The Classic Old Fashioned Beef Stew Recipe: Cozy Comfort in a Bowl

Hearty beef stew has been a comforting classic in kitchens across America for generations.

Slow-cooked meals bring warmth to chilly evenings and connect us to cherished memories.

Tender chunks of meat mingle with robust vegetables, creating a symphony of flavors that dance on your palate.

Rich broth simmered with herbs and spices tells a story of traditional cooking techniques passed down through decades.

Rustic and soul-satisfying, this dish speaks to the heart of home-style cooking.

Each spoonful promises a delicious journey through culinary nostalgia.

You’ll want to savor every single bite of this timeless comfort food.

What Makes Old Fashioned Beef Stew So Classic

• Comfort Food Champion: Warm, hearty beef stew delivers classic comfort that wraps you in delicious nostalgia and satisfies deep hunger.
• Simple Cooking Magic: Requires basic ingredients and straightforward steps, making it perfect for home cooks wanting a reliable meal without complicated techniques.
• Family-Friendly Feast: Packed with nutritious vegetables and tender meat, this stew appeals to all ages and provides a balanced, filling dinner that everyone will enjoy.
• One-Pot Wonder: Minimal cleanup with everything cooked in a single pot, reducing kitchen mess and saving precious time after preparing a delightful meal.

Ingredients for Old Fashioned Beef Stew

• Beef Stew Meat: A tender cut of beef that becomes rich and flavorful when slow-cooked in a hearty stew.

• Onions, Garlic: These classic flavor boosters add depth and complexity to the stew's base.

• Tomato Paste: Provides a concentrated tomato flavor and helps thicken the stew.
• Flour: Helps create a thick and luxurious sauce for the stew.
• Thyme, Bay Leaf: Classic herbs that infuse the stew with warm, earthy undertones.

• Beef Broth: Provides a rich, savory foundation for the stew's depth of flavor.

• Potatoes, Carrots: Hearty root vegetables that add substance, nutrition, and a touch of sweetness to the dish.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the overall flavor of the stew.

• Olive Oil: Used to brown the meat and create a flavorful base for the stew.

How to Prepare Old Fashioned Beef Stew

Step 1: Sear the Meat

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef stew meat and brown on all sides, creating a rich golden crust that locks in flavor.

This process develops deep, caramelized notes that will enhance the overall taste of the stew.

Step 2: Develop Aromatic Base

Toss chopped onions and minced garlic into the pot.

Sauté until the onions become translucent and soft, releasing their sweet and savory fragrance throughout the kitchen.

Step 3: Create Flavor Foundation

Sprinkle flour over the meat and onions, then stir in tomato paste.

Cook this mixture for a couple of minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste and create a thick, rich base for the stew.

Step 4: Build the Liquid Layer

Pour in beef broth, bringing the mixture to a gentle boil.

• Fresh thyme
• Bay leaf
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 5: Slow Simmer

Reduce heat and let the stew simmer quietly for 1.5 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.

The meat will become incredibly tender during this time.

Step 6: Add Vegetables

• Chunky potato pieces
• Sliced carrots

Cook for an additional 30 minutes until the vegetables are perfectly tender but not mushy.

Step 7: Final Touch and Serve

Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Ladle the steaming stew into deep bowls and serve immediately with crusty bread for a comforting meal.

Tips for a Hearty Old Fashioned Beef Stew

• Choose well-marbled beef chuck for maximum tenderness and rich flavor in your stew.
• Sear meat at high heat to develop deep brown crust, which adds complex, caramelized taste to the dish.
• Pat beef dry before browning to ensure proper caramelization and prevent steaming instead of searing.
• Allow extra cooking time for tough meat cuts, as slow simmering breaks down connective tissues, creating meltingly soft texture.
• Swap beef with lamb or use vegetable broth for vegetarian version, maintaining the stew's hearty essence.

Variations for Old Fashioned Beef Stew

• Vegetarian Hearty Stew: Replace beef with hearty mushrooms like portobello or mixed wild mushrooms, using vegetable broth for a rich, meaty flavor without animal protein.
• Slow Cooker Method: Transfer all ingredients after browning meat to a slow cooker, cook on low for 6-8 hours for tender, deeply flavored stew with minimal hands-on time.
• Low-Carb Version: Substitute potatoes with cauliflower chunks and add extra root vegetables like turnips or radishes to maintain similar texture while reducing carbohydrate content.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Use cornstarch instead of flour for thickening, ensure broth is gluten-free, and serve with gluten-free bread or over cauliflower rice for a complete meal.

Serving Suggestions for Old Fashioned Beef Stew

• Hearty Farmhouse Plating: Serve the stew in rustic ceramic bowls with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley on top, creating a warm and inviting presentation that highlights the rich, comforting colors of the dish.
• Winter Comfort Companion: Pair the beef stew with crusty sourdough bread or fluffy buttermilk biscuits on the side, perfect for soaking up the delicious gravy and making the meal feel extra satisfying.
• Family-Style Gathering: Transfer the entire stew to a large wooden serving board in the center of the table, allowing everyone to scoop their own portions and enjoy a communal, interactive dining experience that brings people together.

How to Store Old Fashioned Beef Stew

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking to prevent bacterial growth.
• Refrigerate beef stew for 3-4 days maximum, keeping it sealed tightly to maintain flavor and texture.
• Freeze stew in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 3 months, leaving some space for expansion.
• Thaw frozen stew overnight in the refrigerator before reheating to ensure even warming.
• Reheat on stovetop by placing stew in a pot, adding a splash of beef broth to prevent drying, and warming over medium-low heat while stirring occasionally.
• Microwave option: Place stew in microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap with a small vent, and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through.

FAQs

• Why should I brown the beef before simmering?

Browning the beef creates a rich, caramelized exterior that develops deep flavor and helps seal in the meat’s juices, giving the stew a more complex and delicious taste.

• Can I use different types of meat for this stew?

While beef chuck is traditional, you can substitute with other tough cuts like beef round or even lamb shoulder that become tender with slow cooking.

• How do I prevent the meat from becoming tough?

Cook the stew on low heat and simmer gently. The long, slow cooking process breaks down tough muscle fibers, making the meat tender and succulent.

• What if I don't have fresh thyme?

Dried thyme works perfectly fine. Use about one-third of the amount of dried herbs compared to fresh herbs to maintain the right flavor intensity.

Hearty Old Fashioned Beef Stew Recipe

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4.7 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty old fashioned beef stew blends tender meat with robust vegetables in a rich, savory broth. Slow-cooked comfort brings warmth to your table with classic midwestern flavors you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) beef stew meat, cubed

Vegetables:

• 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt
• Pepper

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Instructions

1. Warm olive oil in a spacious pot over medium-high heat and thoroughly sear beef chunks until golden brown on all surfaces, creating a rich caramelized exterior.
2. Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic into the pot, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
3. Sprinkle flour and tomato paste into the mixture, stirring continuously to create a thick, smooth base and prevent scorching, cooking for 2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
4. Gradually pour beef broth into the pot, increasing heat to bring liquid to a rolling boil while introducing thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper for depth of flavor.
5. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and allow stew to simmer gently for 90 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
6. Introduce cubed potatoes and sliced carrots into the stew, continuing to simmer uncovered for an additional 30-40 minutes until vegetables become tender and meat reaches ultimate tenderness.
7. Discard bay leaf, taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then ladle the hearty stew into serving bowls, ensuring each portion contains a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.

Notes

• Enhance browning by patting beef dry before searing to develop deep, rich caramelized flavors.
• Customize stew thickness by adjusting flour quantity or using cornstarch for gluten-free alternative.
• Replace beef with mushrooms or plant-based protein for vegetarian version while maintaining hearty texture.
• combine all ingredients and cook on low for 8 hours for tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 335 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 410 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 29 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg