Finest Outdated Usual Beef Stew Recipe

A pot of Outdated Usual Beef Stew, full of tender chunks of beef, chunky carrots and potatoes, and a thick, savory broth, is a kind of meals that simply feels proper.

Close-up of hearty beef stew in a Dutch oven with a ladle, featuring beef chunks, potatoes, carrots, peas, and celery in a rich brown broth.

That is the type of traditional beef stew many people grew up with. Easy components, no shortcuts, and loads of time for the flavors to come back collectively. It’s excellent for Sunday supper, a snowy night, or anytime you need a comforting meal.

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That is the type of recipe my grandma would make, particularly when she wished one thing hearty and filling on the desk. Her long-time accomplice, Clarence, was a beef farmer, so meat and potatoes had been at all times entrance and heart at their meals. An enormous pot of stew like this simply made sense of their kitchen, particularly on colder days when everybody wanted one thing heat and satisfying.

They each cherished these stick-to-your-ribs type of meals, those that maintain you full for hours and go away you utterly content material. You by no means left their place hungry. This traditional beef stew brings again these reminiscences of full bowls, full bellies, and sitting across the desk simply having fun with good, sincere meals collectively.

Substances

The total printable recipe card with measurements and directions is discovered on the backside of the submit.

Stewing beef or beef chuck: Select well-marbled beef for probably the most tender, flavorful stew. Chuck is nice as a result of it breaks down properly because it cooks. Pre-cut, packaged stew beef cubes are a handy possibility once you wish to save time.
Vegetable oil: Use a impartial oil with a better smoke level so the meat browns properly with out burning. Canola oil will also be used.
Salt and pepper: Season the meat generously earlier than browning. This builds taste proper from the beginning.
Candy onion: Cube it evenly so it cooks evenly.
Garlic: Mince it finely so it blends into the broth. I exploit a garlic press.
All-purpose flour: Flour helps thicken the stew. Cooking it briefly removes any uncooked flour style.
Beef broth: Use a good-quality broth because it makes up many of the taste. Low-sodium is an efficient alternative so you possibly can management the salt degree.
Crimson wine: Wine provides depth and richness, however it’s elective. If skipping it, simply exchange it with extra beef broth. A Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Shiraz works effectively right here.
Tomato paste: Provides colour and a little bit of richness.
Worcestershire sauce: Provides a savory enhance that deepens the general taste.
Thyme: I choose recent thyme, however dried works simply as effectively.
Bay leaves: Keep in mind to take away them earlier than serving.
Carrots: Minimize carrots into massive chunks, in order that they maintain their form and don’t flip mushy.
Yellow potatoes: These are nice for stew as a result of they maintain collectively whereas turning into tender and creamy inside. Crimson potatoes will also be used.
Celery: Celery provides taste to the broth with out overpowering the opposite greens. Slice it evenly so it cooks on the identical fee.
Frozen peas: Stir these in on the finish in order that they keep brilliant inexperienced and barely candy. You don’t must thaw them.
Cornstarch and chilly water: That is elective for those who like a thicker stew. Mixing it with chilly water first prevents lumps.
Contemporary parsley: A sprinkle on the finish provides freshness and a pop of colour proper earlier than serving.

Make Outdated Usual Beef Stew

Step One: Pat beef dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
Step Two: Warmth 1 tablespoon of oil in a big Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high warmth.
Step Three: Working in batches, sear beef on all sides till browned, about 4–5 minutes per batch. Take away to a plate.
Step 4: Scale back warmth to medium. Add remaining oil and onion. Prepare dinner till softened, about 5 minutes.
Step 5: Stir in garlic and prepare dinner for 30 seconds till aromatic.
Step Six: Sprinkle flour over the onions and stir effectively to coat. Prepare dinner for 1 minute to take away the uncooked flour style.

Collage of cooking ingredients in a pot.

Step Seven: Whisk in purple wine, scraping up browned bits from the underside of the pot.

A collage of cooking ingredients in a pot.

Step Eight: Stir in beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves.
Step 9: Return browned beef and any juices to the pot. Deliver to a boil, then scale back warmth to low.
Step Ten: Cowl and simmer for 1 ½ hours, stirring often, till beef is tender.
Step Eleven: Stir in carrots, potatoes, and celery. Simmer, lined, for one more 45 minutes, till greens and beef are fork-tender.
Step Twelve: Take away bay leaves.
Step 13: Elective: Combine collectively the cornstarch and chilly water to make a slurry for those who choose a thicker stew.
Step Fourteen: Stir in peas and cornstarch slurry, if utilizing, and prepare dinner for five minutes till heated by way of.
Step Fifteen: Style and modify seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with recent parsley earlier than serving.

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Variations and Substitutions

Skip the wine: In case you choose to not prepare dinner with wine, merely exchange it with an equal quantity of beef broth. The stew will nonetheless be wealthy and flavorful.
Use completely different greens: Swap in parsnips, turnips, inexperienced beans, or rutabaga for a part of the carrots or potatoes. Mushrooms additionally make an ideal addition and add further depth.
Attempt recent or dried herbs: Contemporary thyme offers a brighter taste, however dried thyme works simply as effectively. You may also add a small sprig of rosemary for a barely completely different natural observe.
Make it thicker or thinner: For a thicker stew, use the cornstarch slurry or mash just a few potatoes proper within the pot. For a thinner broth, merely add a bit extra beef broth.
Use a special reduce of beef: Beef chuck is traditional, however backside spherical or blade roast will also be used. Simply make sure you reduce the meat into bigger chunks so it stays tender.
Add slightly warmth: In case you like a little bit of spice, add a pinch of purple pepper flakes or a splash of sizzling sauce.
Make it gluten-free: Skip the flour and thicken the stew with cornstarch as a substitute, or let it simmer uncovered slightly longer to naturally scale back.
Sluggish cooker possibility: After browning the meat and sautéing the onions and garlic, switch all the things to a gradual cooker and prepare dinner on low for 7 to eight hours or on excessive for 4 to five hours, including peas on the finish.

Bowl of meat and vegetable soup with potatoes, carrots, peas, and herbs, served with dinner rolls and fresh parsley.

Storage Directions

Fridge: Let the meat stew cool utterly, then switch it to an hermetic container. Retailer within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Freezer: This stew freezes effectively. Cool utterly, then retailer in freezer-safe containers or luggage for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low warmth, stirring often, till heated by way of. You may also reheat particular person parts within the microwave.
Make forward: This can be a nice make-ahead meal. You may put together it a day upfront and refrigerate it, then reheat earlier than serving. It tastes even higher the following day as soon as the flavors have had time to meld.

Top view of rustic meat and vegetable soup with potatoes, carrots, peas, and shredded beef in a black bowl.

Recipe Suggestions and Methods

Take time to brown the meat: Browning the meat in batches provides loads of taste to the stew. Don’t rush this step or overcrowd the pot.

Scrape up the browned bits: Once you add the wine or broth, make sure you scrape the underside of the pot. These browned bits add unimaginable depth to the broth.

Style and modify on the finish: Season evenly at the start and modify salt and pepper as soon as the stew is completed, particularly since broths can differ.

Let it relaxation earlier than serving: Letting the stew sit for 10 to fifteen minutes earlier than serving helps the flavors come collectively and barely thickens the broth.

Serve it merely: This stew is ideal by itself, however additionally it is nice with crusty bread, bitter cream biscuits, tacky garlic biscuits, or buttered rolls for absorbing the broth.

Stew Recipes

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Side view of a bowl of stew with beef, carrots, potatoes, peas, and parsley, next to a towel and herbs.

Outdated Usual Beef Stew

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Prep Time 20 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Complete Time 2 hours 35 minutes

Old style beef stew made with tender beef, hearty greens, and a wealthy, savory broth. A traditional consolation meals recipe excellent for cozy household dinners.

Pat beef dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
Warmth 1 tablespoon of oil in a big Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high warmth.
Working in batches, sear beef on all sides till browned, about 4–5 minutes per batch. Take away to a plate.
Scale back warmth to medium. Add remaining oil and onion. Prepare dinner till softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in garlic and prepare dinner for 30 seconds till aromatic.
Sprinkle flour over the onions and stir effectively to coat. Prepare dinner for 1 minute to take away the uncooked flour style.
Whisk in purple wine, scraping up browned bits from the underside of the pot.
Stir in beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves.
Return browned beef and any juices to the pot. Deliver to a boil, then scale back warmth to low.
Cowl and simmer for 1 ½ hours, stirring often, till beef is tender.
Stir in carrots, potatoes, and celery. Simmer, lined, for one more 45 minutes, till greens and beef are fork-tender.
Take away bay leaves.
Elective: Combine collectively the cornstarch and chilly water to make a slurry for those who choose a thicker stew.
Stir in peas and cornstarch slurry, if utilizing, and prepare dinner for five minutes till heated by way of.
Style and modify seasoning with salt and pepper.
Garnish with recent parsley earlier than serving.

Make-Forward Pleasant: This beef stew tastes even higher the following day because the flavors deepen. Excellent for meal prep or leftovers.
Freezer-Pleasant: Retailer in an hermetic container and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Thickening Tip: For a thicker stew, mash just a few potatoes into the broth or add a cornstarch slurry.
Serving Concepts: Pair with crusty bread or mushy dinner rolls to take in the savory broth.

The data proven is an estimate offered by a web-based diet calculator. It shouldn’t be thought-about an alternative to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation.

Course Soup

Delicacies American

Key phrase beef stew

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Finest Outdated Usual Beef Stew Recipe

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