This Easy Old-Fashioned Beef Stew is a comforting, hearty dish that’s simple to prepare yet packed with rich flavors. The tender beef, soft carrots, and potatoes simmer in a flavorful broth, creating a savory, silky gravy. Perfect for chilly days, this stovetop recipe makes a cozy meal in just a couple of hours, ideal for weeknight dinners or Sunday family meals.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

• 1 pound beef stew meat (chuck roast or round roast, cubed)

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 medium red onion, sliced

• 3 to 5 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 cup reduced sodium beef broth

• ¼ cup tomato sauce

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 3 celery stalks, chopped

• 2 medium carrots, chopped

• 2 medium potatoes, chopped

• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (adjust to taste)

Directions

1. Prepare the Beef: Toss the beef stew meat in flour until evenly coated.

2. Sear the Beef: In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches and sear on all sides. Remove the beef and set aside.

3. Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add the onions and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

4. Deglaze the Pot: Pour in the beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

5. Add the Stew Ingredients: Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, celery, carrots, and potatoes. Add the beef back into the pot.

6. Simmer: Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for about 90 minutes, until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.

7. Season and Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve hot.

Nutrients

• Calories: 365 per serving

• Carbohydrates: 30g

• Protein: 27g

• Fat: 16g

  • Saturated Fat: 8g

• Sodium: 918mg

• Fiber: 3g

• Sugar: 4g

Why Choose Easy Old-Fashioned Beef Stew?

Beef stew is a classic comfort food that’s perfect for the colder months. This recipe is easy to make, but the results are packed with rich, deep flavors that will make it feel like you’ve been cooking all day. The beef stew meat becomes incredibly tender as it simmers in the flavorful broth, while the carrots and potatoes absorb the savory gravy, making every bite feel like a warm hug.

What makes this recipe stand out is its simplicity. There’s no need for complex techniques or hard-to-find ingredients—just straightforward steps that lead to a delicious, satisfying meal. Plus, it’s customizable: if you prefer different vegetables or want to adjust the seasoning, it’s easy to make this stew your own.

The Key Ingredients for a Flavorful Stew

This Easy Old-Fashioned Beef Stew uses simple, accessible ingredients that come together to create a cozy, flavorful dish:

• Beef Stew Meat: Chuck roast or round roast is ideal for stew meat because it becomes tender and juicy when simmered for a long time. The marbled fat in these cuts provides flavor and richness to the stew.

• Vegetables: Carrots, potatoes, celery, and onions provide hearty texture and natural sweetness to balance the richness of the beef. These vegetables absorb the savory broth as they cook, making them even more flavorful.

• Garlic and Tomato: Garlic adds a fragrant depth to the stew, while tomato paste and tomato sauce bring a subtle tang and umami that enhances the overall richness of the broth.

• Beef Broth: A good-quality beef broth is the base of this stew, giving it a rich, savory flavor. Reduced-sodium beef broth helps to control the salt level while still providing plenty of depth.

• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and a little flour for coating the beef help thicken the broth, while the combination of beef, vegetables, and seasoning creates a savory, silky gravy that coats everything perfectly.

How to Make Easy Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

This beef stew recipe is easy to follow and requires minimal preparation, making it a great dish for a weeknight or weekend meal.

Step 1: Prepare the Beef

Toss the beef stew meat in flour until it’s evenly coated. This will help the beef brown and also thicken the broth later on.

Step 2: Sear the Beef

In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches to sear it on all sides. The key here is to get a nice brown crust on the beef, which will add a depth of flavor to the stew. Once browned, remove the beef and set it aside.

Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics

In the same pot, add the diced onions and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute, just until fragrant. This step helps to build the savory base for the stew.

Step 4: Deglaze the Pot

Pour in the beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. These caramelized bits add a ton of flavor, so don’t skip this step!

Step 5: Add the Stew Ingredients

Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, celery, carrots, and potatoes. Add the beef back into the pot and stir everything together. This is where the stew really starts to come together, with all the ingredients in one pot.

Step 6: Simmer

Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for about 90 minutes, or until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through. During this time, the flavors will meld together, and the broth will thicken into a silky gravy.

Step 7: Season and Serve

Once the stew is ready, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the stew hot, garnished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a side of bread for dipping.

Nutritional Benefits of Easy Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

This comforting stew is not only satisfying but also provides a solid balance of nutrients. With 365 calories per serving, it’s a filling and hearty meal that doesn’t leave you feeling overly full. Each serving offers 27 grams of protein, thanks to the beef, making it a great source of lean protein.

The stew also contains 30 grams of carbohydrates, which come from the potatoes and vegetables, and 16 grams of fat, including 8 grams of saturated fat from the beef and butter. The sodium content is 918mg per serving, so you can adjust the amount of salt depending on your preference. The stew provides 3 grams of fiber, which comes from the vegetables, helping with digestion and adding more substance to the meal.

Customizing Your Beef Stew

This beef stew recipe is quite adaptable. Here are a few ways to make it your own:

• Vegetables: If you want to add more vegetables, try adding peas, parsnips, or turnips. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes instead of Russets for a creamier texture.

• Spices: Feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices. Adding a bay leaf or a pinch of thyme can add even more depth. For a little heat, try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes.

• Thickening: If you prefer a thicker stew, you can add a bit more flour to the beef before searing or use a slurry of cornstarch and water toward the end of cooking.

• Lighter Version: For a lighter version, you can substitute half of the beef with mushrooms or use leaner cuts of beef, like sirloin, and reduce the amount of butter used in the recipe.

Serving Suggestions for Easy Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

This beef stew is delicious on its own, but you can elevate the meal with a few sides:

• Bread: Serve the stew with a side of crusty bread, perfect for dipping into the savory broth.

• Salad: A light, crisp salad with greens and a tangy vinaigrette can balance out the richness of the stew.

• Mashed Potatoes: For a heartier meal, serve the stew over mashed potatoes, allowing the gravy to soak into the potatoes for an extra comforting touch.

• Rice or Quinoa: If you prefer grains, serving the stew over rice or quinoa can be a great alternative to bread.

Conclusion

Easy Old-Fashioned Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food—hearty, flavorful, and perfect for any cold day. With tender beef, soft potatoes, and a rich, savory broth, this stew is a filling and satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare in just a couple of hours. Whether you’re serving it for a weeknight dinner or a special Sunday meal, this stew is sure to become a family favorite. The combination of tender beef and rich gravy makes each spoonful pure comfort, and with a few customizable tweaks, it can be adjusted to suit any taste.