but still good enough to drink. (Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc. will all work.) Hope you enjoy the stew!
I made this tonight. I followed the recipe except I used more stock, less wine, and fresh thyme. I am not the best cook. This blew my mind and possibly changed my life. As my Dad would say, good groceries. I recommend you make and enjoy.
I used lean round roast because it was on sale so I started out with a cup of water in a Dutch oven and simmered the round roast cubes until the water was gone and then started the recipe. Coating the meat with flour was a great way to eliminate the flour lumps. I was amazed how the initial tiny, perfume taste turned to a very robust mature pleasant taste during the cooking. It does take a lot of wine, though. 2 cups for the recipe and the rest of the bottle to keep the cook stirring. Great recipe thanks!
this is amazing stew…the only thing i do different is add some Worcestershire sauce and less wine more broth(just my taste prefernce)
…I have made this so many times I can almost do it by heart. It really is the best recipe I have tried
Outstanding flavor! This is the best I’ve ever had! It was worth every minute it took to make it!
My new favorite beef stew recipe! I made this for friends who were visiting our new home last night for the first time. Everyone loved it.
My husband, who is not a fan of beef stew, actually asks for this. If you knew my husband you’d know that’s high praise.
This sounds and looks amazing! I’m making it this weekend, but unfortunately don’t have a dutch oven. Could I make it in a heavy bottom tall pasta pot or would I be better off in a wider pan? Any advice is appreciated! Thank you for all your fantastically wonderful recipes!!
Hi Lisa, You can make it in any heavy pot — a pasta pot or wider pot would both work well :).
This was way. Way to sweet terrible sauce . I had to rinse it off and make a whole new gravy .hopefully my guest will like it .
I made this for the first time today and it had wonderful flavor, not too sweet. Is it possible one of the ingredients you used was portioned incorrect? Please give it another try.
This is the best beef stew I have EVER had. It was not difficult to make and tasted amazing. The meat is tender and falls apart – so yummy. I made homemade bread rolls with it and it was the perfect first snow meal. Will definitely share with family and friends. Seriously, can’t believe I found this on a Google search. It’s my new favorite meal 🙂
Followed the recipe as written and it was amazing. A new favorite!!
I’ve made this stew several times already, and it comes out great each time. I followed the recipe pretty much to the letter and added frozen peas for the last several minutes of cooking. It came out delicious, with just enough soupy sauce to eat with a baguette. Everyone in my family loves this stew. It is the perfect basic recipe to warm you up on a chilly autumn evening.
Can I freeze this beef stew? Making some meals for my doesn’t-cook-hard-to-buy-for boss as a Christmas gift.
Definitely Kate– it freezes nicely. (And that’s a nice,creative gift!)
Excellent. All I did different was to use petite sirloin, as it was on sale. And added mushrooms. Again, excellent!
This beef stew was AMAZING, even for day 1. Can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow. Recipe was spot-on, did not need to adjust seasonings at all. Even the picky teenagers loved it! Thank you!!
Holy bowl of magical awesomeness, Batman! I made this tonight, exactly as published, except I used top sirloin for a smaller batch (just the DH and I). The meat – fall apart tender and beefy. The veggies – succulent and cooked to perfection. The sauce – oh Doctor, the sauce – let’s just say I scraped my bowl so clean with my hunk of bread I could probably put it right back in the cupboard. Best beef stew recipe I’ve ever tried. THANK YOU!
Made this twice. Incredibly delicious! Don’t change a thing. Please take the time to cut your own stew meat from a chuck roast (as stated) rather than buying packaged stew meat from the grocery store. So worth the few minutes of extra time. Makes a big difference.
I’ve waiting too late for the braising part of this fabulous recipe – anyone tried this without that step? I’m still going to make it regardless – just wondering! ☺️
I found this recipe, I followed it, but also added fresh mushroms with carrots and potatoes, my wife stated this was the best she ever tasted.
I have finally stopped looking for the perfect beef stew. THIS IS PERFECT!!!
Didn’t change anything. I think not using
pre cut package “stew meat” is the answer
to tender beef in the stew. Thank you Jenn.
I asked our local supermarket what is the difference between the pre cut they sell and cutting my own from chuck roast. He said the pre cut is from whatever extra pieces of meat they have from various cuts. Often there is not enough to marble.
Throwing away my old beef stew recipe. This was simply delicious.
I have made this stew several times and it ALWAYS turns out wonderfully. This is the first recipe I recommend when someone wants to make a beef stew.
I made this dish for a friend who recently had a baby. I made one for her family, and one for mine; I can’t believe how delicious it was!! It was a little tedious to prepare, but it was worth it!!!! Fabulous!!
How large is a large pot? I have a #10 dutch oven. Large enough?
Hi Keith, do you know what the # means? (I’m not familiar with that.) Is it a 10-inch or 10-quart pot?
I found this recipe by just googling beef stew trying to find a good recipe to make for my family. This was the first time I saw your site and have been hooked on your recipes ever since. This beef stew is probably the best stew I have ever had. I love the addition of wine. It really makes for a rich flavor and the potatoes really soak that up making them delicious. This stew also gets better the next day, as my family and I ate the leftovers for the next few days after I made it.
This beef stew is AMAZING. The step by step directions are perfect. I felt like a real chef making this dish. And, my other half has requested this many times in the one year I have been making this. The only change I made was a I reduced the wine by 1/2 and I will continue to make this for many years to com.
I have made this stew a few times now. I follow the recipe, no additions, and each time is perfection. It is rich and satisfying. I use my favourite bottle of red, a valpolicella, and it is totally worth the sacrifice. Do not cheap out on the wine, it only enhances the flavour!
I made this today and followed the recipe exactly-delicious!! Such great flavor and the gravy was terrific! I definitely give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Amazing! I stumbled upon this recipe and thought I would give it a shot, my husband is always asking me to make stew. I am also a classically trained chef, but now cook just for my family.
I followed the directions to the letter, I always do the first time I try a new recipe. I only needed to adjust the flavor with salt and pepper and the end. That never happens to me! This was a perfect, hearty beef stew. I will definitely make again and can’t wait to try more of your recipes! Thank you!
I made this on the weekend and it was AMAZING! The only thing I did differently was to add the balsamic vinegar AFTER I cooked the onions and then the garlic, for a little bit of time. Fabulous!
I made this twice, once with flour and once with cornstarch (for gluten free version). It was wonderful both ways. Both groups loved it! I bought an 8 lb sirloin roast for both occasions. Browned all at once cooking and then frooze until needed. That worked great and only once clean up from the browning. Love this recipe, perfect for serving at my cabin.
This recipe is the bomb. It’s really really good and will be my go to beef stew recipe. Thank you!
Hi Jenn,
I have made this stew as is and it is wonderful! However, I am cooking this for my mom-in-law who is on a low carb diet.
For someone on a lower carb diet, what would you recommend using in place of potatoes? I have read Rutabaga’s, Turnips, or radishes. What are your thoughts?
Hi Jamie, Glad you like the stew, I agree that rutabaga would work. Some other possibilities are turnips, parsnips or jicama.
This was the best stew I’ve ever made or tasted! Searing the meat in small batches is a big part of it. It came out exactly as described and my family ate it for three days in a row… Unheard of. Looking
Forward to trying more recipes.
Jenn,
I’ve been waiting for the weather to finally get cool enough so I could make a pot of this absolutely yummy stew!
It’s been a tried and true recipe in my fall/winter repertoire for 3 years and my family adores it. The combo of balsamic which gives a sweet/tangy dimension coupled with the red wine is the bomb. And I would recommend using a full bodied red!
We are mashed potato lovers so I skip adding the baby Yukons and mash up a big pot on the side. Yum!
Keep those recipes coming.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kitty
Hi Jenn, how could we do this in a crock pot? Thanks, Tissa Loehr
Hi Tissa, This can be prepared in a crock pot. I would recommend searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait). Enjoy!
I’ve made this recipe in the oven a few times and it’s AMAZING! I have a crazy busy day today and wanted to try this in the crock pot. I was hoping someone had asked the crock pot question in the comments. Giving it a try today.
On a side note, my family has loved every recipe of yours that I’ve made. This blog is a working mom’s dream! My family and I thank you for all of the hard work you put into this!
This beef stew with carrots & potatoes was absolutely delicious!!! Thank-you for the precise instructions & for sharing this “soul-satisfying” recipe. Happy Holidays to you & your family!!!
omg its the bomb. I’ve been eaten this stew all week- lol. I will tell u this- it so good.
Holy yum! So very good. Thanks a million for all the fab recipes.
This recipe is so delicious,you want to keep eating and eating. I live in South Florida so we don’t play in snow but we like to eat good.
Excellent! Tasty, easy to execute, delicious.
Hands down BEST STEW EVER! The only one I will ever make from now on. Thank you soo much for this recipe!
Hi Jen, does this stew freeze well?
Yes Linda, it freezes very nicely!
Tried this recipe last night- it was perfect! ( I did not add the garlic or thyme) My family came back for seconds and thirds!!! I wish I discovered your website a long time ago! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe- I can’t wait to try more of them.
I’m just a plain cook but I had all the ingredients for this in the house so tried making it for the family of a friend who’s in hospital. I really learnt a lot through the great detail in your instructions and the smells of cooking were tempting everyone who came near the kitchen! I’m planning to shop for and make it again tomorrow so we can enjoy it too. It’s definitely the level of detail that made it a successful experience for me!
I gotta tell ya, this is the best beef stew I have ever had! Wow! The flavor is just delicious. Even my husband said it’s the best he has ever had in his life. Adding to my book of recipes to be made again.
Thank you so much for sharing this! There is nothing I would change in this recipe. The only thing I did different was add the potatoes and carrots before I popped it into the oven and they were perfect along with everything else on the 2 hour mark. Glad I did it that way or I’d be waiting another hour to eat. Lol…. ❤❤❤❤
Best beef stew ever my family and I loved it
perfect recipe, every time! so satisfying.
I am making ahead for a party…would you reheat in the oven or on stovetop? Temp in the oven–low or 350? Thanks for the amazing recipes!
Glad you like the stew! I’d probably just reheat it on the stovetop until heated through. (It’s easier to check it that way.)
This was delicious! I prepared as the recipe stated, using a little less liquid, and then let cook slowly in crockpot the next morning (9 hrs on Low). The only issue we had was horrible heartburn – I assume from fatty stew meat. Is there a leaner cut of meat we can cube that will still be tender?
Sorry to hear you had heartburn! This stew really is best with the chuck. Nothing else is quite the same.
One of the best recipes I have tested in a long time. Followed it to the letter with minor changes. This is a keeper.
I have never been one to cook a good beef stew, in fact previous attempts were total failures. I followed this recipe to the letter except I didn’t use any red wine, used more beef stock. I must say my days of sucking are over, my family loved it and went back for seconds, that’s never happened before. This is a keeper, the best. Thank you!
I need to make this gluten free. Can you suggest how much corn starch to use or do you have a better idea?
You can just replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour. If you’d prefer to use cornstarch, don’t add it at the time the recipe specifies. Cook the stew, omitting the flour, until the very end (the broth will be thin). Then make a “slurry” by combining a 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water; mix until completely smooth. Whisk half of the slurry into the stew, bring to a gentle boil on the stovetop and simmer until the broth is thickened and any starchy taste has been cooked away. If you want the broth thicker, add the remaining slurry and repeat.
Absolutely fantastic! I made it last week halving the recipe for just my husband and myself. I now am in the process of tripling the recipe for a party. I had to use a number of pots and then put the whole thing together into one big pot with all the liquid to finish. As it came to a boil, I see a lot of scum at the top which I did not see when I made the small amount last week. Should I worry that this will not turn out? I tried to get some of the scum off, but it isn’t easy. Thanks. 5 stars when I made the small amount!
Hi Beverly, My guess is the “scum” you’re referring to is just a bit of fat from the meat. I wouldn’t worry about it at all. Hope it’s a success at the party!
When one triples the amount of meat in the recipe, should the liquid amounts also be tripled? Also, how to I thicken the gravy after it is cooked? It seems very thin. Thanks!
Hi Beverly, Yes, if you’re tripling the meat, I’d suggest tripling all the ingredients. If you’d like to thicken the gravy, you could always make a paste with 1 Tbsp. softened butter and 1 Tbsp. flour — whisk it in at the very end, and then simmer until thickened.
Honestly, this is the BEST beef stew I or my family has ever tried! I’m making it again tomorrow because my family couldn’t get enough! Thank you for sharing!!
I have been making this recipe for 2 years now! Thank you for posting it! My daughters and I LOVE it!!!!
Mine turned out watery! I’m not sure why. I don’t see that anyone else had this issue.
I pretty much followed the recipe exactly except: I added the veggies in with the meat when I put it in the oven instead of waiting until after an hour to add them. Also I used canned tomatoes instead of paste since I didn’t have any but I used a cup less of wine to compensate for the liquid.
I think the paste actually helps thicken it so that is probably why yours was watery.
I made this tonight and it’s fabulous! I can’t wait to see how it tastes tomorrow!
Hi, this recipe and reviews sound good and I would like to try it. One ingredient that I don’t often have is tomato paste. With the small amount required, I am thinking of adding ketchup and perhaps cutting down the sugar a bit. ( or maybe eliminate it) What do you think?
Hi Cathy, I do like tomato paste here but I think you could get away with the ketchup. For what it’s worth, I often buy tomato paste in a tube — it keeps for a long time in the fridge. Enjoy!
I freeze leftover tomato paste by measuring out tablespoons into an ice cube tray, freeze, then take them out, wrap each one in plastic wrap and store in a bag in the freezer.
That’s a great way to keep extra from going to waste- thanks for the suggestion!
I’m making approximately 20 servings of this recipe tomorrow. if i’m slow cooking it should I omit the flour until later?
Hi Devan, I would stick with using the flour when the recipe indicates. Hope everyone enjoys the stew!
Excellent recipe! I used this recipe in my electric pressure cooker and it turned out beautifully. I only made couple of adjustments. I coated the beef with flour before searing/browning. The meat was oh so tender and the flavor was as if I was cooking it for hours! Luckily my pressure cooker has a sear/brown function where I can brown right in the cooker pot. I had to do it in about two batches but if came out great. If others want to adjust this recipe for a pressure cooker:
1. Brown meat first and remove
2. Follow the recipe as specified for adding the onions, garlic, and balsamic vinegar. After about five minutes I added the tomato paste and wine together.
3. After a few more minutes add the broth, spices, beef, and vegetables including potatoes and carrots. I also added celery. I did not add water at this point because the pressure cooker was full and the steam generated from the pressure cooker condenses back into the stew. If too rich you can always add water at the end.
4. Cook for 20 minutes!! Yep that’s it! 20 minutes to wonderfully tender and flavorful stew! The vegetables were also cooked perfectly, not soggy at all.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write directions on how to cook this in the pressure cooker. I followed your directions and the stew was awesome, and only 20 min cooking time!!!
I really like this stew but it’s often hard to carve out enough time to be home while it cooks, especially on weekdays. Thank you Kamaria for providing these instructions for the pressure cooker…such a huge help when you’re crunched for time!
Thanks, Kamaria. Would you do a quick release or a natural pressure release? Does the below look correct?
1. Preheat oven to 325°F with rack in middle.
2. Pat beef dry and season salt and pepper, then flour. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat with sear button until hot and shimmering. Brown meat in 3 batches, turning with tongs, about 5-8 minutes per batch, adding one tablespoon more oil for each batch. (To sear meat properly, do not crowd the pan and let meat develop brown crust before turning with tongs.) Transfer meat to a large plate and set aside.
3. Add onions, garlic and balsamic vinegar; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape brown bits from bottom of pan, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook a few minutes more. Add beef with juices, carrots and potatoes to the pot. Add wine, beef broth, bay leaf, thyme, and sugar; stir with wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits from bottom of pan.
4. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes then quick release.
Is this the recipe you used?
Followed the instructions exactly as printed. THE STEW WAS FABULOUS!!!! Placed over egg noodles and sooo delicious. Will make this again and again!
This is a fantastic recipe, which we have enjoyed numerous times! Can it be modified for the crock pot? If so, when would I add the carrots and potatoes for this option?
So glad you like the stew Holly! Yes, this can be prepared in a crock pot. I would recommend searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait).
It’s Halloween, a great night for a dark, mysterious, gorgeous dinner. This hit the spot. A truly fabulous stew.
This is the absolute best beef stew recipe. I have prepared it several times and I would not change a thing. Thanks so much for the post. Much appreciated.
Excellent recipe!
Have eaten homemade stew throughout my entire life, am 63 yrs., young. I use to make a freestyle version of my mothers Irish stew, which is a very good recipe.
This recipe is hands down my all time favourite! It’s the Best stew ever!!!!! It’s my go to recipe now!
Is this recipe freezable?
Yes Heather, it freezes nicely. Enjoy!
Best stew ever! Thanks Jenn for another fabulous dinner. My husband loved it!
Best stew I have ever made. Only used 3 garlic cloves, but everything else was the same. You can’t go wrong with this.
Can you make this in a crock pot?
Sure Susan, Sure, you can prepare this in a crock pot. I’d sear the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cook the stew on high for 4 – 5 hours in the crock pot (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait). Hope you enjoy!
I am anxious to try this recipe, it sounds amazing. could this be done in a crock pot instead of in the oven?
Sure, you can prepare this in a slow cooker. I would recommend searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cooking the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait).
Jenn , I use a Pinot noir red wine(josh) ? It’s smooth and perfect adjustment Fromm summer Pinot Gris ….But my foodie friends think I should use a cheap red wine as its ” wasting good wine ” your Thoughts please !!
Hi Pat, I would use an inexpensive wine that’s good enough to drink. Hope that settles it 🙂
Di you have a suggestion to substitute red wine for something? I don’t drink or use any wine.
Hi Ruth, Go ahead and replace the wine with more beef stock. It will still be delicious.
Hands down, BEST BEEF STEW RECIPE EVER! My family LOVES beef stew and I’ve tried countless recipes. This has been my go-to recipe since I found it a few years ago. The flavors are so rich and perfect. It takes a long time to make this recipe, but it is worth every second.
So I want to make this for a group of 30…can I cook it all the way through on Saturday, then warm in a large crockpot Sunday morning for Sunday lunch?
Definitely– it’s even better the second day. Hope everyone enjoys!
BEST. STEW. RECIPE. EVER.
Best beef stew ever. Amazing depth of flavor. Followed the recipe exactly. This is my new go-to. Yum!
I don’t have a pot that can go in the oven. Can I simmer on stove top for 2 hours rather than in the oven? If not any other suggestions? Thanks.
Yep!
What if I only have a sweet wine? Is that going to make a big difference in the taste? Should I completely omit the wine all together?
Hi Carole, What type of sweet wine?
We only had sweet red wine and the stew was terrific!
Great results! I always found it hard to find a recipe that didn’t call for too many tomatoes–which render a stew too acidic for my taste; or an awkward proportion of wine that insult my kids’ palate. Your recipe has the right balance of ingredients, is wholesome and relatively simple to follow. My whole family loved it!
Thank you much for sharing! May I ask 2 questions?
1.Would it braise well in an electric roaster oven?
2.Does this recipe allow me to double or even triple it lol?
Regards,
Cindy
Hi Cindy, I’m not familiar with an electric roaster oven, so I couldn’t say for sure if the stew would work in there. But yes, you can definitely double or triple the recipe. Hope you enjoy!
I’ve doubled it with no issues, other than increased time to brown the meat since I still have to do the same size batched for that.
Great bold flavor & it is healthy. I have added this to my family cook book to use over and over again! Thank you so much!
I made this tonite & was kind of skeptical because of all the liquid but it was to die for! The balsamic, wine, tomato paste & sugar made a really great difference that my hubbie & I loved. Browning of the meat together w/ low, slow cooking makes a difference. Browning the meat is key to flavor but I think I browned too long almost.
Overall, goodness & love in a bowl ???
This is amazing. I don’t eat beef, but decided to try it with pork. Bought some country ribs, cubed them and followed the rest of the recipe. Added some peas and celery. The neighbor came over and was telling me how wonderful my house smells. Can’t wait to share this with my family Thank you.
Would beef brisket or London broil make good stew??
Hi Rosalie, Chuck really is best for stew meat, so that’s what I’d recommend. That said, another reader commented that they used London Broil and were happy with the results.
This is a delicious pot of stew. It is better on the second or third day. We served it with sourdough. Perfection!
Sounds delicious . .. Having Celiac disease cannot use flour. Will corn starch work?
Pam
Hi Pam, Cornstarch will work here, but don’t add it at the time the recipe specifies. Cook the stew, omitting the flour, until the very end (the broth will be thin). Then make a “slurry” by combining a 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water; mix until completely smooth. Whisk half of the slurry into the stew, bring to a gentle boil on the stovetop and simmer until the broth is thickened and any starchy taste has been cooked away. If you want the broth thicker, add the remaining slurry and repeat. If you have gluten-free flour, that would work also.
i substituted chickpea flour for regular flour.
Drenched the meat pieces (seasoned with salt and pepper) with the chickpea flour before browning. It worked beautifully! I also added unsweetened dark sweet cherries (I got from Trader Joe’s) and coconut sugar instead of regular sugar. And added chunks of celery as well. Delicious! This recipe is a keeper!
Cooking tomorrow…would stainless pot be good sub for Dutch oven or would crockpot work better?
As long as the stainless steel pot is oven-safe, it will work just fine!
Good stuff however, I do have a complaint, the smell while it was in the oven was so good that it drove me mad! Nothing like salivating for three hours, I thought I might drown. Next time I will drink the rest of the wine and pass out so I don’t have to suffer waiting 🙂 Thx
LOL! Glad you enjoyed it!
Haha!!! I am going through this right now as I type. I am counting the min until veggie-add time so I can at LEAST sample it…
Tried this last night and loved it! Followed the recipe pretty closely since first time, only modifications I made was I used 1/2 cup cabernet 1/2 cup water (hubby is very picky), and subbed extra beef broth for plain water. Halfway through thought it needed a little more flavor so added 2 beef bouillon cubes. It was perfect for him, which is great for me! Thanks!!
Technically carmelizing is not the same as the Maillard reaction which happens when you brown meat. You can brown meat at any temp above 250 F as long as it is dry. Carmelizing usually requires higher heat like getting the sugar crust on flan. This is a good basic recipe though which is very flexible.
Hi jenn can I use some filet mignon for this or tri tip? I have both cuts in my freezer waiting to be used right now.
Marina, while it’s tempting to use what you have on hand, I recommend chuck for stew — nothing else gets as tender. Sorry!
Thank you for your reply 🙂 I made it with the chuck as recommended and it was pure perfection!
So glad you liked it!
Can I omit thyme?
Sure! If you’d like, feel free to replace it with another herb of choice.
OMG! Jenn, you make me the best chef! I love to cook , but I sometimes lack imagination. I have been craving beef stew, and I have never tasted anything like it! I changed some things, we cook in bulk, and I felt it needed about equal amounts of things, so I added more carrots and a 3-4lbs of potatoes at 1 HR. in to cooking. I accidentally used a sweeter red wine and when adding veggies added 5 cups of beef stock. No parsley garnish. It made 10 servings and my 14 year old had seconds…hands down praises to you! So great. I have my own recipe now. Thanks to you!
Hi, I want to make your beef stew but was wondering if there was any way to cut down on the sodium. It sounds delicious, but I have to watch the sodium. Ellen
Sure Ellen– you could cut back on the salt and use a low-sodium broth. It will still be delicious.
Thank you so much for this recipe! Absolutely mouth watering dish. The only change that I have made is the addition of whole button mushrooms and allow them to cook for the full 3 hrs. We enjoy this dish on an Autumal to a cold winters day but really you could eat this anytime of the year!
I made this today to serve 60 people tomorrow – I quadrupled the recipe and did it in batches. The sauce came out too thin but I’ve thickened it with a roux and its okay now. Tastes good. I added some worcestershire sauce as well. THANKS for the clear instructions! 60 more people should be grateful tomorrow!
Hi. So, I also have to feed an army very soon! Did you have to transport it elsewhere? If so, how did you manage to keep it warm & ready to serve to guests?
Best beef stew ever. It’s a staple meal on cold, Canadian winter evenings. With a bottle of lovely red wine, a crisp salad (Jenn’s homemade Caesar dressing) and some crusty whole grain bread–delicious.
I made this as a meal for a group of single moms and their kids. I saved just enough for us and I loved it. It’s a little bit of effort up front to brown the meat but fortunately, my crock pot allows me to brown in the pot so that saved me a step. The 2 cups of wine add a richness to the broth. It’s really good stew!
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I followed the recipe as as given, but I did use a different cut of beef as suggested by the butcher. It was more expensive, but well worth the expense. I will definitely buy your cookbook when available. I love this website and your enthusiasm for family and good cooking.
My ex husband said it’s absolutely the best thing I’d EVER made for him and he generally LOVED most everything I made!
I’d give 100 stars if possible!
Been looking at all your reviews and Think I found the right recipe. I moved in with my dad to take care of him since my mom passed. He has been asking for stew.Question for you if cooking on stove top when should I potatoes and carrots?? Thanks and can’t wait to try this.
Hi Sandi, You put the carrots and potatoes in after simmering the stew on the stove for about 2 hours, and then you’d let it simmer for another hour or until the veggies are tender. Hope you and your dad enjoy!
Hi Jenn,
I’m planning to make a double batch of this and my pot won’t fit in the oven. Will simmering on the stove produce the same result as braising in the oven?
Yes Mike, it’ll still be delicious!
Can I use a rib eye roast I have to cook it toay and would love to make your stew. Thanks julie
Julie, rib eye is not a good cut to use for stew– sorry!
How would you adjust the beef stew recipe if I cooked it in the crock pot?
Hi Melissa, you can prepare this in the slow cooker. I would recommend searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then cook the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait). Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing! Made it tonight, and it was soo delicious
Hands down, best beef stew I’ve ever had. Fantastic!
Hello, even though it was in the 80s here in Southern California today our 8 1/2 months pregnant daughter is craving stew. So stew it is. I’ve had it in the oven for an hour and a half but I just opened it to stir it and it’s not very thick. Does it thicken up in the second hour and a half? I’m braising it in my Le Cruset. It smells amazing! Thanks for any input!
Yes it does thicken towards the end, Shawn. Hope your daughter enjoys!
Fantastic.
Delicious –we made this tonight!! thanks so much for this simple, easy to follow receipe.
Best stew recipe. I’m a vegetarian and stumbled upon this recipe. All my carnivore family and friends love it. Thank you
I made the stew Saturday with the chuck (Canadian equivalent blade), it was the best stew ever. We had it for dinner Sunday with leftovers for two on Monday (just made additional vegetables). I am having potatoes, gravy and carrots for lunch). Now I don’t know what to do with the top sirloin I also bought.
May I know can I cook over fire instead of oven?
Hi Yin, Yes, you can simmer it on the stove for the same amount of time. It’ll turn out great — Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jenn,
Thanks for the great recipe. Tried it today with beef shank over stock.
Taste amazing.
Will try with better cut next time.
Can this be gluten free
Definitely– just use gluten-free flour. Hope you enjoy!
what the equivalent to chuck roast in Canada. I think I made this with a sirloin tip roast and it was good, but I am curious.
Marjory
Hi Marjory, I believe it may be called a blade beef roast. I found the info here, so you could take a peek before heading to the store.
Hi what can I substitute for wine and not lose the flavor? many thanks, looking forward to your reply.
Hi Anna, you can just use more broth in place of the wine. It’ll still taste great!
I was gonna try this recipe on top of the stove instead of a Dutch oven has anyone tried that ? I hate to do that if it doesn’t turn out as well .
Hi Rosemary, Instead of putting the pot in the oven, you can simmer it on the stove for the same amount of time. It’ll turn out great — Hope you enjoy!
Love love love this recipe.
You are exactly right the next day and even after just grow with more flavor!!!!
6 servings ….. huh ….. well, it didn’t last past a single dinner with 2 adults and 2 teenage girls!!!!
Cooked on an outdoor grill …. STOK Quattro 4 burner with the cast iron kettle insert. It came out perfect!
Amazing stew! I used to make stew with tomato soup, a recipe from many years ago., and it is good, but this stew has got it beat! No more tomato soup! Made it a few times exactly as recipe calls and everyone loved it. I can’t get over how great the taste is. Thanks for the tip about the meat as I USED to use packaged stew meat.
Love the recipe – have made it twice and would like to print a permanent copy for my recipe book but cannot seem to get it to work – tried Emailing it to myself but just get the site not the recipe – suggestions.
Hi Andrea- glad you like the stew and sorry you were having trouble printing it! I just emailed you a PDF version that you can save or print.
Can I Cook this in a pot on the stove, rather than in the oven?
Sure Summer- Instead of putting the pot in the oven, you can simmer it on the stove for the same time. Hope you enjoy!
I want to make this however…. I don’t have a dutch oven or a large pot that I can put in the oven. Is this something I can make in the slow cooker? If so, can you advise me on how to change the recipe to be slow cooker friendly?! Please!!!!!!! I’ll come back and rate it as soon as I make it!
Yes Kellie, you can prepare this in the slow cooker. I would recommend searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then I would cook the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait). Hope you enjoy!
I thought of using my wok to sear the beef because I thought I’d have to scrub out my Dutch oven for a half hour afterwards. I went with the Dutch oven and the brown bits completely dissolved with the balsamic vinegar… just as you said. I think those brown bits add a TON of flavor to this dish. Thanks for the delish recipe Jenn!
HI Jen.
My Husbands Birthday is this Sunday and I have decided (for the first time, my inlaws are Hindu and usually don’t eat Beef, though my husband and father in law do) to cook a Beef Stew. Due to the abundance of awesome reviews I have decided to go with your recipe. I do not have a Dutch Oven (keen to buy one though) and was wondering whether a 5l (the one you can get from IKEA) would be sufficient enough for your recipe. I appreciate your quick reply and I hope to be able to give my review on your recipe by Sunday. Love and Regards, Rabea
Sorry to trouble you but is it possible to change the meat to Lamb and Chicken Stock instead of Beef Stock? Thank you
Yes and yes! You may also want to take a look at this lamb stew recipe.
Hi Rabea, It may be snug, but I think the stew will fit into a 5l pot (just make sure it’s oven-safe). Hope everyone enjoys!
Loooved it!?This meal came out so good. Your recipe was easy to follow and everything came out perfectly. I made egg noodles to go with mine, my family loved it, even my picky kids! My husband usually make a soup out if the stew beef, but I wanted something different, plus I’ve been exploring different tastes and flavors in the dishes I’ve been making and this was a winner! Thanks so much for sharing! I’m looking forward to more dinner ideas.
Awesome recipe!!! I know when cooking with wine, the alcohol evaporates, but the wine flavor remains. Does the alcohol evaporates 100%, when cooking with wine??? Is it safe to give to a child under 5 yrs old???
Yes Judy, it’s perfectly safe to give the stew to young children — enjoy!
Thanks for that question, I needed to know that.
I need help in attempting to thicken it please. Assuming I followed the recipe correctly, what would you suggest? I added the veggies and because it was so thin I moved it to the stove top for the last hour. I know you said it thickens toward the end but I’m concerned. Thanks!!
It really does thicken at the end, Emily, but if you’d prefer it even thicker, you could always make a paste with 1 tablespoon softened butter and 1 tablespoon flour — whisk it in at the very end, and then simmer until thickened. Hope that helps!
hi jenn,
made this for dinner last night and it was sooo.. good! thank you! 🙂
one small thing tho, a LOT of the liquid evaporated during the braising in the oven so i was left with very little and thickened gravy/sauce.
was it because my oven temp was too high? i followed the recipe and timings to a tee.
carrie
Hi Carrie, Glad you enjoyed it! Was your pot covered while in the oven and does the lid fit tightly? If not, a lot of that liquid will evaporate while in the oven.
This is definitely a long-overdue Review ’cause I’ve made this Beef Stew for AT LEAST five times now and it always came out beautifully each time.
The taste improves depending on what wine I used and now I’ve learned which wine makes it taste EXCEPTIONALLY good – Winemaker’s Reserve’s Cabernet Sauvignon – and ensuring golden brown crust is formed when searing really does enhance the flavour greatly as well.
The only thing I changed was I use 4 Cups of Beef Stock instead of 2 Cups of Beef Stock and 2 Cups of Water. It really gives it a more intense “Beefy” flavour. And after 30 minutes of having the carrots in the stew and baking in the oven (we usually eliminate the potatoes as we are trying to adopt a low-carb lifestyle) I added another Cup of Chicken Stock (I feel that adding Chicken Stock lightens and balances the flavour really well) and put it back into the oven for another 20-30 minutes.
I cooked this in both Stainless Steel pot and enameled Iron Cast Dutch Oven (I used Le Creuset Iron Cast French Oven) before and I feel that the meat definitely turned out better when cooked on Cast Iron Dutch/French Oven. It became much more tender and moist (it tends to dry out a bit more on the Stainless Steel pot) and it does absorb the flavours much better. We really love the depth of flavour in this stew!
Overall this is a Winning, Go-To Recipe for comforting Beef Stew; one that I know I will use regularly and has truly become a staple in our Home, so thank you so much Jenn for this superb and awesome Recipe!
Success! The recipe was perfect. Love, love, love! I agree that the key is lots of marbling in the meat for oh so tender meat at the end. Rich flavor; especially after a couple of days. I added some sautéed mushrooms towards the end. I look forward to cooking this dish again and again.
Just finished preparing this dish…and, yes, it took nearly 3.5 hrs to cook; but, in the end–Wow!
I am korean dating with Anerican guy and haven’t had any beef stew yet unyil now. I followed your recipe but using stove instead of oven. And i added some more vegs mushrooms, cabbage tomamoes. I just tasted a bit. It was so good ! Thank you for making our dinner special. We are so excited to eat it 🙂 do you have instagram account? Want to follow you 🙂
Hi Soyeong, Yes, I do have an Instagram account. You can find it at onceuponachef. Hope you and your boyfriend enjoy the stew!
sorry this is not a review but this stew has to be good, thought id check reviews before putting on week menu… nearly 700 of them!!!! Ok I get it, it has to be worth trying:)
I am a 74 yr old estate attorney who is too stupid to retire and who has cooked his own eggs-up since he was 4. My physician is having a hip replacement and I asked how I could be helpful; the answer was “make us dinner the night of homecoming after surgery”. Following the suggestion of my 5 year old granddaughter, I “googled it” for a recipe. Voila; yours came up with 680 reviews and a 5 star rating. I figured my odds for success would be pretty decent and that if it came out badly we all would know who the culprit was. My first problem was the “Dutch oven”. After my wife of 50 yrs tried to finagle a trip to Holland, I substituted an electric frying pan with which I was more familiar. Most everything went well but very slooowly. My wife bought the wine: I told her cheap dry red wine. The recipe did not take the whole bottle so I had to figure out what to do with the rest, I wish I had left out the “cheap” part in my purchase instructions. Anyhow the stuff seems to taste pretty good. It’s in the fridge til tomorrow night. I made enough for my wife and me too. I’ll find out then but I think it s a 5.
Hi Tucker, I’m happy to hear you happened upon the site. I hope you and your wife and the recipient of the rest of the stew enjoy it. I got a kick out of reading your comments :)!
It was a 5 and it’s all gone
This recipe seems lovely and I would like to make it, if not for the part where it says to put the pot in the oven. All the large pots and pans I own either
1) Have plastic handles so they are not oven-proof
2) Are too big to put in the oven
Are there any solutions? Can I braise the stew on the stovetop instead, and if so, how long? Thank you very much for the trouble. 🙂
Hi Jade, Instead of putting the pot in the oven, you can simmer it on the stove for the same time. Enjoy!
First time I tried an on line recipe. Hope to see your recipes here in the future. My only suggestion is, after adding the wine, stock, water and spices to the meat mixture, don’t forget to bring it to a boil before putting it in the oven. I forgot to do this and it took longer to cook. Thanks again.
This is amazing. I’ve made it so many times in the last 9 months. I switch up between beer and wine. Last time I added Guinness instead and it was SO good. I always skip on the sugar too and add two parsnips diced.
I made this stew last night for dinner tonight. You say to reheat in a 350* oven, but not for how long? Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks for the recipe. It smelled wonderful cooking yesterday!
Actually, I think reheating it on the stove is best; just reheat it gently in a pan on over medium-low heat.
Best beef stew ever! My family loves beef stew but they are very picky. This is hands down everyone’s favorite. Thanks for sharing it!
We all LOVED this recipe, children as much as adults, in our family. The flavor is amazing & the wine adds so much!
I’d like to know more about how you cut a chuck roast when it’s very marbled. I did my best to cut off large pieces of fat but any tips from a pro would be greatly appreciated. I don’t buy chuck roast very often but it did work well and stayed tender. Thank you!
Hi Susan, so glad you enjoyed the stew! I wouldn’t worry about the fat as it cooks off for the most part. If you feel strongly about having it removed, I suggest asking your butcher. They will remove excess fat and cut it into pieces. It’s a great time saver!
Removing the fat is easier when the marble is frozen or not fully thawed. Just chop of the frozen fat using a butcher knife.
I’ve made this recipe several times. I love t! I’ve followed it exactly except I use only about 1-1.5 lb of meat. The 3 suggested I think is far too much, personally. Probably because I enjoy it as more of a hearty stew rather than it topped on mashed potatoes. Additionally I’ve used the tomatoe paste as suggested in the past and omitted it as well. Didn’t notice a difference so stopped using it when I continued to make it. Put lots of carrots and celery, minimal potatoes. It’s a wonderful, flavorful, delicious dish. I’m always satisfied. I will continue to cook it!
Been making Jenn’s beef stew for about a year, couple of times a month sometimes. We never get tired of it. One thing I do is make my own beef stock and use it rather than store bought in cans or boxes. Home made stock pushes this dish over the top! I also use good wine, $20 cabernet or something similar. It makes a difference.
Awesome dish. Was a total success.
I added a few parsnips which went over quite well.
This is the best recipe for beef stew that I have ever prepared. Freezes very well with the small Yukon potatoes and carrots. No changes necessary.
Do I need to change cooking time and should I double up on all ingredients for 12. Also will it be ok to freeze and thaw? Recipe looks great thanks.
Hi Terry, Yes, I would double the recipe and the cooking time can remain the same. The recipe freezes very nicely. Hope you enjoy!
Followed to recipe exactly. The flavor was good, but the potatoes and carrots were not cooked in 60 min…. In fact it took another 45 minutes. If I made this again, I would add them after 1 hour, not 2. Used Yukon gold potatoes and baby carrots
I rarely, if ever, cook with recipes. Today, however, I wanted to experiment with making a stew in the oven and not in the crock pot or on the stove top. I needed some guidelines as to time in oven, temperature, etc., and chanced upon this recipe during my search. Since I had all the ingredients available, and since the reviews were so favorable, I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did because it turned out fabulously. The meat was tender, the flavor, very well formed, and the gravy, thicker than any crock pot version I have attempted. Thank you! I will be using it again 🙂
I made this stew today and we ENJOYED it with crusty bread for tonight’s dinner. It is, hands down, the best beef stew I’ve ever tasted. I made it exactly as the recipe reads this time; next time I may try adding a few parsnips. Thank you for a fantastic recipe.
Can lab be substituted for the beef and cooked in the same manner? Thanks!
Hi Erin, I’m sure not what lab is- can you give me a little more detail? Thanks!
Sorry for the typo! I meant lamb.
I am cooking this recipe and I have to say it’s smelling Gooooooood! I minus the wine cause I did not have it. Next time I will add the add the wine. Thank you for sharing this great recipe.
The stew was delicious! I am so glad I found this recipe. Thanx
Delicious and a good basic recipe to jump off with additions or other changes to suit your personal taste. FWIW, you should use something other than olive oil for browning the meat – corn oil or grapeseed oil works better. We find this makes 6 very generous portions, so we get 8 or more from the recipe.
you din’t give the temp for the oven.
Annabella, the oven should be set to 325 degrees. Hope you enjoy!
In my many years of cooking, I have never posted a review for any recipe I found online but after trying out this beef stew I was compelled to. The flavor profile of stew was absolutely amazing and hands down the best I’ve had thus far. It was the umami of umamis, such a wonderful explosion of flavor in my mouth. Thank you for such a great recipe. ?
I was very excited to read all the good reviews of this “stew”, and decided to make it. Well, after all of that wait and work, I’m disappointed to say that my entire family left theirs on the dining table. The taste of the wine is overwhelming and since we are not wine drinkers, that was a huge turn-off! Will not make this again.
Excellent recipe! For our taste I added 6 slices of bacon cut up when browning the meat and used a half a jar of small onions in balsamic vinegar for extra flavour.
Just made this except I didn’t have any wine in the house so used a can of lager (just regular beer) instead. It’s used in a 1970s dish I found in a cookbook for Carbonnade de Beouf Flamande – Belgian Beef Stew – which looked pretty similar in terms of ingredients. And it tastes amazing! So my tip is, if you haven’t got wine, try using beer and it’s still great. Thanks for the recipe!
The best beef stew ever. My husband likes the potatoes and carrots to be a bit softer so next time I might throw them in earlier but they were perfect on day 2. The smell was fantastic as well. Really enjoyed this recipe. Quite a winner!
I have made this now 6 times. This is the BEST beefstew recipe ever!!! I have tried many looking for the perfect one . And I have found it. Hate when people say great recipe then have to read how they tweek it.. If anybody adds or changes this recipe they are nuts??? Yum Yum Yum!!
This is hands down the best Beef Stew I have ever made or tasted! I think the key is the balsamic vinegar. My husband raved about it the first time I made it. I, too added mushrooms and peas.
We also love your Pasta Fagioli recipe as well!
Looking forward to your new cookbook!
Your Beef Stew with Carrots and Potatoes is soooo delicious! I know this will become my very favorite, GoTo recipe whenever I get the hankering for stew from now on!! I added a rutabaga and a turnip too for fun! Thank you so much for such a fabulous recipe!
i assumed i had flour but evidently my daughter went on a baking rampage,, and seeing as the stores are closed and im cooking it overnight,, do your think using buttermilk pancake mix as a thickener could work?
Hmmm… I think you could probably get away with using the pancake mix as a thickener, but I’ve definitely never tried it. Because you’re only using a small amount, I think it should be fine.
HI Jenn,
Can you substitute the wine with anything else? more broth? really would like to try this. Thanks in advance!
sure, more broth, or maybe beer as someone else suggested, or just omit the wine but you will have less liquid so maybe a little less flour would be needed.
Absolutely delicious, best stew/beef bourguignon I have ever made. Ate it right out of the oven – can’t wait to have the leftovers today ! Added some celery to the potatoes and carrots and used red onions (all I had available) …. but it was scrumptious !
This is an outstanding recipe! We loved it and plan to make it again in the very near future. This is the 2nd recipe I downloaded and made and I plan to try many more. Thanks for posting such outstanding recipes!
Jenn- this recipe was so amazing that I had to highlight it on my little blog 🙂 Thank you so much for creating and sharing with the rest of us. It even impressed my in-laws (not easy) 🙂
http://www.heyfogg.com/2016/02/24/best-beef-stew/
Dear Jenn, Made your recipe last night and my husband said what a fantastic stew. The taste surpassed any preconceived notions of what it might taste like. Just to let you know, all the recipes that I have made from your collection have received more than 5 stars in our house. Cannot wait for your cookbook to come out. Congratulations
How do I adjust the recipe for 40
How to adjust receipe to serve 10? Do I cook it the same if I double it?
Bernadette, I would recommend doubling the recipe. The cooking times would remain the same. You’re likely to have some leftovers– it’s delicious the next day!
This was exceptional. Left in the slow cooker all night and had incredible depth of flavour. Just the right sweetness and tanginess.
Made this two days ago. Really good! It smell so good while cooking.
Would definitely make it again.
Thanks!
This is absolutely a five star recipe
I have always made my beef stew this way in a cast iron dutch oven. The only change I do is to fry up strips of salt pork and then sear the beef covered in flour in it. Then I add all of the veggies and broth. I crunch up the salt pork strips and sprinkle a little over each bowl as a crunch and salty treat. (lower the salt added to recipe doing this)
And always use chuck beef..watch for sales on chuck steaks and cut them up and freeze for this recipe!! YUM
This is perhaps one of the best winter meals I’ve ever made. It’s stunningly good. I made a few changes to the recipe based on my personal preferences and it worked just fine. I cut back a bit on the wine and replaced it with more broth. I added more vegetables and tons of baby bella mushrooms. It’s worth every minute of prep time – absolutely delicious.
I really appreciated the tip about the cut of meat. I don’t think I would have used chuck for this without Jenn’s recommendation and it was perfect.
Yum yum! My first attempt at making a beef stew! I used a 32 oz. carton of the Pacific Beef Broth – so 4 cups instead of 2; only 1 c of red wine and the balance of the liquid as water. Worked out well. I will try it with peas and mushrooms next time. Thank you thank you!
My son and I made your recipe today añd it was spectacular!!!!. I cooked the beef 3 hours and noticed it was kind of disappearing. The potatoes took 2-1/2 hours. Any ideas why that happened? I will eagerly take your suggestions. Thanks
Ive made this three times now following the recipe to a tee and all three times my family had loved it and this includes my 2 and3 yr olds.
So good and so easy. Even my wife was impressed with my cooking. Best beef stew ive ever had.
I wanted to thank you for the fabulous beef stew recipe. I added two handfuls of crimini mushrooms and one handful of shelled peas. Delicious!
Hi Jenn — I love your recipes. Thank you! I’ve been making this stew and the house smells amazing. I’ve finished the third hour of cooking and the potatoes and carrots are not done so I put them in for another 20 minutes. However, the stew has a pretty significant layer of grease on the top. Is this normal? Should I try to remove it before refrigerating? The plan is to eat it tomorrow night. Thank you!
This is my second time making your stew. Didn’t wait till the second day the first time but it was still delicious. My daughter walked in and asked what smells so good! She mad she has till wait till tomorrow to have it with our company. Thank u for a wonderful recipe.
Absolutely delish!! Will make this again – it puts all other Beef Bourguignon recipes that I’ve tried to shame!! Thank you!
I have an All Clad slow cooker that I would like to use with this recipe. Can you make this in a slow cooker? If so, do I need to modify anything in the recipe besides the cooking time? How long do you recommend I cook the beef stew?
Which red wine do you use in your recipe(s)? I don’t drink wine and I’m not sure which one to cook with.
Hi Sherry, You can use any red wine that is inexpensive but still good enough to drink (Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc. will all work). And I suggest buying those mini bottles sold in packs of 4 — that way, you won’t have as much waste.
My question is: what kind red wine? (the cheaper the better), I don’t usually cook with wine. Also could you just substitute beef broth for the wine? I am a single person so can this recipe be cut in half? How does this recipe freeze?
Thanks
Elaine
How do I get my stew meat fork tender should I add vinegar or cola? It’s already been simmering.
What type of wine would you recommend using? Thanks! Can’t wait to make this tonight!
I’ve made Beef Bourguignon a number of times, even Julia Child’s version. This recipe is simple and absolutely delicious! Excellent step by step instructions – even a novice will feel proud of the results. Thank you!
Love the recipe, and braising in the oven is so worry-free. Mine has had plenty of cooking time, meat is tender, all is well – except I wish I could bring down the wine flavor a bit. Seems a bit “bright” as my mother used to say. I could add more potatoes, did not use many, but LOTS of carrots. Any remedies? Thanks!
I have made this twice now and it’s outstanding! I went a little heavy on the pepper and red wine the first time around but everyone loved it. The second time was perfect!
Thanks for the delicious stew recipe! Had no wine, so used two cups broth (Penzeys beef base, 1T, for equivalent of four total cups broth). Perfect after 3 hours, per recipe. Look forward to trying it in slow cooker sometime. Everyone loved it!
I don’t like cooking, but I cooked this because it not only sounds good, it looks good. Your dish is both appealing and pleasing. I thought I was a chef! This is absolutely a meal with depth and satisfaction. The last time I made it, I added red bellpepper and mushrooms–mmm! For the potatoes I like the large French. One time I substituted the potatoes for chayote, and it was great!
Never written a review before. Amazing! Doubled this and followed exactly – which I do not usually do. Was a little worried about the amount of garlic and the balsamic vinegar. Hands down the best stew/soup I have ever tasted. Also never did the oven before – always the stove. Not one spoonful left – hubby, kids and grandchildren thought it was amazing. Thank you.
I’ve made this recipe several times with a few tweaks that others have mentioned- adding mushrooms and frozen peas. It always tastes very rich and comforting. I’ve even served it for a few casual dinner parties to rave reviews. The recommendation to use a well marbled chuck roast makes all the difference. The meat is always tender and very flavorful. I also use homemade beef broth which I think adds to the richness of the dish.
Absolutely delicious!! My husband said that this was the best beef stew he ever had. The only change that I made was too add some hardy ceremni mushrooms at the same time as you add the potatoes and carrots because my husband loves them in stew.
This was excellent. Some went in the freezer for a few weeks and was even better. I did add additional vegetables, as it is a very rich stew.
Wow! Best.beef.stew.EVER! This was so tasty and yet so easy to make. I had leftover Pinot Noir on hand, so can’t wait to make again with a bolder red like syrah. I paired it with your kale and brussel sprout salad and warm French bread. We are pleasantly stuffed and satisfied. I can’t wait to have the leftovers!!!
The best beef stew I ever made. I followed the recipe to the letter except when I added the potatoes and carrots, I also added a container of small mushrooms that I had stemmed. My problem was that I kept eating and eating. Thank you for this recipe!
The day after the blizzard of 2016 which was a Sunday and a perfect day to fire up m LeCreuset Dutch oven and make this recipe. It was AWESOME and perfect for a cold winter day! Thanks Jenn
Best pot roast ever, rich and delicious! As always with your recipes Jenn you take us to another level of wonderful!!
The beef stew with carrots and potatoes was by far, the best stew I’ve ever made. Thanks for sharing!
In the oven now and smells wonderful! I have just added carrots and potatoes. It will be a long hour wait!! I wished I could wait until tomorrow since everyone says it just gets better, but I can’t!!! The balsamic vinegar with the red wine is so aromatic. Just joined your email list, can’t wait to try more recipes. Thank you!!
5 stars, this is the best beef stew I have ever made. The ONLY change I made was to carmeluze the carrots & potatoes in a skillet w EVOO, garlic, s&p & then add them to the stew for last 20 mins or so, making the carrots & potatoes as sweet & delish as the rest of the ingredients.
I just made this recipe and it was fantastic. My husband even said it was a winner. I added salt to my taste but this is a very good beef stew full of flavor.
This is the second time I’m making this and followed it verbatim, except a bit less sugar and added a small stalk of celery with leaves for flavor. The aroma throughout the house is just mouth watering. Cannot wait to eat! We eat when it’s done and it’s wonderful. Lotsa leftovers too. Thank you for this excellent stew!! 🙂
Wow! The stew was amazing. I was a little unsure about adding the balsamic vinegar and red wine but I think the combination added a richer more complex flavor than recipes that call for worcestershire sauce. Since I had used a stock pot that has handles that can’t be put into the oven, I cooked the stew over low heat. The taste is similar to braised short ribs that you would order at nice restaurants. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
I love to cook and got a Le Creuset Dutch oven last year 6 3/4 oval. And have only used for turkey or chicken. But this Christmas / birthday ( as my birthday is Xmas day) present a 4 quart round and have made this amazing recipe 3 times !! And it doesnt hurt to enjoy a glass of red wine while making recipe .. Julia would be so proud of recipe too !! ??
Hi Jenn,
Snowed in in Virginia but found your recipe and cooked for my wife’s birthday. Your recipe was great, easy to follow, smelled great from the start, and tasted great. Wine for the chef along the way helped make the preparation fun. Served it in a bowl over rice with a loaf of baked bread and a side dish of Lima beans which complimented the stew very well. Also added a shake of crushed red peppers to give it a slight zing. My wife loved it! Thank you.
Hey Jenn,
I plan to triple your recipe tomorrow and serve it Sunday afternoon (family, food and football). Any changes to cooking times or suggestions?
No, the recipe and cooking time can stay exactly the same- hope everyone enjoys!
Best. Stew. Recipe. Ever. Seriously amazing flavor, texture of meat and veggies perfect, and simple to make (though a bit time consuming). I thought the sauce would be too thin but it was perfect! Only change is that I added double the carrots and potato
How long do you think it will take to cook in a slow cooker. I am also making it gluten free so do you suggest the cornstarch method vs. using gluten free flour. Thanks!
I would recommend searing the beef first as the recipe indicates and then I would cook the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait). And I think gluten free flour would work just fine here. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Stacey, I just made it again using brown rice flour. Stir it into a little wine to make a watery paste and add. It worked perfect!
Best stew ever!!! Loved that you gave advice on the type of meat to use! So rich, tender and delicious☺️. My kids and I ate majority of it before my husband got home…..oops I guess that means I have to make it again??.
Thank you, Jenn
I made this the other night and WOW it was delish!!! This dish has many layers to it, but it’s really quite easy to do. The wine gives a wonderful depth of flavor. Next time, I will be doubling the recipe!
I did add more potatoes than it called for and an extra carrot. Next time I will add a few more carrots. Definitely a keeper! 🙂
Made the beef stew tonight! the best I’ve ever had!. I had seconds and thirds!
Excellent recipe! Great flavor and popular with my meat and potatoes Irishman. Adding the potatoes and carrots with 30 minutes left is perfect timing to cook thoroughly without turning them to mush! I might consider adding the onions at the same time. I added corn and would consider another vegetable like celery if I decide to skip the side salad.
id like to leave it on the stove top since my oven is not working. Can i do that? and for how long and how high?
Sure Jennalene, Yes, you can simmer it on the stove for 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Enjoy!
Sure, just simmer on low, covered, and stir occasionally; cook time will be the same. Enjoy!
This was another excellent recipe. Thank you. The viscosity of the stew was silky without tasting heavy. I used a 3+ pound chuck roast, trimmed the fat quite a bit, added extra carrots and baby yukon gold potatoes and it was devoured by my male dominated crew of four.
We cooked this stew last night and it turned out amazing,it’s something we have never tried before so I liked the look of your website and the pictures helped. I will be adding this to one of our favourites.is a good one for me as can’t do dairy or yeast so we made it with yeast free veg stock and it was still great.
We made the beef stew.Your recipe knocked it out the park. Our grand kids loved it.Next lamb stew.
This stew is WONDERFUL!!! Can’t tell you how wonderful this stew is. I have tried so many stew recipes – with results from “we can eat it, but don’t make it again” to “throw this away” – that I was almost ready to give up on stew. Thankfully I stumbled upon your site and tried stew one more time. Everyone really liked this – even my picky son. Thanks so much!
I tried this recipe and it was delicious. Will be making this again. Soon!
What about using a pressure cooker with this? Got one as a gift and trying to learn what works and what doesn’t. Haven’t tried the recipe yet, but want to in the next couple of days. Thanks!
Hi Pattie, Yes it’s fine to use a pressure cooker; just be sure to sear the meat first as the recipe indicates. Hope you enjoy it!
Hi Pattie, It just occurred to me that you said pressure cooker and not slow cooker– sorry! I don’t have any experience with pressure cookers…I think they are supposed to be good for stews but you may need a different recipe that’s specific to a pressure cooker. Sorry for any confusion!
Scoured the Internet, glad I did not give up.
This is THE BEST stew I have ever made, thank you! I added one less cup of wine and substituted with more broth. Meat was very tender and everyone loved it loved it LOVED IT!
Absolutely the best Beef Stew I have ever eaten.The only change I made was to eliminate the sugar & it was due to a personal preference only. Hubby rated it as a WOW & the next morning had lots of suggestions on how to incorporate the beef only in different ways–he just loved it.
Had purchased 3 pkgs of 8 oz sirloins @ buy one get 2 free–end cost 3.00/lb & used 1.5 lbs for this. Got 2 full meal dinners & one lunch. A win win all around. Thanks Jen.
Made it yesterday and it came out great! I’m not a garlic fan, so I put in just a teaspoon. Great recipe. Will definitely make it again.
Hi Jen, I have your recipe for Beef Stew in the oven now. I will add the carrots & potatoes when it is time. My question is in your recipe it says cute the carrots in 1 inch chunks but, the picture shows the carrots much larger. I also wondered if it would affect your recipe if I added celery which my family loves. It smells so good in my kitchen now. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I was so lucky to come across your website. Your food looks amazing! I would like to subscribe but at this time I am unable. When my finances improve I definately will subscribe.
Hi Darlene, the carrots may look larger in the pictures, but I would stick to the 1 inch chunks, and yes, you can definitely add celery as well. And good news… it’s free to subscribe to the newsletter! Hope you enjoy the stew–
Can cornstarch be used in place of flour?
Hi Jen, Yes, you can use cornstarch instead of the flour, but don’t add it at the same time. Cook the stew, omitting the flour, until the very end (the broth will be thin). Then make a “slurry” by combining a 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water; mix until completely smooth. Whisk half of the slurry into the stew, bring to a gentle boil on the stovetop and simmer until the broth is thickened and any starchy taste has been cooked away. If you want the broth thicker, add the remaining slurry and repeat.
I made this for the first snow of the year yesterday …… AMAZING . and yes the next day it’s even better !! The marbled boneless chuck roast is so perfect , do not get any other cut of meat! I made the recipe exactly as it was written , the directions are perfect . Sometimes I change recipes after the first time trying them in case there’s something different I would do , this one will stay exactly the same 🙂 everyone should make this on a cold day for the family . It’s absolutely delicious . I used a Cabernet for the wine portion . Also , even if there’s two of you like me and my husband , make the whole recipe , left overs are already almost gone !
Will russet potatoes work?
Yes, I think they will work. Just make sure they’re cook through.
Made this for dinner last night and I can honesty say it was the best stew I have ever made/eaten! And I thought my stew I have made in the past was the best!! Will never use another recipe!!!
Made this for Christmas, and it was delicious. Didn’t add that many potatoes, but instead served it over broad noodles and was amazing.
I’ve been meaning to type a review for a long time, as I have been using this recipe for a year now and it has been my go-to recipe for stew and I dont usually review but this is a must. This stew turns out great everytime. It has great key instructions in sequencing to really help you cook the stew proper. My stews have always sucked until now. You know those types of dishes it tastes like your grandmother can cook and you can never replicate? This recipe did that for me. Thank you!
I am planning to make this great sounding recipe on the stovetop initially, and then transferring to a slow cooker instead of the oven. How long would you keep it it the slow cooker if the meat is already browned? Still 4-5 hours on high?
Also, when would you add the carrots and potatoes? One hour before the end of slow-cooking time? Thank you!
Yes Debbie, I would cook the stew for 4 – 5 hours on high in the slow cooker (and you can put the carrots and the potatoes in with the meat– you don’t need to wait).
Take your time and enjoy the layering of favors in the recipe. The magic starts to happen when the balsamic is added in my opinion. Add the wine before the water for a wonderful deglaze of heavenly bits.
This is the first time I make beef stew and this recipe is great. I made it one day ahead for the holiday and the next day taste even better. Thank you for the sharing the recipe.
Crockpot was my cooking mode, allowing me to use the leftover rare Christmas prime rib. After cutting meat off bone, removing fat, putting bones in pot, I followed recipe. I let it go on low 8 hrs or more, adding small sliced portobello mushrooms and fresh sweet peas an hour or so before serving. The crockpot allows use of the leanest meats. Add crusty bread with garlic olive oil or cornbread and you have a feast!
I don’t have any potatoes but I do have some sweet potato fries I’d love to throw in there. Do you think if I put them in about an hour before serving they would turn out ok?
Hi Helen, Sweet potatoes will work, but I probably wouldn’t recommend fries.
That’s kind of what I thought so I made a beef pot pie instead and cut the fries into 1″ strips and sprinkled them throughout. But I used your recipe for the meat part and it smells and tastes wonderful.
Thanks
Do you think Guinness ale could be used in place of the red wine? And I notice that Americas Test Kitchen suggests chicken broth instead of beef which can taste too “tinny.”
Yes, while I’ve never tried it that way, I think you could use Guinness ale in the stew. If you use that and/or chicken broth let me know how it turns out!
I have made this recipe twice in the last 2 weeks. Both times I got lots wonderful compliments. It is such a hearty dish and full of flavor. I did as you suggested and added peas and mushrooms for additional color. But even with out that it would be great.
So glad to have found your website. I’ve tried a few of your recipes already (ricotta cheesecake, a rice dish, and the peruvian chicken) and all have turned out awesome! This one was no exception. I did have to add more salt to it than the recipe said, but the turn out was great. I see you answered in the comments that it can be made in the crockpot so I’ll do that next time. I hope it turns out the same.
This looks so good. Here is my question. I unintentionally overcooked a Christmas roast beef, and hope to turn it into stew. It’s already medium well done and quite tender. Do you think it would work to brown it olive oil and follow the recipe (with shortened cooking time)?
Not sure that would work, Catherine. I’m afraid the meat would get quite tough. Sorry!
Loved this stew but I did change one thing, I like a thicker gravy so I mixed some water & flour in a bowl then added it to the pot at the end of the cooking time. This recipe is a keeper, thanks so much.
Best Beef Stew I have made or tasted. I did add 1 pkg boiling onions (small about 12 to 15). I followed rescipe exactly except onions.
Absolutely the best beef stew I have ever tasted! We don’t drink alcohol so I subbed beef stock for the red wine, but it was amazing notwithstanding. This is my new go-to beef stew.
I am not a great cook, I’m just learning. I’m also vegetarian but my guy is not. He was craving beef stew for Christmas. I found your recipe and chose it because of the high rating & the basic, natural ingredients. I followed the instructions carefully. First, the house smelled SO good while this was cooking. Second, my guy LOVED it! I asked what he would rate it on a scale of 1-5 and he said 10. He talked about when he woke up and all day. Thank you very much for sharing, it will remain on the fall and winter menu in our home. Also, I finally know what to make when my brother-in-law comes for dinner!
I’m making this for Christmas Eve. Can I use fresh thyme. If so, how much?
Yes, you can use fresh thyme and I’d recommend about 1 1/2 tsp. or more to taste. Hope you enjoy!
EXCELLENT! I’m not a cook but I made this and it turned out great the first time! I can’t wait to cook it again to make sure I did it right. A lot of beef stew recipes are too salty and bland.
I made this stew recipe and it was absolutely delicious. This will be my new recipe for beef stew always. Thank You Barb
I don’t have the right dish to cook this in the oven. Is it ok to cook in a soup pot on the stovetop? Sorry if this is a ridiculous question–I’m a terrible cook!
Not a ridiculous question at all! Yes, you can simmer it on the stove for 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Hope you enjoy!
This was a winner! Much easier to make than I thought. I appreciate the detailed instructions. The carrots and potatoes were perfect–not mushy and full of flavor.
Wondering if I simmer for 1.5-2hrs on the stovetop then add the carrots and potatoes? Or do you add them earlier?
Yes, Holly, that’s correct — that way they won’t overcook. Enjoy!
This is the best Beef Stew recipe ever! It is truly delicious. I made it exactly as written and absolutely loved the flavors. It makes for a very nice Sunday dinner and your house will smell delicious.
Really great and easy recipe, even with all the active time it took. I was able to use a cheap “cooking wine” and it still came out great. I don’t eat meat, so I made this for my husband, who was very impressed. The smells were so great that I’m going to adapt it and make a vegan version – using Gardein beefless tips instead of beef. I’m assuming all the steps will be the same so the “beef” can take up the flavor of the stew. I’ll update with the results in case anyone wants to try this vegan.
Meant to mention – there’s a “Not Beef” vegan bullion I’ll be using instead of beef stock for the vegan version. I’m sure it will be just as good!
This beef stew is fabulous! This recipe is a keeper! My family loved it!
My husband..
Had sec. With “this is the best stew I ever had..I want you to make this again!!!!! You have out done yourself”
I follow directions…including Deering the beef…small batch at a time. I used coconut oil instead of olive oil.
I used maple syrup instead of white sugar
I put parsnips in addition to the potatoes
And carrots….I will make it again…thank you so much for the rx.
Merry Christmas
So glad you and your husband enjoyed it! Merry Christmas to you!
I made this (with sautéed white mushrooms) to welcome my boyfriend home from a week-long work trip. Made it the day before he returned, and greeted him at the airport last night with a bowl of it 🙂 He said it’s the best stew he has ever had! Thank you for the recipe! I’ll be making it again for sure!
I’m reviewing Beef Stew with Carrots on Potatoes. The recipe is really simple to make. I love the combination, healthy, down home ingredients with simple instructions. It was easy to follow the recipe and the recipe came out fantastic. Now it’s one of my favorite go-to recipes for a cold weekday dinner!
I made this yummy stew this morning and it was so good. I didn’t have tomato paste so I reduced blended fresh tomatoes and added a little ketchup (a sin, I know, but it did add a little tart and sweet). I also didn’t have dry red so I used chocolate red wine and it was really interesting! I made it for a ladies Christmas lunch and everyone loved it. I can’t wait to make it again with the proper ingredients. Thank you for this recipe.
In the past any stewed beef I attempted turned out rubbery. The tip to look for well-marbeled meat at the grocer’s clued me into what I had been doing wrong: choosing lean meat. The recipe was incredibly easy to follow, even for someone like me who rarely cooks meat and gets easily intimidated by it. I was easily able to halve the recipe to suit my very small family (there are two of us). The stew turned out beautifully with a rich flavor.
This recipe is amazing and is hands down the best beef I’ve ever had. Thanks for sharing this because it’s definitely a keeper!!
I read the recipe from my computer which was in another room. I had to keep running back and forth. And in my haste I put the salt and pepper on after searing the meat, and I used Sauvignon Blanc wine instead of red. But it still came out great. Next time I may try some cumin.
Made this last night. Had for dinner tonight. It was fantastic! SO delicious! More than a five star.?
Excellent! Followed this pretty much exactly, with the addition of thickly cut porcini mushrooms (stem removed) added 1/2 hour from the end of the oven time. My potatoes and carrots took longer to cook through than was suggested in the recipe, more like 70 minutes. Taste was out of this world! I’m being asked to cook this again for the larger family gathering Christmas Eve, which is a big deal :).
Oh, right, and I doubled the potatoes. I come from Scottish heritage and I couldn’t let 3 lbs of great meat be paired with only 1 lb of potatoes. Would likely feed 10 by my estimation.
Greetings from Singapore! I halved the recipe and added in the potatoes and carrots before braising them in the oven for 3 hours. It was so, so good…my girl had 3 servings! This recipe is a keeper and many thanks for sharing 🙂
This is the most delicious beef stew I have tried (and I have tried quite a few)! It is flavorful with a rich, satisfying gravy. It did take about an hour of preparation to get it in the oven but was worth it with the many subtleties of flavor. Looking forward to having it as leftovers and serving it at my next dinner party! I’ve become a fan of your website after having much success with your recipes. Thank you Jennifer & keep them coming!
Made this tonight it was awesome and easy to put together. House smelled so good while it was cooking, it’s a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing.
How long would you cook this using a crockpot?
Rita, I would suggest cooking it for 7 – 10 hours on low or 4 – 5 hours on high.
I have made this many times. Always a hit with whoever I make it for.
Best recepie ever. Love the sautéed mushrooms at the end. Going to be making this often.
Jenn,
Can I make this stew the night before
or would that toughen the meat. I
sometimes have a problem with
stews. They do not come out as
tender as I would wish.
Thanks so much. Gen
PS: Great stew the same day!
Yes Gen, you can definitely make this stew the night before and then reheat it when you’re ready to eat it. I think it’s even better the second day!
Made this last night after looking for a stew that wouldn’t take 8 hours. It was fantastic! Didn’t change a thing & wouldn’t, either! Definitely saving this one! Thank you!
Hello! This recipe sounds delicious. I cannot wait to make it. I have a silly question though…. I am not a big wine drinker(I never really drink it or cook with it for that matter) what brand would you recommend? An inexpensive one if you could. I hate going into the wine and spirits store and not knowing what I’m buying. I’m 33 years old and look like I’m 18…they card me every time! So I make sure I don’t look like I’m aimlessly wondering around. Haha
Thanks in advance.
How nice that you still get carded! Any dry red will work (and you don’t need to spend a lot on it) — try a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. Hope you enjoy the stew!
Yes I know it is nice!! Off to the store now. I can’t wait to try it I’m sure it’s delicious! Thanks so much!!
Fantastic stew recipe! Very flavorful!!
This beef stew is delicious. I was searching for the perfect recipe quite a while and now I found it. Thank you so much.
I want to make this at Christmas to take to my daughters for Boxing Day. I will be asking it beforehand, will it be okay to freeze?
Yes Pat, it freezes great– enjoy!
Question: How much is 1 serving? We are having 20 people for a dinner. Should 3 times the recipe be enough? Serving in individual Ramekins (about 1 cup) w puff pastry on top plus some side dishes. I’m making 1/2 the recipe as a test batch before the “big one” to be sure I do it all right. Your comments and the reviews sound like it won’t be a problem.
Hi Pam, While I’m not certain how large a serving is, if you’re planning to serve the stew in ramekins it should work well, particularly if you will have plenty of other food. And yes, I think tripling the recipe will yield enough for 20 people (although you’re not likely to have much in the way of leftovers ;).
I have made this several times and it always comes out wonderful. I do add the potatoes sooner than suggested by about 20 minutes so that they achieve the level of doneness my fiancé enjoys. Wonderful served with fresh French bread from a bakery to sop up any leftover juices, and any leftovers that make it through dinner are even better the next day.
Absolutely delicious! I have kids so I only used 1 cup of wine (pinot noir) and an extra cup of stock. I served it with brown rice, pumpernickel rolls and sautéed mushrooms & peas on the side (that everyone ended up spooning on top). Next time I’m using the full 2 cups of wine, kids be damned! It was THAT good!
Hi Elizabeth, you can use additional beef broth in place of the wine. Hope you enjoy!
I have tried many beef stew recipes and haven’t really found one I liked until I made this. It was an absolute smash hit! Everyone who had it raved about it.
Since I’m not much of a wine lover I substituted Guinness stout for the red wine, I also added mushrooms, peas and corn toward the end.
Jenn is right, it’s even better the next day the flavors are much more intense.
Thank you for a wonderful recipe.
This is really an excellent recipe!
I eat gluten free, could I use a gluten free flour, such as Cup for Cup? Would I. Use the same amount?
Hi Marcia, you could definitely get away with gluten-free flour here. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jenn!
I’ve never made stew before and for whatever reason I chose your recipe from the google search. All I can say is Wow! Absolutely delicious. I followed your recipe exactly as written and it did not disappoint. This was a labor of love but definitely worth it.
Thank you for sharing.
Steph
Can this recipe be made without using red wine? Due to religious reasons I cannot have alcohol. However I am able to have vinegar. Could I use red wine vinegar instead?
Hi Asra, Instead of red wine, you can substitute more beef broth. I don’t recommend red wine vinegar — it will make the stew much too acidic.
I usually used Laura Calder’s Beef Bourguignon and I read yours and it sounded great.
By mistake I put in the whole can of tomato paste.
My wine was Beaujolais – Villages.
The aroma was fantastic and the taste was great. The stew even looked so great it would make a great picture.
Made this tonight and it was amazing! Thank you!!!
Can I thickened the broth? With what? Love it
Hi Ellen, You can make a smooth paste of 1 tablespoon softened butter and 1 tablespoon flour and stir that into the broth, then bring to a simmer and let thicken.
I’ve made this a handful of times. It is fantastic! On days when I don’t want it so juicy I reduce reduce amount of broth. This recipe is so easy to adapt to your liking. Want to add more veg? Smaller veg? Do it. Want It thicker? No problem. Out of red wine? Just add a little more broth and a dash more balsamic. Seriously so so good!
This has become my go to stew, it’s absolutely amazing and even better the next day. This is perfect for cold weather and football season, I can make it on Saturday and enjoy stew and football on Sunday. Thank you for sharing!!
This is the best beef stew I’ve ever had. That’s saying a lot because I’m 61. The flavor is rich, the beef is tender, and the simplicity of vegetables invites one to savor each bite. Job well done!
Hello!! Absolutely the best stew EVER! I made mine exactly as you say except I added celery and it turned out way above expectations! I’m making it for the second time tomorrow but would like to make it in my crockpot so it can cook while I’m at work. Any idea on what setting or temp? Thanks again for this wonderful recipe!
I’d like to know the same as well! I’m looking to make at least partially in the crock pot, but haven’t found another recipe that looks as good 🙂 Get back to us soon please!
Hi Colleen, You would still need to sear the beef on the stovetop and then add the wine, beef broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, and sugar; and then stir to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil. Then transfer to a crockpot and cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 10-12. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out.
Hi! My stew is braising in the oven as I am typing this. It smells delicious. I used half of the chuck since there are only two of us. Do I still need to braise for two hours or can I cut that down to one?
Hi Melissa, Cook time should still be about the same. Hope you enjoyed it 🙂
What kind of dry red wine do you suggest?
Hi Tiana, Any dry red will work — try a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, etc.
Can you cook this on the stove top?
Yes, definitely; just cook on low and stir every so often so the bottom doesn’t burn.
Your recipe looks wonderful! I was just wondering how large of a pan I would need to make a full batch. I have a twelve-inch cast iron skillet. Do you have any idea if that would be big enough?
Hi Caitlin, I think you will need a deeper pot. Sorry!
I recently moved from Florida to Colorado. I was looking for recipes to keep us warm on those cold nights and this is one of the best!! My husband said it was as good as his mom’s (which is a huge compliment!) I cut back on the wine – just a personal preference. Love this recipe and will use it throughout the Colorado winter.
Hi Jenn! I’m making this now for a dinner party and will be doubling the recipe. My question is: Can I dredge the meat in flour before searing? Whenever I’ve made beef stew, I’ve always coated the meat in flour. But I’m concerned about how this will affect the stew? Will it thicken it too much? Should I reduce the amount of added flour? Please advise. Thank you!
Hi Stephanie, If you dredge the meat in flour, I would probably just omit the flour in the recipe. But honestly, adding the flour later on does the same thing so I would just stick with the recipe as is 🙂
This was the best beef stew I have ever made! I saw a lot of the same reviews and was skeptical. Well, they were all right. The flavor profile was magical. I passed the recipe onto my parents and they now love it as well.
This is the classic beef stew! The only change I would dare to make would be to add green peas! Thank you Jenn for another recipe I can count on to be delicious and easy every time!
Karen
I made this the first time this summer while in England. Even after having to convert everything to metrics, it was still incredibly delicious – even my super-picky mother-in-law and my children loved it! Just made again this week – prepared the day before to let the flavor come out, and, once again – super delicious. My mother (visiting from CA) loved it and I just printed out the recipe for her. I was thrilled to see in the reviews here I can also double it. This will be my go-to recipe for beef stew from now on!!
I want to double the 6 servings to 12, can I double all the ingredients?
Yep 🙂
A while back I was looking for a beef stew recipe and I found your blog.
At that time I didn’t make it though, but made other recipes from here. All delicious!
Today I made the stew.
Super very delicious!!
I cheated a little bit, towards the end I added a little roux, because I wanted a stronger taste.
Next time I will make a full quantity, coz half isn’t enough :)))
I made this last night for dinner and I followed the recipe to a T. My husband did not like this at all! He likes what I make better. If I ever make this again, I am leaving out the red wine and using all beef broth because the wine changes the taste
My second time making this awesome beef stew. Thank you so much for sharing such awesome recipe. Great for a cold weather in Ireland!!! My fiance and I loved it and looking forward to tonight’s dinner 🙂
h;ow many days in advance can this be made and refrigerated,expecting company and don’t want to cook while visiting
Hi Barbara, I would say 2-3 days without freezing.
Making this again, for the third time. It’s getting chilly here in Ohio, and I can’t tell you how we are looking forward to this. Thank you again for such a wonderful recipe.
Shared with friends. Best stew ever. I used an entire bottle of wine and reduced the water. WOW
Absolutely loved it !!
My Daughter 11 never like to try new food but this one she liked a lot.
Hello Jenn! This will be the second time I am making this stew. Great recipe!!! I loved it the first time I made it! My fiance prefers stew that is thick. How can I thicken the stew this time?
Hi Rachel, Try adding more flour — I’d probably double it.
how can make this for 8
Hi Robert, I would just double it and freeze the leftovers 🙂
I made this last weekend and the only thing that disappointed me was that there wasn’t enough for leftovers! This beef stew is the best I’ve ever made. It will become a staple in my house!
Loved this!!!!!!
Beef stew is one of my favorites but the recipes I have found are always a disappointment, especially after an all day time commitment. This is by far the best beef stew recipe ever. Followed it to a T. Can’t wait for tomorrow to eat it again! As usual, thank you Jenn for making me look like a brilliant chef.
Perfect Sunday dinner! The recipe was easy and the stew was fantastic!
Absolutely fantastic. I’ve made a lot of great stews but always searching to find the perfect recipe . . . and here the search ends. Wouldn’t change a thing. Get the best ingredients you can find, some rustic bread and a robust red, then settle in for meal that’ll make all your troubles melt away.
I just bought a pressure cooker and decided to try it out with this recipe. This was absolutely, melt in your mouth, delicious! Will make this over and over again!
I was recently the Grub Master for my son’s Boy Scout event. These kids are insanely picky…!!! Holy Cow.
First there was silence, and then EVERY ONE of them wanted seconds. (Some took thirds.)You know it’s good when there aren’t ANY leftovers! These are 13/14 year olds. However, the grown up Assistant Scout Masters (ASM’s) hoarked it down as well. Yippee…no more scout glop! They can make THIS instead of the nasty ‘spaghetti’ they try to foist off upon each other. 🙂
This recipe was incredible. I made a couple tweeks. I marinated the beef in red wine before browning…after I had the beef and onions browned and the balsamic vinegar and tomato paste mixed in, I stopped and vaccum sealed all the ingredients together and tossed in in the freezer….this way I didn’t have to worry about the meat going bad in my fridge. A week or so later I pulled it out, let the bag thaw out in a bath of water for 30 min and added it to the other ingredients and seasonings (the wine and broth +seasoning) I LEFT OUT the water in leu of MORE beef broth and added significantly more balsamic vinegar to taste at the end of cooking. My family LOVED this meal. They had seconds and thirds!
One more thing- I used sirloin instead of chuck. Mmmm
I put too much flour into this recipe. Can this be corrected by adding beef broth or stock? I just mad this fabulous beef stew today and will serve it for our dinner! Thank you for your reply! Joan Higgins
Hi Joan, How much extra flour did you add?
The beef stew is in the oven right now as I type, and although I followed the recipe to a T, almost, I realized 10 min later after I put it in the oven I didn’t first bring to a boil on stovetop. I hope that doesn’t make a difference. I’ll let you know. Smells wonderful !!
It will be fine 🙂
It was SO delicious!! Thank you!
Made this today. We couldnt wait to eat it since the house smelled so fabulous. Loved it. Ended up cooking it an hour longer because the carrots were too crunchy for my family’s taste. Thank you for this great recipe! We will definitely be making this again.
Made this stew last night and eating some right now for lunch. Added my own twist by adding some corn & peas & celery. Didn’t think I was going to like it because of the smell after I added the dry red wine, but I was wrong, it tastes & smells amazing after it cooked down. Wonderful & perfectly warming on this rainy Alaskan day!
I have made your recipe several times now and it is always a huge success, so thank you for that!
I was wondering, is it possible to do this in a slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours after I have seared the beef, caramelized the onions, and deglazed the pan? Since I leave at 8am and get home around 930pm most nights I cannot do this on a week night.
Yes, that should work 🙂
Yesterday turned a little chilly in CNY, so I was searching for a quick stew. Love this recipe! I did vary a little based on time and what I had in pantry. I just cut everything in half and added 1/2 cup of frozen peas. no Dutch oven, so I stuck with my trusty stock pot and simmered 90 minutes. Today we had a little left for lunch. This will be a great go-to when Fall comes in full swing. Thanks!
I attempted this recipe for this past Christmas Day (cooked it on Christmas Eve to serve on Christmas Day), my first time cooking a big meal for my family on a holiday. Although it took well more than an hour for the vegetables to cook to the proper consistency (I wasn’t sure if my pot was oven safe, so I simmered on the stove top rather than put it in the oven), it turned out great. I served it with a nice baguette and dipping the bread in the flavorful liquid was probably the best part. I felt very accomplished as a cook after making this recipe – your step by step directions made it seem much less daunting. I am planning on making it again this year!
I made this yesterday and it is absolutely FANTASTIC!
Due to the fact that I live alone, however, I have a TON left over. How do I freeze this, reheat it, and how long will it last?
Hi CJ, So glad you enjoyed the soup! You can definitely freeze it, although you might want to leave out the potatoes as they don’t freeze that well. Let it defrost in the fridge overnight, then just reheat it gently in a pan on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
Wow!! This recipe works! For the first time in a long time I have cooked a super awesome casserole! Thank you
Wonderful stew – originally from Alberta (hence fantastic beef) then moved to Ontario. The aromas are fantastic and the beef is fork tender. Thank you for a wonderful beef stew recipe! Cooked freshly dug potatoes on the side with butter as I wanted to freeze the leftovers (maybe there won’t be any!) Thanks again from Canada!
I’ve seen many recipes that call for partial beef broth and red wine. What does the red wine add to the recipe over using all beef broth? I definitely want to try this recipe but just wondering the advantage of using the wine. Thanks so much!
Hi Linda, Wine adds flavor and some acidity. Enjoy!
Technique so easy and well explained. Was delicious tho I did not have absolutely every ingredient on hand at summer house. Perfect for a cool and rainy Sunday!
Hi, Jenn! I don’t have any oven-safe pots on hand for braising the stew in the oven, so is it possible to make it in a slow-cooker?
Hi Gayarthiri, I would actually just cook it on the stovetop instead — keep it at a simmer and stir every so often so the bottom doesn’t burn. Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Hi Jenn,
If I cooked it on the stovetop, do I still simmer it for 2 hours or more?
Thanks, Charlene.
Hi Charlene, The cook time will be the same as the recipe.
absolutely delicious. I made this stew once and I’m definitely going to make it again. My husband loved it. Thank you
I followed your recipe verbatim and it was the best beef stew I ever had!! My husband is the beef eater and I’m a chicken and shrimp girl,but I loved ever bit of it! The meat was so tender and delicious, thank you for this recipe it’s a keeper!!
First time making this …..it was delicious we all loved it . Truly homely/warming/family food .served with warm home made bread ..it went down a treat and is on next month’s menu .
I love this stew – I’ve made it a bunch of times. It’s such an active recipe that pays off so well. The effort makes it takes all the better.
wow , your stew was awesome by far the best .thank you Jenn ,made this cold day a treat with the family .
OMG this is the best casserole I’ve ever had. The recipe is spot on and was so easy ! Love it! thank you so so much!
The best dinner for a cols winter night.
OH My, this is absolutely awesome. I had a few minor changes due to product on hand. I had read where someone did not have wine, you advised they could substitute more beef broth. I did that. I did not have balsamic vinegar and used red wine vinegar I had on hand. This recipe is absolutely my to go to and never again beef stew packet. Thank you! 🙂
This dish is absolutely wonderful. We love stews, and we have had many versions but this is one of the best. Thank you.
WOW is all I can say!!! Cold rainy day and looking for stew recipe. This one had 5 stars to decided to try it. Followed it exactly and OMG!!! Best stew I’ve ever had. Actually best broth bcuz good stew is all about the broth. 5+ Stars!!! Thanks much.
I made this yesterday and I could not believe how easy it was and how amazing it turned out. Simply delicious!
This recipe is wonderful! Comforting food…, delicious served on top of basmati rice. Your recipes are all easy to follow, love step by step pictures!
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the greatest cook and am not adventurous when it comes to cooking, so I’m always looking for recipes to guide me through the cooking process. This one was easy to follow and everyone loved it! It was full of flavor and was something that the meat lovers AND veggie lovers could enjoy. Along with this we had your Big Italian Salad. Both recipes were unbelievably good and something I will be serving again and again!! 🙂
This was the best beef stew that I have ever eaten…and I made it!! I followed the recipe exactly and kept the computer nearby to compare my progress to your pictures and the result was phenomenal! Although this was the first recipe I used from your site, it certainly hasn’t been the last…I’m just trying to get caught up with reviews. Your clear instructions, pictures, guides, etc. have elevated my cooking to another level. Thanks so much for sharing your gift with the rest of us!!
Forgot to add that while looking at my daughter’s carrot-less bowl, I told her that she should at least TRY the carrots (not her favorite) and she replied, “Mom, I’ve already eaten them all and am getting seconds!”
Dear Jenn,
I can’t describe how excited I am to be reading your recipe. My husband and I are gearing up for the Tasmanian winter and I’d love to cook a mean stew to keep us warm. I’m quite new to using the oven, I must say. Could you give me some tips on what kind of pot I should use to cook the stew and stuff it in the oven? What temperature should I set?
Hi Gayathiri, A Dutch oven or oven-safe stainless steel pot will both work. The oven temp should be 325°F. Hope you enjoy it!
This is the BEST stew I have ever tasted in my entire life!!!! I could not believe how flavorful this stew is. I love stew over grits and this recipe is definitely a keeper for my family for many years to come. THANK YOU for sharing your recipe.
It would be helpful to disclose the ‘sit over night’ instructions at the top of the page when stating will take 3.5 hrs to prep and cook. I was caught off guard and will need to eat it the same day. Hope it’s ok. But I know it will be wonderful for left overs tomorrow.
Thanks for sharing this nice recipe. Made my house smell like Julia Childs house.
Hi Robyn, It is not necessary to let the stew sit overnight; the flavor simply improves if it does. It is perfectly delicious right out of the oven 🙂
This is superbly good recipe for stew. Simple but very tasty. My daughter came back from college and asked me to make beef stew for her. I searched and found your recipe. I will never use other recipe. Thanks a lot.
This is absolutely THE BEST recipe I have ever tried for beef stew. I did not have balsamic vinegar on hand so I substituted red wine vinegar. Also thank you for the suggestion of using chuck roast instead of “stew beef” – that made all the difference and it is so tasty! I will never use another recipe for beef stew. Thank you!!!!
This is an AMAZING stew! I’ve been trying a few different recipes and this is by far the best. My husband has informed me I will be making this often! I made this in my slow cooker which I can also put on the stovetop for those first few steps, however, I would go ahead and add the veggies with the liquids as mine still weren’t tender after 2 hours. I also used London Broil and it was incredibly tender.
Thanks Jenn… This recipe was delicious, and very easy to prepare. The roast was so tender and I’d give the sauce 5 stars.
Wonderful website!
This stew was just delicious – I’ve been making my own thrown together stew for years but this is by far the the richest tasting stew I’ve ever had. Even my fussy child loved it. Thank you!!
I have finally at the age of 36 made delicious beef stew! This recipe is exceptional!! I made a few changes because I’m a micro manager. I used a single serve mini bottle of cabernet and a 14.5 ounce can of beef broth and about 13 ounces water. My gravy was thick and rich and plentiful. I added 2 big parsnips and no potatoes. Served over separate mashed potatoes. It was good enough for a fine restaurant. Oh I had no tomato paste so I used anchovy paste.
I really want to make this stew, I mean the reviews alone sell, but I only have beef stock not broth, will this make a difference?
Hi Cindy, Beef stock will work just fine.
Can it be made in a crockpot?
Hi Joan, It can but you’ll still need to go through all of the initial steps on the stovetop, so not sure it’s worth it.
Can I freeze this dish
Yes, absolutely.
Amazing stew. I’ve made it twice now. The meat just falls apart in your mouth. Everyone I’ve made it for has raved about it.
Great stew!
Can you do this recipe stovetop? I don’t have a dutch oven. If it can be done, what adjustments should I make? Thank you very much!
Hi Rosy, Yes, it can definitely be made on the stovetop. Just cover, keep the heat on low and stir every so often so the bottom doesn’t burn.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly Jenn! It’s greatly appreciated<
Cannot wait to try your recipe!
Rosy
Excellent. Best I’ve ever made and will be my beef stew recipe going forward. I used burgundy because that is all I had and it still was wonderful.
Looks like I’ve found the stew recipe I need for a dinner party this weekend. Only thing is, I know one of the guests isn’t a sage/rosemary fan. Will it ruin it to leave that out? Is there a substitution that doesn’t have as strong a taste?
Hi Erica, Do you mean the thyme? It’s fine to leave it out — will still be wonderful.
I searched a long time for a great beef stew recipe and finally found it. Your directions are easy to follow and this is a no fuss recipe. It cooks in the oven for 2 hours leaving time to get other things done. I did add a slurry of 1 Tbls., flour and 1/2 cup water when reheating to thicken the gravy a bit. Delicious recipe!
Just wondering what I could substitute the red wine with?? (none on hand)…..
Hi Luanne, It is really delicious when made with red wine, but you can replace it with more beef broth if necessary.
I substituted wine for cranberry juice after finding out I only had 1/4 of a cup of wine left (I used the little bit of wine still). It worked well for me.
I cook a lot & really appreciate good food – This recipe was delicious! I made it exactly as stated except that I substituted half of the meat with some tenderized stew meat I had on hand. The roast pieces were definitely a bit tastier, but it was all amazing. I served it with homemade Rosemary bread. I’ll be making this every winter!! Thank you Jenn!
AMAZING. I know that other reviews as well as the recipe stated that this stew is even better left over, and I thought it was a dramatization, but WOW. New favorite recipe! Well worth the wait on the cook time. I added celery as well, which gave it a nice freshness. I did use prepackaged “stew meat” which had an okay marbling, and was concerned it might be tough but it wasn’t at all. The meat just melted, even more so a day later. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
**So sorry I forgot to rate it, but you can probably guess I give it 10 stars!
Jennifer-this was THE best recipe I have come across in a while. I’ve never actually cared for stew but thought this looked so good I had to try it. My cast iron dutch oven wasn’t big enough to fit the last 2C of water so I cooked it without for the first 2 hours. I had to transfer it all to my crock-pot insert to finish with the vegetables and then added 1C of water. Is there a crock-pot version for this recipe that comes out just as good? Otherwise I’m not messing with perfections! Thanks for sharing this.
I alternated the yukon baby golds for small red potatoes on this dish and I did not add any flour or sugar. This turned out to be a huge hit in the household! Even without thickening the sauce, it was absolutely delicious. I will be making this again toward the winter months for a hearty meal!
If you have been searching for the best beef stew recipe, look no further! I have tried multiple recipies , most using a crock pot, and none can compare wtih this recipe which uses a Dutch Oven. The meat is so tender and the gravy is velvety- perfect for a hearty comfort filled dinner.
Absolutely the best stew recipe I have ever made, and I try different recipes all the time! Family loved it. This will be my turn to recipe for beef stew in the future.
I used ground thyme vs. dried, by accident.
It’s currently cooking in the oven.
Is there anything I can add that will prevent the ground thyme from overpowering the dish?
I followed your recipe exactly, except for this error.
Hi Dee, Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do but I really think it will okay.
I added a bit more beef broth, but you’re right, Jenn. It tasted really delicious!!
Thanks for the awesome recipe.
I would definitely make this again!
Can I omit the red wine, or should I double up on the beef broth?
Hi JB, It’d be best to replace the red wine with beef broth.
This is such a fabulous stew! I used boneless short ribs and added a cup of frozen peas at the end. I doubled the recipe and the darn sailors my husband was racing with came to dinner and ate it all, so no leftovers for me. 🙁
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a big hit! Thank you so much. This will definitely be a family favorite for years to come.
I love this recipe but I had to use deer meat ( venison) as we have lots from the hunting season here in Virginia…. The additional extra virgin olive oil gives it that something special that tenderizes even more! Not to mention dry red carbernet Sauvignon wine w beef broth…. God bless.
I have a very thick tri-tip steak that needs to be used. Would it be appropriate for this recipe?
Hi Joan, I always recommend chuck for stew — nothing gets as tender. Sorry!
wondering what kind of pot you store this in in the fridge? Is cast iron ok to store it?
Hi Jen, I would not store it in cast iron. Stainless steel or enamel will work.
I made this stew on Tuesday and we ate it on Thursday with some crusty bread. Definitely a keeper! So rich, wonderful flavor. I might add more carrots & potatoes next time cause my family loves them! I would probably add a little bit more of everything if I did add more veggies so as not to run out of liquid. Thank you for making this our go to recipe!
Excellent!!
Best stew I have every tasted/cooked!!
Just wondering is tomato paste the same as tomato puree?
Hi Emer, No, they are two different products.
This is absolutely, hands down, the BEST beef stew my husband and I have ever had! We’ve tried so many recipes recently (cold weather= stew weather) and this one blows them all out of the water. I’ve made it 3 times in the past month and we are having it for dinner tonight. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
My new go-to stew. Loved it. No more package seasoning for me. (Used sirloin flap steak and it was so tender.)
Loved the beef stew. I made it as the recipe stated, except I could not wait until the next day to eat it. My house smelled so good! My husband liked it as well.
I’m about to make this recipe and I don’t have beef broth,but I do have beef bouillon packets or chicken broth..any suggestions as to which one would be better to use?
Hi Debbie, The beef bouillon packets will work very well. Enjoy!
I made this about a week ago, had to use white wine instead of red and was out of tomato paste, so I substituted with puree. It was delicious! The meat was so tender and yummy and the veggies were just right. If I had to make any negative comments, it would just be that it was very thin. However, I attribute that to my use of puree instead of paste and my lack of appropriate cookware! I’m investing in a large Dutch oven in the very near future!
Excellent! My spouse said its the best I’ve made (26 years) and the best he’s ever eaten. A defined do over. Well worth the time paying attention to the details. Many thanks for passing on this amazing recipe and the steps to make it properly. Perfect right out of the oven!
Terrific recipe, the stew came out flavorful, for once the sauce turned out rich and dense, instead of my usual watery let-down, will definitely use it again. Added mushrooms with the potatoes and carrots, next time will probably wait a half-hour. Hit the spot on a cold, snowy evening.
Hi Jenn,
I want to add string beans. Should I put those in the same time as the potatoes and carrots or wait a little longer? I have it braising now and it smells amazing!!! Can’t wait to eat this with my hubby!
Hi Sara, I realize I’m probably too late, but I would add them in towards the very end — they don’t need more than 10 min. to cook.
Love the recipe
Please help me with how much beef would be needed for a group of 50 to 60
Hi Marilyn, Wow…that is a lot of stew! You will need about 1/2 pound per person, so 25-30lbs of chuck.
Can you use crock pot for this recipe?
Hi Kelly, Yes you can, but you still need to go through all of the initial steps, such as searing the beef, on the stovetop.
You should clarify what is meant by 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme. I used 1/2 teaspoon of the Dried ground Thyme and found it overpowering.
Maybe you meant to say “dried Thyme Leaves”?
The recipe call for too much red wine in my opinion also. In hindsight, 1-1/2 cups probably would have been enough.
Yes, dried thyme should be leaves not ground. Sorry for the confusion!
Hi Jenn,
Fantastic Stew Recipe. The Balsamic Vinegar gives it that extra boost of flavor. I did add a cup of peas at the end. Wonderful! Thank You. A definite keeper recipe.Great for a wintry cold day. 5 stars/2 Thumbs up! 😉
Regards,
Michael
Hello,thank you for this delecious recepie.made it for supper yesterday and it was one of the best stews i have ever cooked.
I just wish to share that I made this recipe and packaged it for freezer meals for someone who is experiencing ill health. It turned out amazing and I am receiving amazing feedback!
What kind of wine do you use?
Hi Mary, Any dry red (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, etc.) will work.
Hi Jenn,
I’m really excited to try out your recipe for this beef stew!
The problem is that I do not have an oven. Would I be able to cook this over a stove under low heat?
Looking forward to your advice! Thanks!
Hi K.T. It’s absolutely fine to make the stew on the stovetop — just keep the heat on low and stir every so often so the bottom doesn’t burn.
Absolutely love this recipe! I’ve made it many times to the delight of my family. It makes the whole house fragrant and we look forward to eating the whole time it’s cooking. I use a bit less beef (2 lbs) and onions (1/2 of a medium), while adding celery (3 stalks) and mushrooms (1/2 lb) to the mix. Definitely recommend this one to others.
Hi! I am excited to try this recipe, but I don’t have a dutch oven. My only oven safe pot is not that thick, probably made of aluminum. Should I run out and buy a pot?
Hi Debi, You can cook it on the stovetop on low…just be sure to stir every so often so it doesn’t burn on the bottom.
Hi Jennifer, I ended up making it in the oven exactly as indicated in the recipe and it turned out amazing! Thank you!
I noticed that you said this recipe would not work well with strip steaks. Would it also not work well with rib eye, which I just happen to have right now.
Hi Carolyn, That’s correct — rib eye is not a good cut for stew. Sorry!
I stumbled upon this recipe and am so glad I did. I made this last night for my family and was super pleased with the results. I used the recipe as a guide and made a few tweaks based upon what items I had on hand. I only used 1 lb of stew meat vs 3, used red wine vinegar vs balsamic and added more wine and more stock than called for. Again, it turned out beautifully and I can’t wait to make it again!
This stew was absolutely delicious! The house smelled wonderful while the beef was braising. Followed the recipe exactly. Will be adding this recipe to my favorites! Thanks Jenn for another great recipe.
Hi Jenn, thank you for all the wonderful recipes! I always get rave reviews when I make anything from your site. Just a question, for your beef stew – would it be as good if I tried it in the slow cooker (after searing the beef etc, in a pot)?
Thanks!
Thanks, Colleen. That is so nice to read 🙂 The slow cooker will work, but the timing might be a bit tricky in terms of the vegetables.
This was delicious!
I make this soup often! Except I do a very low sodium version. It still tastes amazing and has a ton of flavor.
WOW! My first time making stew. This was Delish! I was cooking for a dinner party of 6 and found your recipe. I didn’t have enough time to do it all the day of dinner so I seared the meat and braised the night before then refrigerated until the next afternoon. Was concerned there wasn’t enough spices so added a sprig of fresh rosemary before braising. Would have been great either way. The next day, I roasted my potatoes and carrots before adding them to the pot and back in oven for an hour at 325 to finish off. (BTW I doubled the recipe because I was expecting 8 but had only 6 – glad I did because the leftovers are great). I had never worked with chuck before and had to ask the grocery butcher to cut me a 6 lb roast. Hubby was concerned I was trimming off too much fat when cutting but it was plenty marbled and the meat melted in our mouths. I will definitely be trying more of your recipes. Thank you.
This is the BEST beef stew I’ve ever made and I’ve been cooking for a few decades. Thank you for sharing it. It’s simple and very flavorful. The chuck roast cubes do melt in your mouth.
So here I am, in Central Massachusetts, waiting fo our latest foot of snow to fall…. And all I have for beef are some strip steaks from the freezer. Do you think this would be an acceptable substitute for the chuck? It has decent marbling, and I don’t drive in snow ( 23 years in South Florida has its disadvantages).
Hi Megan, I’m afraid I wouldn’t recommend strip steaks for stew. They won’t break down in the same way that a chuck roast does, and you’ll probably be left with chunks of tight, dry meat rather than meltingly tender beef. Sorry!
Beef stew recipe: best I ever made ..so simple….yet such depth of flavor.
Wow! This is the best beef stew recipe ever. I replaced the tomato paste with 1 28oz can of diced tomatoes and reduced the beef broth by 1 cup. Also, I used regular stew meat since my grocery store selection is limited.
What kind of dry wine?
Hi Sue, Any dry red will work, such as Cabernet, Merlot, etc.
I made the beef stew, it was excellent. I will definitely make again. My husband loved it and he is picky. Thank you for your great recipes.
I made this in my slow cooker and it was amazing. I followed all the steps up to adding the liquids and then transferred everything to the crockpot (on low) for 10 hours (had to run to work, so that worked better for me than the 2 hour braise). So delicious. I oven roasted the carrots and potatoes when I got home and added them the last 15 minutes of cooking. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. A new favorite!
All I can say is …Simple to make and Fantastic. Thanks so much,
I’ve made beef stew many times in the last 40 years but this was the best I’ve ever made. Everyone in my family agreed that this recipe was a keeper. The beef was very tender, the vegetables were not mushy, and the gravy was rich and divine.
I’m a beginner cook and decided to try this recipe after seeing all the excellent reviews. The stew came out beautifully, great taste, meat was melt in your mouth. I can’t wait to make it for my friends and family. Next time I brown the meat in three batches as advised instead of two as the smaller batch browned a lot better (I got lazy).
Thanks for sharing Jenn and I look forward to trying your other recipes!
I don’t have tomato paste or beef broth , what do I do ??? Also I only have regular vinegar, is that ok?
Hi Dawn, You can replace the beef broth with chicken broth, vegetable broth or water; the tomato paste can be replaced with canned crushed tomatoes; and regular vinegar is fine.
What’s the secret to reheating this, I always seem to overcook…
Hi Sharon, I just simmer it on the stovetop until hot. It doesn’t take long so it doesn’t overcook.
The first time I always follow the recipe and I am so glad I did. Right after cooking I tasted it and thought I had just wasted my money BUT I put it away till the next day, WOW.I think there is a song that goes “what a difference a day makes” it is true
My husband raised in lower Alabama back in the woods on soul country food said this French Stew was the best he had tasted. Good job on another education and recipe.
Can I make this beef stew recipe in a crock pot as well? If so, how would I alter it?
Thanks!
Yes, but it’s still necessary to sear the beef on the stovetop and go through all the initial steps, so not sure it’s worth the trouble.
My Austrian wife said this was the best beef stew she’s ever HAD and Austrians know stew!
I did use a wee bit more thyme and also added half a teaspoon of Kashmiri Chilli powder for a smoky flavour and a bit of heat. Fantastic! I can’t wait for dinner tonight to reheat it! 🙂
I’ve been making beef bourguignon and stews since culinary school. This is the best I’ve made or tasted! Get well-marbled chuck whole and cut it yourself. I agree 100% with the author, if you can help it stay away from “stew meat”. Pricing should be pretty much the same as chuck especially if you cut it yourself. I used a dry Pinot Noir and was excellent. I also substituted sherry vinegar for the balsamic and just let it reduce. FYI I would be careful using “cheaper” balsamics as many have added sugars and color. Unless it’s authentic you’re better off using a “cleaner” higher quality vinegar, IMO.
Perfect and I have not even tasted it:-). Will do that tomorrow. Added some cumin to the spices, just bacause I love that spice.
Amazingly good! I added smoked paprika. The house smelled wonderful! We could hardly wait to eat it. Thank you!
Best ever!
Absolutely the best. Even bought the Pacific organic broth. Weighed potatoes and let cool and reheated next day. Would not change a thing. Cost about $40 to make. Good wine. 5 stars!
I made this today and it was absolutely amazing! ! I added chopped hot pepper for some kick and I used “stew meat” (I didn’t know what was advised above before I purchased it). It was VERY tender and I was pleased with the outcome. I will continue to use stew meat for this recipe.
I also used Carrefor’s packaged fresh stew meat and it was incredibly tender and took on so much rich flavor!
But to be fair, their stew meat was nicely marbeled
Made the stew last night, taste awesome, just what we wanted. I must have added more potato/carrots then called for, because I don’t have enough of the soup/stew. So it is on the dry side, do you have a suggest to add more?
Hi Susan, You can add a little beef broth to increase the liquid in the stew.
That stew was everything! I didn’t even let it cook as long as was recommended and I didn’t have the red wine but it was delicious! What winter stews are supposed to be. Thanks, Jen!
Best. Stew. Ever.
great idea leaving the veggies to the last hour of cooking.
Which temperature for fan assisted oven?
Thank you
Hi Andrea, 300°F should work.
This is by far the best beef bourguignon recipe on the internet (in my opinion). So amazingly good! The only thing I did differently was add mushrooms but other than that I followed the recipe to the letter and I will continue to do so!!!
I’m not really a cook but I admire the concept. I was in the mood to cook and I decided on a beef stew. I googled beef stew recipes and found this site. I am glad that I did because my beef stew came out really good — with great flavor. I used red potatoes (love them!!), and threw in some frozen sweet peas. I had to cook a little longer than the recipe described because my carrots were still a bit crunchy. This did not affect the overall dish in the least bit.
I followed the advice of Jenn and saved the dish for the next day — yummy. I will definitely use this recipe again, next time I may add frozen corn in the mix. Thanks for sharing…..
P.S. I’m glad the sauce/gravy wasn’t thin like a soup consistency. The thickness was just right; at least for me.
I cook all the time but have never left a review for a recipe. I had too, this is incredible! I threw everything in the slow cooker (crockpot) all at once, omitted the oil and added celery. It took around 5 hours to reach perfection on a ‘high’ setting. So easy and delicious, thank you!
Hi, Joelle. When you used the slow cooker, did you add the veggies (potatoes and carrots) as well? Did you also brown the meat first? I’d like to give this a try on a slow cooker like what you did. Thanks!
Amazing recipe. This stew was so rich in color and flavor. Definitely my new Sunday go to. Very easy to prepare and immense flavor.
I made this for dinner tonight and it was super tasty. The flavors were very rich and complex, yet this was easy to prepare. Thanks for my new go-to beef stew recipe!
I just finished making this beef stew, and I agree with the crowd…it is delicious! I could not wait to let it sit, which I imagine will only improve the flavor. I did not have beef stock or tomato paste in the house, so used chicken broth and some crushed tomatoes. I can only imagine how aromatic and flavorful the orginal recipe would be, but the substitutions worked well. I cooked it on top of the stove and it worked well.
In our home, if a recipe is great we consider it “company worthy” and if it’s excellent it’s “restaurant worthy”. We are trying to figure a new category for Jenn’s beef stew. Superb…maybe “royalty worthy”. Thank you Jenn for this wonderful recipe!
Do you think that I could use chicken broth in place of beef broth? Thanks.
Hi Merril, Sure, that’s fine.
I wonder if vegetable broth might be better
and add more flavor than chicken broth?
This is the best beef stew I have ever made! Thank you so much for your recipes.
What temperature in the oven??
325°F
this stew was amazing the only thing i disagree on is the the serving count in my house it was only good enough for two, lucky me only two of us at home that wanted beef stew but yet it was awesome
Hey. This I’m interested in trying your recipe but I’m a little confused on the directions.
Is this a stove top recipe? I saw you said braise in the oven but the pictures are all stovetop.
Do I take the meat out of the pot after i brown it?
If this is not a stovetop recipe do you any suggestions on how to alter it to make it one.
Sorry for all the questions, I’m a new cook
Hi Amber, The whole pot goes into the oven to cook after the liquid ingredients are added, so be sure to use an oven-safe pot.
Delicious. Best stew yet. Followed the recipe and used cooking wine and of course worked just fine. I also used 4 cups of beef stock instead of the water/stock combination. Tastes great.
Could this be done up to the last hour, chilled or frozen, then added to a slow cooker with the fresh veggies on low for 4-6 hours?
I am trying to get good use out of my slow cooker this year!!
Hi Jill, I do think that would work, but it might be more trouble than it’s worth 🙂
This stew was excellent! I think it was the best stew I have ever made. Thank-you so much for sharing!
I made this tonight in my new Staub French oven( on sale from Henckels last week)
This was by far the best stew I’ve ever made! I usually brown bacon or salt pork which is traditional French but am happy not to have the added fat in your recipe. I also added sautéed mushrooms in butter and olive oil for extra richness. My husband and chief sampler can’t wait for dinner tomorrow night. Thanks.
I have not made this yet, but it looks delicious!
Do you have nutrition information for this recipe?
ie, serving size, calories, fat, sugar, carbs
Thanks,
Katrina
Hi Katrina, The nutritional data is posted underneath the recipe. Hope that helps!
This was very tasty. My only suggestion would be to check the veggies to make sure they are cooked. I added extra veggies so mine were aldente when we sat down to dinner. Never crossed my mind to check them.
I am allergic to the acid in tomatoes. Can I leave the tomato paste out of the beef stew? Often I use puree of roasted red peppers in lieu if tomst I esn and if needed could u add it here.
Hi Marcia, I think the roasted red pepper purée would work well as a substitute.
Just made it for my family tonight. Delicious! The aroma that filled the house while it was cooking was amazing. I did add frozen peas along with the potatoes and carrots the last hour. It’s a keeper receipe!!
I love your beef stew recipe. Does it make any difference in the results if the stew is simmered on the cook tip rather than in the oven? Thank you.
Hi Joyce, Either way is fine but if you make it on the stovetop, give it a stir from time to time so the bottom doesn’t burn.
I made this stew last night. I cannot tell you the aroma that filled my kitchen as it was in the oven. It was heavenly I made this recipe based on the wonderful reviews it received. The recipe was very easy to follow and fun to cook. I was able to use an antique dutch oven my mom gave me for the first time adding to the happy feeling I cannot wait for lunch today!
I know you’ve heard it thousands of times, but, I love this recipe! I have made it several times over the past couple years, including yesterday. So good! Thanks, Jenn.
This is the best stew I have every had! I will definitely be making it again!!
Stumbled onto this recipe while looking for a new stew to try. All I can say is this. Not only was easy to make, it was full of flavor and was a perfect fill for a first of many cold winter nights. I recommend this recipe to all. Bravo!
what kind of wine did you use?
Hi Carmen, I believe it was Merlot but any dry red is fine.
I plan on making this Wednesday to serve Thursday. I also want to serve it Saturday. Should I do two separate batches, or would it still be good to serve 3 days later?
Hi Carolyn, Beef stew keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days, so you should be fine to do one batch.
This recipe is excellent, I made it last night and it tastes amazing, the only reservation I have is its consistentcy is more like a soup rather than a stew.
Suggestions welcome for doing this in crock pot? (My ovens are going to be busy
Today doing many of your cookie recipes!)
Hi Louise, You can make it on the stovetop; just keep it on low and stir every so often. You could also do it in a crockpot but you’d still need to sear the meat on the stovetop first.
This recipe was a hit in my house. Rich, flavorful and truly hit the spot after searching high and low for a good winter meal. We are all tuckered out watching a movie in the living room with full bellies. Five stars from us!
This recipe sounds delicious. I would love to try it. However, is there anything I can use to substitute the wine, or eliminate from the recipe? Thank-you kindly for sharing!
Hi Aminah, You could replace the wine with more beef stock or try unsweetened pomegranate juice.
This stew is DELICIOUS!! I made it as printed with the addition of two stalks of celery. I served it to company and they raved about it. The leftovers today were wonderful. Thank you!
Made the beef stew with carrots and potatoes yesterday and it was delish. Can’t wait for lunch time to have left over!
Amazing. I cooked this using a pound and a half of Chuck meat (as that is all I had) and scaled down the liquids a little but otherwise followed the recipe exactly as written. I am eating this as I write and it is a big hit with my family. Absolutely delicious.
Delish! Made as directed but added3 stalks celery and 1.25 lbs meat. Love this recipe!
Hi. My husband likes more of a red sauce than a brown one. Can I add tomato sauce to this recipe? If so, what should I eliminate?
Thank you.
Hi Rosemary, I would eliminate some of the wine if you want to add some tomato sauce.
hi
could i make this in a crockpot?
thank u so much!
Hi Smita, Yes but you’ll still need to sear the meat on the stovetop first.
thanks Jenn! how long would you cook for in crockpot? 8 hrs on low?
assuming same quantities as your recipe.
I’d sear meat on stove first and then do all other steps directly in crockpot.
thanks again for your help!
Hi Smita, I don’t have a lot of experience with slow cookers but that sounds about right.
I made it in slow cooker yesterday, it was the best beef stew i ever had. I followed recipe except 1 mixed 1/4 cup flour in 1/4 cup of water and added it 30 min before end time. Fantastic. Thank you
What kind of pot do you recommend using? I imagine it has to be suitable for stovetop and oven – what do you recommend? Can a crockpot pot go on the stove? If not, could you use a crockpot at the end instead of tranferring to the oven? Thanks!
Hi Tasha, I recommend a Dutch oven or oven-safe stainless steel pot.
Can I forgo the oven and cook on the stove top?
Hi Charlie, Yes, that’s absolutely fine; just stir every so often.
Thank you for a great recipe. I always question what I should serve my guests who arrive from out of town the day before a big holiday like Thanksgiving. This year I chose your beef stew recipe. I prepared the recipe exactly as written using a Malbec wine. For the first time ever I cut up the beef chuck myself instead of using pre-cut beef. It was easy to do, and I will do so from now on. Every one enjoyed the meal. My favorite part is that it was a long cooking, one pot meal. The beef was tender and flavorful. I cooked it in the morning and reheated it on the stove at dinner time. I love that I can always trust your recipes!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Definite 5 star dish! I have made this on two occasions and the dish was a BIG HIT! My husband said that this was one of the best dishes I ever made for him and my parents thought it was absolutely delicious. It is time consuming…but 100% worth it. I happened upon your website because I was looking for a beef stew recipe. Your beef stew recipe caught my eye because it did no have a zillion ingredients and I loved your “snow day” blog. Gave me a a really warm feelin. Plus the picture of the stew sold me!
I started with this recipe and I have since tried the peruvian chicken, shrimp tacos, orange cranberry loaf..all were big hits. I am fairly new to cooking and I find your recipes easy to follow and love the step by step pictures. I look forward to getting your emails and to trying more recipes. You are my go to recipe website. Thanks for making it easy and delicious!
Thank you, Lisa. So glad you are enjoying the recipes!
We don’t drink alcohol, what can you replace wine with?
Hi Teresa, Just use more beef broth; should be fine.
I also find that using Worcestershire sauce replaces wine in flavour quite well. I also make dumplings from scratch with this. This is definitely the best beef stew recipe I’ve ever made.
This is a really good recipe. The broth is fantastic. I might add more potatoes and carrots next time, or cook them on the side, because you don’t want to waste a drop! Thanks for this! (Oh, and it’s relatively easy to make).
Hey, I found out I have some spare saffron in the fridge, do you think it’s appropriate to add to the stew or will it be too overpowering?
Hi Dion, I wouldn’t add saffron to this stew. It would be better in lighter fish or chicken dish, like bouillabaise or paella.
I have never had good luck with making stew, until now! Just served this with my teen-age kids and hubby LOVING IT! A few things I did differently, I used fresh thyme and rosemary and added a pound of cubed butternut squash. Served over rice. I think the biggest difference is the type of meat to use. I made sure I bought the recommended chuck roast – HUGE HIT in my household. Thanks so much Jenn!
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe! I’ve just finished preparing it and am waiting for the vegetables to cook now.
It came out wonderfully. Just wanted to say thanks.
This is in the oven as we speak and it smells AMAZING. I’m not a big stew person, but my husband has asked three times what we’re having for dinner and looks more pleased each time. Looking forward to the first bite!
The best beef stew I have ever made, or have ever tasted. It is worth the time and effort. Thank you.
Hi Jen,
This is the best beef stew recipe ever!!! Thank you. I’m a BIG fan of yours now.
Lucy
I made this the first time a couple of months ago, and my husband has been begging for it since. I had a rare full day at home today dealing with repairmen, so I am taking the time to make it again. I can’t tell you how good this is..so very comforting on a cool day. And this kind of cooking just makes my soul happy. One note..it says this recipe serves six, but that is only true if 5 of them are my husband 😀
Hi Jen !
I replaced the wine with beef stock, added a bit more pepper , and it turned out amazing! Thanks!
In what type of dish do I put it in the oven? Or it doesn’t matter.
Can’t wait to make it. Sound yummy..
Thanks!
Hi Carmen, I would use a Dutch oven or large oven-proof soup pot with a lid.
hi trying this recipe for the first time and using a subtle red blend a tad sweet but reasonably dry was wondering if the sweetness of the wine will throw the flavor off
Hi Chris, No worries, I think a red blend will be perfect. I have used many different varietals for this recipe and it always turns out 🙂
Jenn, have you noticed that some other source is using your review section to comment on something other than your recipe?
Your beef stew reviews have those unrelated comments.
Thanks so much for letting me know about the spam, Karen; I went in and removed those comments.
I made this Beef Stew for my family today and it was absolutely delicious. No fancy ingredients; just honest-to-goodness comfort. Thank you, Jenn!
What’s not to like about stew?
I tried this recipe as it is, with the addition of turnips just to get a rise out my family. (We don’t eat a lot of turnips, but hey, it went well!)
Use real roast that you cube yourself – – I agree that’s the key to tender chunks of meat….that and low and slow long cooking. I expect, this would work well in a croc pot, (after searing/browning the meat initially) but I’ve not tried it yet.
Funny note – I’m not much of a wine-o. Grabbed random red wine of the shelf—-turns out I grabbed a Christmas-y spiced wine—cinnamon, the whole bit. I didn’t taste it before using. . ., but took a glug after it was in the oven. “Oh well! It’s in there now!”
So, it turned out a little sweet, but still great technique and easy recipe to follow. I’ll continue to add the veggies in last hour so they don’t go to mush.
This beef stew recipe has become my favorite. I made it for a freezer meal exchange and it received top reviews.
I cut the beef into small chunks and realized after baking, that I should have made them larger. They fell apart. It certainly didn’t change the flavor, just the appearance. This is a recipe fit for company served with noodles and pop overs.
Aside from browning the beef (which is the only time consuming part) this is simple to make. The directions (esp. an explanation on choosing the right meat) and pictures are extremely helpful! My sister tasted this recipe and said it was “restaurant quality” stew. A five star restaurant, that is.
I made this a couple months ago and came back today to add ingredients to my shopping list. This stew was perfect seasoned and had a good balance of sauce to vegetables and meat. I’m looking forward to more of it later this week! Thanks, Jenn, for the great recipe.
I made it today and it turned out so delicious. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the rest of the world.
I did replace the balsamic vinegar with worcestershire sauce as I had no vinegar in the pantry but it still tasted gold.
I will definitely be checking more of your dishes out when I cook.
Hi,
Can i cook this in a pressure cooker?and is it okay if i leave out the balsamic vinegar?or what’s the substitute for that.
If I want to add mushrooms,when should I put it?
Thanks. Looking forward to make this
Hi Aileen, Yes it’s fine to use a pressure cooker; just be sure to sear the meat first as the recipe indicates. It’s fine to leave out the balsamic and I’d sauté the mushrooms separately and add them at the very end.
This is the tastiest stew in the world! i found it through “yummly” and am so glad I did.
We skipped the wine as we never seem to have around when we make this, but replaced it with more beef stock and water, also just keep it on the hob simmering rather than putting it in the oven.
It tastes amazing! Worth the many hour wait!
Will be trying your other recipes soon 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing!
Very Good my Hats of, 🙂 THANK YOU CHEF 🙂 my dinner guess LOVE the beef stew I am from Trinidad & Tobago and we enjoy eating from the pot with the Bread lol my dinner guess they did not want to share with each other lol thank you chef for sharing your recipes.
I made this stew exactly as is and it was absolutely delicious! Thanks so much.
Jenn, as per your suggestion, I simmered the stew on the stovetop. It came out great! My family loved it and the leftovers were even better. A loaf of french baguette helped to scoop up the gravy. This was a big hit and I will be making it again.
Im so excited to try this!!
I was looking for a beef stew recipe and was inspired by all the comments, so I tried this one. It is absolutely DELICIOUS!! I made it exactly as posted. Thank you, Jenn! I’m happy I found your blog and very much look forward to trying more of your recipes. (PS Thank you for describing what type of meat to get. This has always baffled me.)
You’re welcome, Michelle. So glad you enjoyed it!
Made this the other night and it was EXCELLENT! Easy and better than my usual beef stew. This is now my go-to-recipe. Thanks!
Has anyone done this in a crockpot? Any suggestions would be great!
I just saw the last comment! Never mind 🙂
can you t me how to do this in a slow cooker?
Hi Mary, I’d advise making the recipe as directed for the best results but if you want to try it in a slow cooker, it will work. Just be sure to brown the meat before adding it to the slow cooker with the other ingredients. Cooking time should be about 8 hours but can’t say for sure since I’ve never tried it. Hope you enjoy it!
Now this is the closest to what we Hungarians call Gulyas!!!!
Such a fantastic recipe. I’m 18 and wanted to cook something different for my dad and he loved it! Thank you!!! 🙂
Dear Jenn,
This is a truly delicious recipe – it is the best beef stew I have ever made! I usually use an enamelled cast iron dutch oven and am wondering how to adapt this recipe for a large slow cooker (7 quarts). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Antonietta, So glad you enjoyed the stew! To make it in a slow cooker, I’d still brown the meat first separately before adding it to the slow cooker with the other ingredients. It will probably need about 8 hours to cook but I’ve never tried it so can’t say for sure. Please let me know how it comes out.
Hello! What red wine do you use? I can’t tell exactly from the picture.
Hi Christine, I believe that is Merlot in the photo but any red wine is fine.
I just made your recipe for this tonight and it turned out fabulous. I added in maybe around a teaspoon and a half of truffle salt and saffron, and it really complimented the flavor nicely. I would use a wee less red wine next time, because it was such a rich stew. Otherwise, this was exceptional! Thank you for sharing.
I absolutely love this recipe. I made it this past weekend for a group of friends and they raved about the beef stew non-stop. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
After preparing the beef stew, can it be frozen to share and give as a freezer meal?
Hi Karen, Absolutely!
OMG the beef stew was so good!!! my family loved it…
Hi Jenn – Can’t wait to try this recipe. Can I substitute ketchup for the tomato paste?
Thanks for all the great recipes!
Hi Donna, Yes, I don’t think it will make a big difference. Glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
I made today and it was excellent. I cut the carrots and potatoes in thinner slices and added 1.5 lb organic stew meat. Turned out perfect! After I added the vegetables, I kept in oven for 2 hours. It thickened up nicely. Thank you.
This recipe sounds delicious. The only problem is I’ve already bought 6lb of braising steak before I found the recipe. Could I use that instead of chuck roast?
Chuck is sometimes labeled as braising steak, so I’d say yes it is fine.
Made this a second time yesterday and my brother (this was a big compliment) loved it and wanted the recipe. He loved the broth, my dad loved it as well. 2 request for recipes. Nice job on the recipe, I wish I could take credit for it.
So glad you and your family liked the stew, John. You made it so you definitely get the credit 🙂
Thank you for this recipe, the pictures and easy to follow instructions! It’s delicious! My husband said it is the BEST stew he has ever tasted!! (Thanks also for helping me win brownie points!) The only challenge I had was cutting the carrots at a diagonal so I cut them up in chunks instead, and then they didn’t soften, but I’ll try again next time! Thanks again!
Awesome recipe! I am making it for the second time today. Very simple but yet very different from what I have made in the past. The only question I had and I just winged it, was the braising part. Was not a 100% sure at what temp I should do that at (I may have missed it).
How can I just make it on stove top
Just simmer the covered pot on low heat and stir every so often so the bottom doesn’t burn. The cooking time should be the same.
What would the directions be for cooking on the stove top and not using an oven?
Hi Michelle, Just simmer the covered pot on low heat and stir every so often so the bottom doesn’t burn. Should be the same cooking time.
SOO Delicious!!! I have made this twice & nothing but rave reviews!!! It does require some effort, but the results are SOO worth it!!!
Yummmmm! Just made this last night. It was delicious.
Thanks for the detailed recipe and above all pictures!
Going to make your buttered rum recipe next.
Bisou!
YUM!!I made this yesterday, so simple yet so flavorful and delicious.
My variation…. I cooked it on the stove instead of the oven. I used a pressure cooker to speed up the process and added less wine, more stock. I added celery with the carrots. I used less potatoes and finished it off with some West Indian style dumpling at the end.
This stew was amazing!!! thank you!
I am cooking beef stew for 40 people. I just finished doing 18 lbs. of meat. My question can I cook the carrots and potatoes seperately and then add to the meat that I cooked and made the gravy?
Hi Maureen, Wow, that’s a lot of stew! Yes, it is absolutely fine to cook vegetables separately.
We LOVED this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
this stew is the best looking i have ever seen .if it taste as good as it looks it must be awesome, which i believe it is.u have inspired me to make the recipe.thanks for sharing.
Wonderful recipe, I used rice flour instead of all purpose flour to make it gluten free, came out perfect.
This is a wonderful recipe. It is a good cold weather comfort food that my family LOVES!!!
This recipe is time intensive, but definitely worth it. If I had one piece of advice for those who are going to make this, it is that ground beef chuck (which is still labeled as beef chuck) and regular beef chuck (which looks like regular strips of meat) are completely different. If you use the ifrst one, you’ll make a rather tasty, yet oily beef chili.
A truly delicious meal, though I did make a few changes. To save time, instead of browning the meat I just cook the dish in the oven without a lid – this is a trick I learned from Cooks Illustrated and it worked well without sacrificing flavor. I also added Guiness and reduced at the end to intensify the flavor. Great basic recipe that is easy to modify.
This is the best beef stew recipe ever. I doubled the recipe and served it as an autumn supper for out of town guests. Everyone loved it and several asked for the recipe. Thanks Jen, I really love your recipes and detailed instructions!
Hi Jennifer , This is the best beef stew I have ever tasted, I usually make it from the packaged precut beef, but this was so tender I will never be able to go back to my old way of making beef stew! I added a few more vegi’s, parsnips, turnips and sweet potato. This was so good! ThankYou!
Beef Stew with Carrots and Potatoes is a quick & easy meal that I can make in my crock pot on a cold Winter’s day & have my whole apartment feel like I was back home with Mom & Dad growing up !
What’s the difference between onions and shallots? I’ve always steered away from them because they are so small to peel.
Hi Judy, Shallots are milder than onions. I typically use them in sauces and salad dressings.
Husband said it was the best stew he ever had! I didn’t have potatoes so added mushrooms instead and it turned out great. I look forward to making this again!
Cooked this for dinner tonight and it is so delicious! I did not have to change anything! Its now stored in my bookmark under ” tried, tested and yummers! ” thank you so much.
I never comment on blogs or recipes. But this is seriously the *best* beef stew I’ve ever had.
Wow.
Now, I can’t wait to try other recipes from your blog. I am seriously impressed.
The best part is, I just know my toddles are going to love it too.
Thank you so much.
What can I use instead of the onions?
Hi Myra, You could use shallots instead of the onions.
love your style
This is THE best beef stew recipe I have ever made!Thank you.My husband even had a bowl of it for breakfast. I find your recipes to be very good and have recommended your site to many friends. I wish for you lots of success in all your endevors.We are fans!
Thank you, Rose!
Ooh pomegranate juice sounds nice.
Can you substitute the red wine for anything non-alcoholic?
Hi Kim, You could just use more beef stock or water instead. Or if you like a little more sweetness, you might try pomegranate juice or all natural grape juice.
Can I leave on the stove or does it need to be in the oven?
Hi Diane, You can definitely simmer it on the stovetop.
Hello Jenn!
Thank you so much for the info.
You’re welcome!
Could you please tell me from which part the beef chuck comes from, I can´t seem to find the right translation for it.
Hi Manuela, Chuck is the shoulder. Here’s a good diagram:
http://www.stubbsbbq.com/the-pit/files/2012/06/cow-diagram2.png
I always have that problem as well. Where I live, none of the stores call anything “chuck” so I never know what it is 🙁
How were the onions cut?
Hi Judy, They are cut into 1-inch chunks.
I like how you cut the onions you should show people how you did that
Hi Jenn,
This recipe sounds amazing, thank you for sharing! I plan on cutting the recipe in half since I will be the only one eating it. Should I adjust the cooking times at all?
Hi Spencer, Good question. It may cook a little faster, but not much. In the beginning, you’ll save time searing the meat, and the onions won’t take as long. But the meat will still need a long time in the oven…I can’t say for sure how long so just keep an eye on it — when the meat is tender, it’s done. Hope you enjoy!
Oh my!
Ha ha! We have balsamic vinegar. Now question time. From which part of the poor cow is chuck meat from. What on earth is a Dutch oven and a crock thingy? Forgotten the word. We don’t get ready made stock!!! I have to use soup powder. What ratio of the powder to the water would you suggest? Do you put the onions and garlic in at the same time as the balsamic or fry them first? Otherwise they’re boiled no? But it sounds delicious. I’ve been thinking about stews but I’ve forgotten how to make it. Many thanks.
Hi Judy, Chuck is from the shoulder…a Dutch oven is a heavy oven-safe pot with a lid…for the powder, just use the ratio called for on the package…and, yes, you cook the onions and garlic first. Hope you enjoy!
Your illustrations and tips are outstanding!
Thank you, Cilla!
I have made this recipe 3 times and it keeps getting better. I am currently making it right now. The only changes I have made are the addition of 1 1/2 tsp. of Beef Soup Base. I also substituted Beck’s Sapphire Beer instead of wine. It works out really well. I will be trying out more of the recipes. My wife loves when I make this.
Love your suggestions, Anthony. Thank you!
This is in the oven as I type. If it taste half as good as it smells, I will be very happy!
I let this cool and then refrigerated overnight. Just heated up as directed and served with a fresh baguette. I think it is one of the best things I have ever eaten! It was delicious and looked exactly like the pictures. Thanks for the recipe and tip regarding chuck roast in lieu of stew meat.
Made it. Loved it! Family requesting again…good sign;)
regarding gluten free -do you think rice flour would work? I am thinking I will make this but thicken it and serve it with a sheet of pastry on top (like a skillet pie)
Hi Ian, I think it’d work fine. You could also just leave it out for a thinner sauce. Please come back and let me know how it turns out!
I used tapioca flour and left our the sugar to make it gluten free. Worked well. And this stew is so good I want to make it all winter long!
Hi Jenn,
This looks amazing! I eat gluten-free, can you recommend a replacement for the all purpose flour?
Thanks so much for sharing your recipes! The Peruvian chicken was delish!
Hi Elizabeth, So glad you enjoyed the Peruvian Chicken…that’s one of my favorites! For this recipe, you can use cornstarch (be sure brand is gluten free) instead of the flour, but don’t add it at the same time. You’ll want to cook the stew, omitting the flour, until the very end (the broth will be thin). Then make a “slurry” by combining a 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water; mix until completely smooth. Whisk half of the slurry into the stew and bring to a gentle boil on the stovetop and simmer until the broth is thickened and any starchy taste has been cooked away. If you want the broth thicker, add the remaining slurry and repeat.
We had this for dinner on Tuesday night, it was so good! Very good! I actually tripled the onion and just halved them, and seared the cut side.
Love this recipe, I have made it countless times! Usually I add an extra pound of beef and double the carrots so that we have lots of left overs. Works great in the crock pot as well.
Mary…I would love to make this in my crock pot as I do not have a dutch oven (I plan on purchasing one in the not-too-distant future). Do you modify the recipe at all for the crock pot? Thank you in advance….
I have made this twice. I found the instructions for this receipt to be perfectly written for a novice like myself – at making a stew. The time in the oven and the overnight in the refrigerator make this a great dish.
I varied this with blue potatoes. Yummy.
I tried this out – it was so good! I left out the potatoes (because I didn’t have any on hand) and served it over buttered egg noodles. That took care of the starch portion of the meal! Delicious!
I am a stew lover and this recipe is my new favourite. Using Chuck roast and de-glazing the pot is essential. I have both slowed cooked it in the stove and on top of the stove, both worked well. Actually I had had a stew in a restaurant famous for its stew in Northern New York and I had to replicate it, so i went in search of that flavour. This recipe was even better, thank you.
What does de-glaze the pot mean? Sorry for being ignorant? Does that mean when you put the vinegar in and scrape off the brown stuff because I totally messed that up this time!
Hi Nicola, That is a good question!You are correct — it is when you put the vinegar in and scrape the brown stuff off the bottom.
If you skip the flour and serve over mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes, this works as a hearty paleo comfort food.
I made this beef stew today for my family’s dinner and they really enjoyed it. It was perfect for the snowy weather we had today. Thank you for this wonderful recipe. Once again you exceeded my expectations!
Looks good! Planning on a version of beef stew tonight and was browsing for tips.
That looks so good -(presentation ) i am going to make this Saturday everyone will be home. I haven’t made Beef Stew in years. thanks for perkining up my tastebuds
My 20 yr old daughter n I shared a bonding memory over this recipe yesterday while snowed in here in KC. We pretty much determined that adding the correct cut of meat, balsamic vinegar n wine n flour made all the diff along with the slow cookin oven process. Thank you dearly. My only regret is that we are not able to imbibe with Lenten meat fast today! What a sacrifice waitin for Saturday. 🙂
I have been cooking for 40 years and this is the first time I have made beef stew in the oven. I used my cast iron Dutch oven. I had a small rump roast and cut it into cubes. This is delicious! I tasted it and will have it tomorrow night. Nice complexity of flavors.
Our favorite! We like thicker stew so I leave out the water. Also, I roasted the potatoes and carrots on a baking sheet for the last hour and just toss with the beef before serving. Thanks for a winning recipe!
Hiya – love the recipe with Balsamic. I always have it in the kitchen to dunk bread in but never tried in stew ill do this recipe tomorrow 🙂
Please help though – when i add frozen veg they NEVER soften??any ideas or tips?
Thanks 🙂
x x
Hi Chelsea, The only thing I can think of is that maybe you’re not cooking them long enough. Can you be more specific as to which vegetables?
Made this tonight. My husband had been ice fishing all day and came home cold and hungry. He came through the door and said, “Wow, what is cooking?’ He yum, yummed all the way through the meal.
I have a question about smashing the garlic cloves. I took it literally, smashed the clove w/ the side of my big knife and through them in just like that. Is that what you do? And do you try to fish the out later? I didn’t, and didn’t notice any in my bowl.
Thank you for the recipe. It will be added to my collection.
Hi Denise, So glad you and your husband enjoyed! Yes, that is exactly what I do with the garlic and it just dissolves into the stew since it cooks for so long.
Thank you for your reply. It is below zero here today so your stew is once again on the menu!
I bought cooking red wine can I use that in place of the wine?
Hi Laura, The stew will be much better with regular red wine. You can buy a package of 4 small bottles if you don’t want to open a regular-sized bottle.
I just have to say GREAT STEW!! I ve tried numerous recipes for stew but this one by far takes 1st place 😉 Hubby and kids loved it!! Thank you
Quick question, any way to get around the wine? My husband can’t have it and even though it cooks out it still makes him nervous. Could I substitute with something else?
Hi Kaidee, I’d substitute beef stock – it will work just fine.
Hi, can I make this stew in the slow cooker? If so, do you know for how long, or if I would need to decrease the liquids at all? Thanks,nit looks delish!! Was thinking about making it for part of our Chrisytmas yummys!!
Hi Kristie, I’ve never made it in a slow cooker so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out, but I believe the rule of thumb is to reduce the liquid by half.
This looks and sounds so wonderful, but I would need to cook it in the slow cooker.. Any tips on how to change the recipe?
Hi Jessica, I believe the rule of thumb is to reduce the amount of liquid by one-half. For this recipe, I don’t think you’d need to adjust anything else. Please let me know how it comes out!
Just made this stew last night and it was incredible. By far the best stew recipe I have stumbled upon. Can’t wait to eat the leftovers tonight! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Sorry to ask a silly question, but here goes…. I don’t own a dutch oven! I have a big oven safe stock pot, but would have to put my oven rack on the lowest position. Would that work or should I just wait until I get a dutch oven?
Hi Rebecca, Not a silly question at all! It’s fine to use your stock pot w/the oven rack on lowest position – just be sure to stir the stew every so often so it doesn’t burn on the bottom. You can also cook the stew over low heat (covered, stirring occasionally) on the stovetop. Hope you enjoy!
Followed recipe correctly, tastes nice but put carrots/ potatoes in after two hours and in for an hour and still not ready! Too hard ahhh! Back in again hoping meat doesn’t overcook now.
No worries, Sharon, the meat will not overcook.
Finally a basic but hearty stew with nothing in it but what makes a stew. Thank you for posting. I can’t wait to try your version and see what my husband thinks. He is soup/stew cook around here so this should be interesting. Looks amazing. Wish they had smell a monitor.
🙂 Okay, so came across a few hiccups today when trying this recipe for the first time. All my own fault. I had no balsamic vinegar, and since I had all the other ingredients, I really really did not want to run out to the store for any. So…I took 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar and mixed it with orange blossom creamed honey. Then…I thought I had tomato paste (I was pretty darn certain I bought it last week to make a seafood paella) but, it was no where to be found. I did however have strained tomatoes (much like paste, but thinner.) So, I simply doubled it up. Put it in as the recipe called for, but, cooked a little longer for the liquid to cook out a bit. We don’t really like wine to much (and my mother is allergic to it… asthma) so, I only added 1 cup, and instead added 3 cups of beef broth. I like the glazed looking stews, rather than the thicker paste looking stews, (which for some reason always happens for me when I use flour) so, I did not add the water and also left out the flour. I added a couple squirts of Merlot cooking sauce. Its right now at the braising stage and has been braising for 1 hour. It smells amazing in here, and my husband keeps rubbing his hands together saying he “can’t wait” (we make dinner early on Thursdays due to my daughters having dance classes at 5pm, with both of them being in the classes, we don’t leave until 8pm!) We usually skip lunch on this day. Can’t wait to taste it!
Hi Jennifer,
Can the balsamic vinegar be substituted for another vinegar, or be left out all together? Thanks!
Hi Amber, You can either substitute red wine vinegar or leave it out — won’t make much difference at all. Hope that helps!
Making this tonight for some visiting family. After searching for a flavorful recipe I am confident this will be a huge hit! It has inspired me to make my own bread just for this!
I am currently cooking this recipe for tonight’s dinner, the aroma in my apartment is wonderful. Having read the previous reviews of this dish I had to try it and I’m hoping my efforts are just as delicious…
the best!!!!!!
This was a great dinner! I found the recipe a bit long, but I followed along and we all enjoyed a great dinner! Thanks!
Best beef stew I have ever made in 45 years of cooking! It is an official family favorite! I love that it is a do-ahead meal, too. When a crowd is coming, I can just pop it in the oven to re-heat. I so appreciate your teaching the techniques involved, i.e. selecting the proper cut of beef and cubing it, searing the beef in small batches, et.al. It’s a little time consuming but the end result is worth every minute!
This recipe was fabulous, always looking for stew recipes! It is very important to sear the beef cubes, as instructed. Don’t cut corners! the flavor is wonderful!
Every time i make this the pot is cleaned out. It may be the best beef stew ever. Can’t wait for winter…just to make this of course.
My husband I LOVE this recipe. I normally make stew in a crockpot but since making this recipe I will never go back. This recipe is so worth the extra effort. Yum!
Talking about a big hit, I am working in Manila, Philippines and the culture here when is your birthday, you must invite the people to a blowout (dinner or lunch), let me tell you very happily that out of 63 people I had invited 63 of them loved it. I can not thank you enough for your recipe. It was one of my greatest birthday, thanks to you and my friends.
Mario
This comment was so nice to read, Mario. I’m so glad your guests loved the stew. Happy Birthday!
This has got to be the best stew recipe ever! My husband isn’t usually a big fan of stew but he loved this one. Thanks for another great recipe!
Just Awesome!!! Made for a special dinner with my folks and was a big hit. Thanks for the recipe
Excellent stew recipe! I use my own homemade beef broth but otherwise follow this to the letter. Easy and delicious.
The Beef Stew with Carrots and Potates was the first recipe made in our home from this website. It was superb! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
OMG, this looks so good. I getting hungry just looking at the picture. I’m making this tonight!
The Cook’s Illustrated Beef Stew recipe is 4 pages long. When did cooking peasant food get so complicated? This recipe is simple, the ingredients true, and the results are amazing.
believe it or not some people do not know how to cook and do need those pictures…I work in food service and had to stand there and teach some how to cook step by step, the pictures will help those who need help to cook
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!!!!
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!
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.
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…