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My Easy Beef Stew is So Good!
Beef stew is one of those meals that I always look forward to eating and I always have a version of it on repeat – whether it’s my easy oven beef stew or Instant Pot beef stew, this classic dish never fails to hit the spot.
So it seemed fitting that I add this stove top beef stew recipe to my repertoire. This traditional method lets the flavors develop while keeping the oven free for other things, like baking crusty bread to mop up all the tasty juices from the stew.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Olive oil: To brown the stew meat. If you don’t have olive oil, any healthy fat will work, like avocado oil.
- Beef: Use stew meat for this recipe. It’s a tough cut of meat that becomes tender and flavorful during the slow cook. You can also use a chuck roast and cut it into 1″ pieces.
- Flour: To coat the beef and create a flavorful crust on pieces of meat. It also helps to thicken the stew so you don’t have to make a slurry later. You can use all-purpose flour or a gluten-free blend if you have a wheat intolerance.
- Vegetables: Onion, carrots, celery, and potatoes are classic in a stew, but feel free to use your favorite veggies. I love using Yukon gold potatoes in stews as they hold up well during the long cook time but red potatoes work great too.
- Tomato paste: For a rich tomato base for the stew. If you’re going for that thick consistency in a traditional beef stew, you want to stick to tomato paste. But you can use tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes. I suggest you simmer the sauce to reduce it and concentrate the flavors.
- Seasonings: To add flavor, use fresh garlic, dried thyme, basil, and bay leaves, along with any type of salt and pepper. You can use chopped fresh thyme leaves if you have fresh ones on hand.
- Broth: You can use either beef or vegetable stock in this recipe.
Popular Additions
- Mushrooms: Baby Bella mushrooms make a delicious addition. Just quarter them and saute along with the onions to release some of the moisture.
- Peas: Add a cup of frozen peas about 30 minutes before the stew finishes cooking.
- Leafy greens: Adding 2 cups of spinach, baby kale, or chopped chard to this simple beef stew is an easy way to add more color and nutrients.
- Worcestershire sauce: This is often added to beef stew to add umami flavor. A good starting point is two tablespoons added at the same time as the tomato paste. Taste and add more if needed.
How to Make Beef Stew
It’s so quick and easy to make this flavorful beef stew and it’s all cooked in one pot! Start with beef stew meat, season it with salt and pepper and then toss it with flour until its well coated.
My Best One-Pot Beef Stew Tips
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot. I prefer making this quick beef stew in a Dutch oven because it evenly distributes heat which prevents hot spots and makes sure the bottom doesn’t burn.
- Sear the beef well. This really helps to lock in the flavor. Brown the meat long enough so that it gets a nice crust on it, but don’t worry about cooking it all the way through. It should release easily from the pot.
- Deglaze with broth. If there are browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan after searing the beef, deglaze it with a few tablespoons of broth to release all that flavor. Scrape it gently with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Don’t rush the cooking process. The meat needs time to cook so that it’s tender. Test a bit of meat before serving it so you can be sure it’s not tough. It will take between 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the stew meat.
What to Serve
Recipe Help & Common Questions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the stew for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in a pot over medium heat until warmed through, stirring frequently. You can also pop it in the microwave at 30-second intervals until heated through, stirring after each interval.
This usually happens from not cooking the meat long enough. Stew meat is a tough cut of meat, so make sure you cook it long enough to break down the connective tissues. Simmer the stew on low heat for at least 60-90 minutes, but you may have to go up to 2 hours. Cooking too quickly over high heat can also lead to tough meat. Low and slow is the name of the game here.
Coating the beef in flour before searing it should help thicken the stew but if it’s still on the thin side, you can simmer it uncovered to let the liquid reduce and thicken. You can also thicken the stew by creating a slurry (mixture of cornstarch and water) and stirring it into the stew.
More Easy Beef Recipes:
- Beef Kafta
- Instant Pot Beef & Broccoli
- Beef Barley Soup
- Lebanese Hummus with Ground Beef
- Ground Beef Tacos
- Ground Beef and Rice
- Beef Shawarma
- French Onion Soup
If you try this Beef Stew recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
This Stovetop Beef stew recipe was originally published on June 4, 2020. The post has been updated to include helpful cooking tips, frequently asked questions, new photography and step-by-step photos.
Easy Beef Stew
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt divided
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 ½ pound yukon potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes
- 6 carrots chopped
- 3 celery sticks chopped
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 cups vegetable or beef broth
- Fresh parsley for serving
Instructions
- Place the beef in a large bowl, add flour, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper, and toss well to combine.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep pot over medium heat. Add half the beef in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 5 minutes on the other side. Set aside. Repeat with the remaining olive oil and beef. Return the reserved beef back to the pot.
- Add the onions and garlic, and cook with the beef until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and continue to cook with the onions and garlic, about 1-2 more minutes.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, celery, thyme and basil along with the broth and stir to combine, scraping any brown bits in the pot.
- Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the beef is very tender.
- Remove the bay leaves, season with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Thank you for the beef stew recipe it was so so good
You’re welcome! So happy you liked it!!
This beef stew is absolutely DELICIOUS!! I would say its the best beef stew I’ve ever had. This is a KEEPER!!
Wow!! Thank you so much, Mallory!! So happy you loved it!
I would agree. My boyfriend literally just said it was the best beef stew he has ever had before I read this! YUMMY!
Amazing!! So happy you all enjoyed it so much!
Best stew and my family loved it!!
Yay, so glad everyone loved it! Thanks!
I made this for me and my husband and it quickly became a favorite. I make it almost every week now. It’s so hearty and warm, and just perfect for winter. It’s also very easy to make with minimal prepping so that’s a major plus! Thank you!
Aww, so glad you find it easy to make!! And that you and your husband love it! Thanks so much, Ayam!!
This came out so good! Classic beef stew which is exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I changed was using 1 cup of red wine and 3 cups of beef broth. Seriously so delicious.
Yay! Aww, that makes me so happy to hear. Thank you!!!
This was wonderful! The smell in the house was magical.
Yay, so happy to hear that! I’m glad you liked it!! Thanks!
I made it EXACTLY as you described and with the EXACT ingredients: delicious!! This is the simplest, tastiest tomato-based beef stew I’ve ever made. Thank you.
Amazing!! So happy to hear you liked it, Christine!
Made this and everyone loved it. Definitely agree with not adding the flour to the meat when browning. I made it again and added the flour with the onions and garlic. A staple in our house. Great to freeze and have a meal on hand when needed.
Amazing! Love to hear that it was a hit, thank you!!
This is a good, quick recipe but I definitely suggest skip coating the meat with flour. Would you do that with steak or roast to brown them? If you do that you are browning the flour not the meat. Just give the meat a quick sear (not long enough to cook it through) for the most flavour. But the rest of the recipe works well.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, JR—and thank you for the feedback! If you’d like, you could brown the beef without the flour and then add the flour to the dutch oven when you’re sautéing the onions and garlic. The flour and fat (from the beef and olive oil) help to make a roux that thickens the stew and provides its signature consistency. Even if you aren’t using the flour to coat the beef, I would make sure to add it to the fat at some point!
Made this two weeks ago for myself and my fiance, he loved it. He came running down from the third floor to asked me what am I cooking that he smells upstairs!! Making again as I type this!
Aww, I love to hear that!! So happy you both enjoyed this one, thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Yumna!
I made this recipe about 6 months ago and my husband and I really enjoyed it. I saved this recipe, and I’m making it again today. I love all the fresh ingredients. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Yay! Thanks, Terry!
I’m a single dad, tis turned out brilliantly! Thank you
Yay, so glad you enjoyed it.
It was EXCELLENT!
I would add to the directions to cook the meat in the broth & seasonings for 30-45 min & THEN add the vegetables. Our potatoes were falling apart by the time we ate them. Or maybe cut the potatoes bigger so they don’t fall completely apart. But the recipe is sooo good !
Thanks for your feedback!
Easy Beef Stew-delicious! And easy to make.
I have tried several of your recipes and have not been disappointed.
Thank you. 🙂 I’m enjoying cooking again.
So glad to hear, thank you for sharing!
This is delicious! Was much easier than I expected. The beef was super tender and the flavors were perfect. I added peas too.
Greetings Yumna, this looks so worth trying and I’m excited to make it. I don’t eat red meat so if I used chicken what works be the cooking time say for chicken thighs? Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.
Bon appetite
Have made this twice. Delish and warm on these cold winter days. I did add 1 1/2 tablespoons of flour with water to thicken up and did the trick.
I made this Christmas Eve and it was a hit by all. Warmed it up Christmas night for others and it was devoured and praised by all. I used rump roast cubes and blended about 1 cup of the cooked potatoes to make the broth a little thicker. Thank you for this delicious stew recipe.
Thanks so much!!
Recommend!! Although it’s not pleasurable to sear the meat, it makes a huge difference in meat tenderness. My alteration is to add 1 Tbsp of Italian Seasoning to the flour & coat the stew meat with the mixture. I don’t add seasonings later.
This recipe is now my go-to favorite for a beef stew!! Easy as is titled.
Sounds great, thanks for sharing!
Both my husband and I loved this soup. I made it in our new Le Creuset pot, it was heavenly good, a comfort food on a cold winter day! I will definitely make it again soon. Thanks for the recipe.
So happy to hear that! Thank you so much for making the recipe.
Love this beef no stew. Saved some in the freezer from first try and ate tonight. So good again. Going to buy all ingredients this week and make some more. Thanks for the recipient.
You’re so welcome! So glad you liked it!
Thank you so much for the recipe! I got a new staub dutch oven and decided the first meal to make in it would be your beef stew. It turned out fantastic. I added some mushrooms and my 3 yo daughter who hates carrots ate the carrots willingly! I was in shock and will be putting this in our winter meals rotation. Ty again!
So happy to hear that everyone enjoyed!!
This was so delicious. The beef cooked perfectly and my husband and I ate it all. Saving some to take for our camping trip too. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe
Thank you for making it, Shamaa!
This was absolutely incredible! Savory and just what we’ve needed to warm us up this winter. The beef was tender and the veggies were perfect. Thank you!
So happy you loved it, thanks for letting me know!
Hello, I’m wondering if I could make the stew in an Instant pot, and how long should I cook it for? 45 mins?
Hi there! I actually have a recipe for Instant Pot Stew that is very similar to this recipe here.
Delicious! It contains a lot of liquid, so I simmered uncovered for 45 mins and mashed up some of the potatoes and mixed them back into the stew to thicken. Also added red pepper flakes while simmering for some zing and fresh lemon juice (1/2 small lemon) before serving. Whole family enjoyed it!
Thanks for these tips, glad the whole family enjoyed this one!
Deliciousness! Love this recipe. I substituted beef chuck steak which was more tender. And topped with dobble of sour cream. ❤️
Yum, sounds so good!
I found this recipe when I was trying to find one I loved when I was much younger. It was very similar, except it had a few cloves in it, in addition to the other herbs. Absolutely fabulous. So I changed your recipe by adding 6 cloves, and got my old favourite back! Thanks so much.
Ahh love this! Glad this was a comforting and nostalgic dish for you!
How many servings
This recipe makes about 8 servings.
Thank you. I got lots of compliments on how good it was.
cooked this for dinner tonight
my partner called me at work to tell me how good it was!
So nice to hear, thanks for sharing!
I made it last night & it was delicious but how do I make the sauce not as thick?
You could add an extra cup of broth in during step 5 and that will yield a thinner stew. Glad you liked it!
Just made this recipe, delicious!!! I let it simmer for an hour and a half, used venison stew meat added crushed red pepper at the end to give it a little heat, definitely my stew recipe from now on. I Did not have tomato paste so just used 1/4 Ketchup instead couldn’t tell the difference.
Glad you enjoyed this, thanks for letting me know how your modifications came out!
Followed recipe to a T and all veggies were hard and so was the stew beef.. won’t recommend sorry.
So sorry to hear this did not turn out well for you. How long did you cook the beef and veggies for? And what cut of beef did you use? Stew beef can take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes to become tender depending on the size pieces you use.
Not sure what happened, but I followed the recipe to a t and it turned out awful.. beef was not tender, it was tough and there was still so much liquid left left in the pot
So sorry to hear that it did not turn our well for you. What type of beef did you end up using?
Appreciate your response. I used the store bought pre-cut beef stew meat.
You never say how much beef broth. Trying to save it now by guesswork
Hi Jennifer, all of the ingredients along with the measurements are in the recipe card right above the comment section. I hope it turned out well!
This was DELICIOUS.
Thank you, Zeinab! Glad you enjoyed it!
Made this for my dinner tonight. It was delicious. I went back for another bowl. I’m sure the family will enjoy it tomorrow .
Such a simple tasty stew. It’s a keeper.
So happy everyone enjoyed it!!
Tried your recipe turned out great I just added a little Worcestershire sauce didn’t add tomato paste.
That’s amazing! I need to try that!
I made it today and i loved it. Thank you. Its an easy recipe!!!!
Yay! Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this outstanding recipe!!!😋 I got lucky and had all the ingredients. It’s absolutely delicious!!!💞🍴
You’re so welcome! That’s perfect!
I made this stew last night and it was delicious! I added a chopped turnip to it as I had one in the fridge to use up.
My 9 year old had 2 servings and raved about the “sauce”. Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that! Sounds perfect! Yay!!
As a novice cook, this is now my go-to recipe for beef stew! So easy and delicious. I squeezed some lemon in toward the end for a little zing. Thank you!
I’m glad you found this recipe easy to make and enjoyed it! Yum!! You’re so welcome.
I didn’t see when to add the basil leaves so I added them when I added the broth. Just so you know, maybe I missed it?
I added it in step 5 when I added the potatoes, carrots, celery, thyme, and broth.
I added parsnip instead of celery and it was very good.I would definitely make it again.
Need to try that! That’s great to hear!
Hi, just wondering if I used my slow pot crock how long would it take to cook it on slow? Thanks
I would recommend 4-5 hours if it’s on high setting, or more like 8 hours on a low setting until the beef is tender.
😍♥️yummi
Thank you!
I tried it it’s amazing soooo yummyyy
In plus my kids liked it and my husband too
I will make it again & again….😍♥️♥️♥️
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
Hi, Cindy! Here is the stovetop version: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/beef-stew/
Hi! Thanks so much for sharing the pan version on your Instagram- it looks so tasty! You mentioned using Middle Eastern spices like ginger and cumin in the caption. Can you share the specifics, please? It looks like this recipe is for the stovetop one and is slightly different. Thanks so much! I can’t wait to try it!!
You’re so welcome! The specific one I used was from Pastiche Foods (the Tan-Tan Moroccan Spice Blend).
How would I modify to use an instant pot?
I would recommend 4-5 hours if it’s on high setting, or more like 8 hours on a low setting until the beef is tender.
Thank you Yumna. This was delicious. Love the fresh herbs touch.
Most welcome, Vielka! Same here!
This was such an easy and yummy recipe, it was a great meal to have with the snow storm we had in Chicago tonight!!
Thank you! I’m glad to hear it kept you cozy!
If using a slow cooker do you recommend I sauté the meat before?
Yes that will really help to flavor it. I would even saute the onions if you can!
If I was using the slow cooker setting on the instant pot, would the cooking time va
I would recommend 4-5 hours if it’s on high setting, or more like 8 hours on a low setting until the beef is tender.
Looks amazing! What type of potatoes do you recommend for this recipe?
It will really work with any potatoes, but I prefer yukon gold potatoes
Awesome!! i Added peas at the end
Great idea!