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Easy Beef Stew Recipe: Tender Meat & Vegetables in Rich Gravy

This ultimate beef stew recipe combines tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a rich broth for the perfect comfort food. Slow-cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection in just 2.5 hours, it's a family favorite that never fails.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 6 -8 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Stew
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Stew
  • 2 lbs beef stewing meat cut into 2-inch cubes (chuck roast substitute)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour gluten-free if needed
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
  • 1 cup red wine or beef broth
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 medium onions diced & quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic minced & whole
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp thyme
  • 3 medium carrots chopped
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 1 lb mini red potatoes halved
  • 8 oz baby bella mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp parsley chopped
Equipment Needed
  • Dutch oven

Method
 

  1. Prepare beef: Toss beef with flour, salt, and pepper. Let sit 5 minutes.
  2. Sear: Heat oil in Dutch oven. Brown beef in batches until crust forms.
  3. Build base: Sauté onions 3 minutes, add garlic 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Deglaze: Pour in red wine, scrape pot, simmer 2-3 minutes.
  5. Create sauce: Stir in butter, Worcestershire, tomato paste, and broth.
  6. Simmer: Add beef, onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme. Cover, simmer 1.5 hrs.
  7. Oven finish: Preheat oven 300°F. Remove herbs, bay leaves. Add veggies, cover, transfer to oven 1 hr.
  8. Check thickness: Add broth if thin, slurry if thick.
  9. Serve: Ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley.

Notes

Pro tip: Don’t overcrowd the pan when browning beef—this ensures a deep, flavorful sear. The oven finish guarantees tender beef and perfectly cooked vegetables.