Cozy Up with the Ultimate Beef Stew Recipe for a Heartwarming Meal

Photo byMhbolat Rasha

When the weather turns chilly, there's nothing quite like a hearty bowl of beef stew to warm you up from the inside out. This ultimate beef stew recipe is the perfect comfort food, combining tender chunks of beef, hearty vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth. Whether you're cooking for your family or preparing a meal to impress guests, this beef stew is a sure winner. Its deep flavors and satisfying textures make it a go-to dish for anyone looking for a delicious and comforting meal.

The Perfect Comfort Food

Beef stew has long been a staple in kitchens around the world, known for its ability to bring people together around the dinner table. This recipe takes the classic dish to the next level with a few thoughtful additions, like a splash of red wine for depth and onion soup mix to add even more flavor. The result is a stew that's rich, flavorful, and just what you need on a cold evening.

Imagine a simmering pot filled with chunks of tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and celery, all enveloped in a savory broth. The aroma fills the kitchen, promising a meal that's as satisfying as it is delicious. The best part? This stew is incredibly easy to make, requiring just a few simple steps to create a dish that tastes like it’s been simmering all day.

Recipe: Ultimate Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds beef stew meat
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups water
• 2 heaping teaspoons beef demi-glace (or beef Swanson Flavor Boost)
• 4 medium to large red-skinned potatoes, washed & diced
• 3 large carrots, peeled & sliced
• 1 stalk celery, diced

Directions:

1. Prepare the Meat: Place the beef stew meat in a resealable plastic bag with the flour and seasoning salt. Shake well to coat the meat evenly. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the floured beef to the skillet, browning on all sides. Once browned, remove the meat using a slotted spoon or tongs and place it into the bottom of a slow cooker. Season with black pepper.
2. Sauté the Onions: In the same skillet, sauté the diced onion for about 2 minutes, allowing them to pick up the flavor from the browned bits left in the pan. This adds a deeper flavor to the stew. Transfer the sautéed onions to the slow cooker.
3. Create the Broth: In the skillet, add the Worcestershire sauce, water, and beef demi-glace (or Swanson Flavor Boost). Whisk the mixture, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan for extra flavor. Once combined, turn off the heat and set the skillet aside.
4. Add the Vegetables: In the slow cooker, add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaves to the browned meat and onions.
5. Combine and Cook: Pour the broth mixture from the skillet into the slow cooker over the meat and vegetables. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours, allowing all the flavors to meld together and the beef to become tender.
6. Serve and Enjoy: Before serving, remove the bay leaves. Ladle the stew into bowls and serve hot. It pairs beautifully with a side of crusty bread or over a bed of egg noodles for a complete one-dish meal.

The Final Verdict

This beef stew is more than just a meal; it's an experience that brings warmth and comfort with every bite. The combination of tender beef, perfectly cooked vegetables, and a rich, savory broth makes it a favorite for cold days and cozy nights. Adding your personal touch, like a splash of red wine or some fresh mushrooms, can elevate the flavors even further, making this stew uniquely yours. Whether you're serving it for a family dinner or a special occasion, this ultimate beef stew is sure to become a beloved recipe in your household.

For the beef stew recipe you're interested in, you can find a detailed version at Savor the Best and Dinner, then Dessert. These recipes include a combination of beef stew meat, vegetables, and seasonings such as onion soup mix and Worcestershire sauce, making for a rich, hearty meal that's perfect for colder weather.

The recipe from Savor the Best highlights the use of a slow cooker to create a flavorful stew with the addition of red wine for depth, though they also offer alternatives for those who prefer not to use alcohol. The recipe also suggests using various vegetables and provides tips for thickening the stew to your liking​(Savor the Best).

Dinner, then Dessert provides a similar recipe that also uses chuck roast, potatoes, and carrots, and offers instructions for both slow cooker and stovetop methods. They emphasize browning the meat first for added flavor and suggest using a flour and butter mixture to thicken the stew toward the end of cooking​(Dinner, then Dessert).

For more details and to see the full recipes, you can visit their respective pages: Savor the Best's beef stew recipe and Dinner, then Dessert's ultimate slow cooker beef stew.