Perfect Beef Stew

This is one of the most delicious beef stew recipes I’ve ever made! It’s rich and satisfying, and the beef is outrageously tender. There are also potatoes, carrots, and root veggies, but I have a smart tip to make sure they don’t overcook in the stew.

This classic beef stew recipe is all about melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. The secret is slow-braising short ribs and marbled chuck roast in a rich sauce of red wine and beef broth. This gentle simmer transforms the meat into incredibly tender pieces that practically fall apart with a fork.

We’ve kept the flavors super classic in this stew, but if you want a twist, try our Guinness beef stew or this Instant Pot pot roast.

Key Ingredients

• Beef: I use two different cuts of meat for this stew to achieve the perfect balance of flavor and texture. First, I include bone-in short ribs, which melt in your mouth and infuse the stew with an incredibly rich, beefy flavor. Second, I use beef chuck, a classic stew meat known for its marbling (those beautiful white lines of fat that melt during cooking and create an incredibly tender result).
• Vegetables: To complement the beef, I add a variety of vegetables, including onions, carrots, parsnips, garlic, shiitake mushrooms (for an extra boost of umami), and potatoes.
• Red Wine: This French beef stew recipe calls for a whole bottle of dry red wine, contributing to the sauce’s richness and complexity. I recommend using a dry French wine like Bordeaux or Côtes du Rhône, but you can also substitute Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon. If you prefer not to use wine, you can replace it with more beef stock, though the sauce will not be as rich.
• Butter and Flour: These two ingredients work together to thicken the stew and create a velvety texture. The butter also adds another layer of flavor to the stew.
• Broth: I use either beef stock or a rich vegetable broth. You can use store-bought or make it yourself. Here are our recipes for beef stock and vegetable broth.
• Thyme and Bay Leaves: To achieve that classic beef stew flavor, I add a generous bunch of fresh thyme and bay leaves to the pot as it simmers in the oven.

How to Make Beef Stew

Our homemade beef stew may require some time, but it’s incredibly simple. I prefer to cook my stew in a Dutch oven, but you can also use a slow cooker for part of the process (check the recipe for tips).

We’ll begin on the stovetop, browning the beef in batches in your Dutch oven with some oil. Browning the meat in batches ensures it gets a nice, caramelized sear. Once the beef is browned on the outside, transfer it to a bowl and set aside. (It’s not fully cooked yet, but this initial sear adds a crucial layer of flavor that will make your stew super flavorful in the end.)

Next, I quickly sauté the vegetables in the leftover fat in the pot (more flavor!). We’re not looking to cook them completely. Once they start to sweat, I transfer them to a bowl for later.

Add the tomato paste, flour, red wine, and stock to the pot. Stir everything until smooth, then return the browned beef to the pot. Cover the pot and let it bake in the oven for two hours, leaving the vegetables out for now.

For the final 30 minutes of cooking, add the vegetables, potatoes, and a generous handful of fresh thyme to the pot. Continue cooking until everything is tender and the flavors have come together.

And there you have it: the most delicious and satisfying beef stew I’ve made in a long time! I usually enjoy this all by itself since the veggies are built into the dish, but you can always serve it with a bed of mashed potatoes, roasted cabbage, crusty bread, my easy beer bread, or some homemade flatbread to help sop up all that delicious sauce.