Cozy Old-Fashioned Beef Stew Recipe That Warms The Soul

Hearty beef stew warms souls with its rich, comforting embrace on chilly evenings.

Generations of home cooks have perfected this classic dish through patient simmering and love.

Tender meat chunks melt in your mouth, releasing deep, savory flavors that transport you to grandmother’s kitchen.

Aromatic herbs and robust vegetables create a symphony of tastes that dance across your palate.

Each spoonful tells a story of tradition and culinary care, connecting you to time-honored cooking techniques.

Simple ingredients combine to create something truly magical and soul-satisfying.

You’ll want to pull out your biggest pot and start this delicious journey right now.

Why Old-Fashioned Beef Stew Is A Hearty Classic

• Savor Rich Flavor Complexity: This recipe delivers incredible depth through strategic layering of ingredients, creating a symphony of taste that develops slowly and beautifully.
• Master Foolproof Cooking Techniques: Step-by-step instructions guide home cooks through professional-level methods like searing, deglazing, and slow simmering, ensuring delicious results every single time.
• Celebrate Hearty Comfort Meals: Perfect for gathering family and friends around the table, this stew provides nourishing warmth and satisfaction with its tender beef and perfectly cooked vegetables.
• Customize with Easy Variations: Adaptable recipe allows switching proteins, adding different vegetables, or adjusting herbs to match personal preferences and pantry ingredients.

Ingredients For Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

• Beef Cubes: A hearty protein that forms the foundation of this rich and comforting stew.

• Onions, Garlic: Aromatic vegetables that build a deep, savory base flavor for the stew.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the natural flavor of the beef.
• Dried Thyme, Rosemary: Fragrant herbs that add earthy and woodsy notes to the dish.
• Bay Leaves: Provide a subtle, complex background flavor to the stew.
• Tomato Paste: Adds depth and a slight tangy richness to the sauce.

• Red Wine: Helps deglaze the pot and adds a rich, complex flavor to the stew.
• Beef Broth: Creates a flavorful liquid base that tenderizes the meat.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps create a golden crust on the beef and thickens the sauce.
• Olive Oil: Used for searing the beef and sautéing the aromatics.

• Potatoes, Carrots: Hearty root vegetables that add texture and nutrition to the stew.

How To Make Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

Step 1: Prepare Beef Cubes for Searing

Pat beef cubes dry using paper towels. Season thoroughly with salt and black pepper to ensure complete coverage for maximum flavor enhancement.

Step 2: Coat Beef with Flour

Lightly dust seasoned beef with flour. Shake off excess to create a thin, even layer that will help develop a golden, crispy exterior during cooking.

Step 3: Heat Cooking Vessel

Place a large Dutch oven on the stove. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat until it starts to shimmer and become glossy.

Step 4: Brown Beef Cubes

Carefully arrange beef cubes in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding. Sear each side for 3-4 minutes to create a rich, mahogany-brown crust that locks in deep flavors.

Sauté Aromatics

• Chopped onions
• Minced garlic

Stir to capture all the flavorful browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Step 5: Deglaze and Build Flavor

Pour red wine into the pot. Scrape up any stuck particles to incorporate intense flavor depth into the stew.

Step 6: Enhance with Herbs and Paste

• Tomato paste
• Dried thyme
• Rosemary

Allow herbs to bloom and release their aromatic oils for about 1 minute.

Step 7: Combine Ingredients

Return beef to the pot. Pour in beef broth, ensuring meat is mostly submerged. Add bay leaves for additional flavor complexity.

Step 8: Slow Cook the Stew

Bring liquid to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let stew cook slowly for approximately 1.5 hours until beef becomes extremely tender.

Step 9: Add Vegetables

• Chopped potatoes
• Sliced carrots

This prevents overcooking and maintains vegetable texture.

Step 10: Final Touches

Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Let stew rest for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken.

Step 11: Serve and Enjoy

Ladle the rich, hearty stew into bowls. Serve hot with crusty bread or over a bed of rice for a comforting meal.

Tips For Rich Old-Fashioned Beef Stew Flavor

• Dry and Season Precisely: Pat beef completely dry to ensure a perfect sear and maximize flavor absorption.
• Layer Flour Strategically: Dust beef with a thin, even flour coating to create a gorgeous, golden-brown crust that locks in juiciness.
• Brown Meat Carefully: Sear beef in batches to avoid overcrowding, allowing each piece to develop a deep, rich mahogany color that builds incredible depth.
• Bloom Herbs Smartly: Toast herbs briefly in the pot to release their essential oils, amplifying the stew's aromatic profile and enhancing overall taste.
• Rest and Settle Wisely: Allow stew to sit for 10-15 minutes after cooking, letting flavors harmonize and sauce naturally thicken for a more luxurious texture.

Old-Fashioned Beef Stew Style Variations

• Lamb Lover's Stew: Replace beef with tender lamb cubes, using rosemary and mint for a Mediterranean-inspired flavor profile.
• Vegetarian Hearty Option: Swap beef with robust portobello mushrooms and use vegetable broth, maintaining the rich, savory texture of the original recipe.
• Low-Carb Keto Adaptation: Eliminate potatoes, increase root vegetables like turnips, and add extra herbs to boost flavor without increasing carbohydrates.
• Slow Cooker Method: Transfer all ingredients to a slow cooker after initial browning, cooking on low for 6-8 hours for tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat and deeply developed flavors.

What Goes Well With Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

• Elevate Beef Stew Pairings
• Sip Bold Red Wine: Choose a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah that matches the deep, rich flavors of the beef stew, cutting through its hearty texture and complementing the caramelized meat notes.
• Serve Crusty Artisan Bread: Select a rustic sourdough or hearty peasant bread with a crispy exterior and soft interior, perfect for soaking up the stew's luxurious sauce and adding delightful textural contrast.
• Match Herbal Green Salad: Craft a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette and shaved parmesan, providing a fresh, zesty counterpoint to the stew's deep, warm flavors and helping cleanse the palate between bites.

How To Store Leftover Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

• Store leftover beef stew in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Transfer cooled stew to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air. Freeze for up to 3 months, maintaining optimal flavor and texture.
• Place portion in microwave-safe dish, cover with lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap. Heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly and prevent hot spots.
• Pour stew into a saucepan, add splash of beef broth to restore moisture.

Common Questions About Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

• Why is it important to pat the beef dry before seasoning?

Patting beef dry removes excess moisture, which helps achieve better browning and prevents steaming, creating a more flavorful and crispy exterior during searing.

• How does flouring the beef impact the stew?

Flouring creates a light coating that helps develop a rich, golden crust, thickens the sauce naturally, and adds depth to the overall flavor profile of the stew.

• What's the purpose of deglazing with red wine?

Deglazing helps release the browned bits stuck to the pot’s bottom, which are packed with concentrated flavor, and adds complexity and richness to the stew’s taste.

Old-Fashioned Beef Stew Recipe

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4.7 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty old-fashioned beef stew brings warmth and comfort from grandma’s kitchen, simmering with tender meat and rich, savory flavors. Rustic ingredients meld together, creating a soul-satisfying meal that connects you to cherished culinary traditions.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into cubes
• 4 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 3 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 medium onions, chopped

Liquid and Seasoning:

• 4 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 bay leaves

Thickening and Coating:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Pat beef cubes dry with paper towels and season thoroughly with salt and black pepper, ensuring even coating for optimal flavor development.
2. Dust seasoned beef with flour, shaking off excess to create a light, even layer that will help develop a rich, golden crust during browning.
3. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering, then carefully arrange beef cubes in a single layer without overcrowding.
4. Sear beef for 3-4 minutes per side, creating a deep mahogany-brown crust that will infuse the stew with intense, caramelized flavors.
5. Remove browned beef and set aside, then immediately add chopped onions and minced garlic to the same pot, stirring to capture all the flavorful browned bits.
6. Deglaze the pot with red wine, scraping up any stuck particles from the bottom to incorporate maximum depth of flavor into the stew.
7. Stir in tomato paste, dried thyme, and rosemary, allowing the herbs to bloom and release their aromatic oils for about 1 minute.
8. Return beef to the pot and pour in beef broth, ensuring meat is mostly submerged, then add bay leaves for additional complexity.
9. Bring liquid to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let stew slowly cook for approximately 1.5 hours, or until beef becomes extremely tender.
10. Add chopped potatoes and sliced carrots during the last 30-40 minutes of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain their structural integrity.
11. Once vegetables are fork-tender and meat is falling apart, remove bay leaves, taste, and adjust seasoning as needed.
12. Let stew rest for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken.

Notes

• Pat beef completely dry before seasoning to achieve optimal browning and prevent steaming instead of searing.
• Use tough, economical cuts like chuck roast or bottom round for maximum flavor and tenderness when slow-cooked.
• Consider gluten-free alternatives by replacing wheat flour with cornstarch or almond flour for coating beef cubes.
• Enhance stew’s nutrition by adding extra root vegetables like parsnips or celery root for increased complexity and vitamins.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg