Easy Stovetop Beef Stew Recipe
This old-fashioned beef stew recipe is super simple yet hits the spot every time! Consider this the type of no-frills comfort food like Grandma used to make. It’s a carrot, beef, and potato stew that’s cooked on the stovetop until the beef is fall-apart tender and the vegetables are soft but not mushy. The gravy is incredibly rich and silky with a strong beef flavor. The additions of red onions and celery helps to balance out the richness of the stew while adding yet another layer of flavor. I purposely made this a smaller batch beef stew recipe – about four servings – because that’s what many of my readers ask for. However, you can easily scale this recipe up to suit your family’s needs. I have a handy feature in the recipe card section with a 2x that you can click so you don’t even have to do any mental math for this one-pot meal. This easy stovetop beef stew recipe is a meal-in-one for me. I might pair it with fluffy homemade rolls or bread for mopping up the gravy, and maybe a green salad for freshness but that’s it! Keep this old-fashioned beef stew in your recipe rotation all winter long. It’s hearty comfort food that sticks to your ribs. This easy beef stew is perfect for casual weeknight dinners or Sunday family dinners and guests love it too!
Beef Stew Ingredients
You don’t need any special spice blends or seasonings to make the best beef stew! All you’ll need are the following basic ingredients: I also have a slow cooker beef stew recipe that my family loves – already written with slow cooking in mind if you’re the type who loves having a Crockpot of something simmering for hours and hours, check that recipe out!
Unsalted butter Beef stew meat All-purpose flour Red onion Garlic Beef broth – I like to use reduced sodium beef broth so as the liquid volume of the stew concentrates over time as the stew simmers, the overall saltiness level doesn’t read too salty. You can always add more salt at the end. Tomato paste Tomato sauce Celery Carrots Potatoes Salt Pepper
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Beef Stew on the Stove
Making beef store on the stove is incredibly straightforward! It’s a difficult recipe to mess up because beef stew is very forgiving. Here are the basic recipe steps: Your grocery store might also stock beef that’s labeled as “stew meat,” which is often a mixture of Chuck roast and other cuts of meat. The 90 minute simmering time will tenderize these less expensive and less tender cuts of meat, not to worry!
How to Thicken Beef Stew
I don’t see this as being a big issue as there’s only 1 cup broth used. But if you run into a too-soupy stew, there are two ways to thicken it: If you prefer a stew with more broth, or at any time during the simmering process the liquid level is simply not adequate to actually cook the ingredients, don’t be afraid to add more liquid, as you see fit. However, if the beef isn’t fork tender by that point and / or the potatoes and carrots aren’t done, keep simmering! This really isn’t a difficult recipe to overcook, so just give it another 20 to 30 minutes, or until done to your liking. Err on the side of more cooking time, not less, for this stew recipe if in doubt.
How to Thin Beef Stew
If you’re experiencing the opposite problem and your old-fashioned beef stew is too thick, add ½ cup additional of beef broth or water at a time until the gravy reaches your desired consistency. Just don’t add too much liquid all at once and wind up with a runny stew!
More Easy Beef Soup and Beef Stew Recipes:
Beef Stew with Dumplings — Beef roast, potatoes, carrots, and more are simmered to tender PERFECTION in a rich and savory broth for the best beef stew that’s easy to make! Cheesy dumplings on top are the final comfort food touch making this a classic family favorite recipe especially when the weather is chilly! Sear the beef in batches, if needed. If your pot or Dutch oven isn’t large enough to sear all of the beef in an even layer, you’ll need to sear it in batches. If you try to sear all the beef at once, you’ll end up steaming it instead and won’t achieve that lovely brown color which adds so much flavor to the stew, so it’s important to achieve that sear! Remove the beef before adding the broth. You want the beef out of the pot when the broth hits the hot surface. The broth will immediately deglaze the pan, AKA release all those golden bits stuck to the bottom of the pot which are full of flavor! Cut the carrots and potatoes into bite-size half-inch cubes and pieces. Don’t make them bigger because the vegetables will take much longer to cook through. Conversely, don’t go too small because remember this soup simmers for 90 minutes and too-small pieces will overcook, become super mushy, or just disintegrate. Add additional dried herbs, if desired. This is a very basic beef stew recipe, and I think it’s perfect as is with the onion and celery acting as aromatics and the salt and pepper providing the seasoning. However, you’re welcome to add more seasonings like dried thyme or oregano, onion powder, one or two bay leaves, or paprika if desired. In the Freezer: This recipe will keep airtight in the freezer for up to 3 months. To Reheat: I use my microwave for quickness and ease and reheat my leftovers for about 30 seconds on high, or as needed. But you can use your stove, whatever is best suited for you. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew — Comfort food at its finest with thick and tender chunks of beef, buttery soft potatoes, and mixed vegetables. The broth is rich, deep, and exquisite thanks to a mixture of beef broth, red wine, and a mixture of herbs and spices. IMPRESS your family and friends with this CLASSIC beef stew recipe! Slow Cooker Beef Chili — Easy, hearty comfort food that’s packed with flavor that develops beautifully as the beef chili simmers away in your slow cooker! Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup — Hearty comfort food complete with savory corned beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, and more! It’s the EASIEST soup you’ll ever make and will become a family FAVORITE especially when the weather is chilly! Stovetop cooking instructions also provided. Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup — A hearty comfort food soup recipe the whole family will love. If you think that soup can’t be a meal, guess again! This Crockpot cabbage roll soup is chock full of bacon, ground beef, green cabbage, rice, carrots, fire roasted tomatoes, and more! Perfect for chilly weather, busy weeknights, and the leftovers freeze great! Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup – A decadent dish that’s like eating a loaded cheeseburger, but in soup form! Ground beef, bacon, cheese, and an array of vegetables give fantastic depth of flavor. SO EASY because your slow cooker does ALL the work! A guaranteed family favorite especially when it’s chilly. Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup — This stuffed pepper soup is packed with bell peppers, onion, and ground beef and is simmered in a tomatoey broth. Serve with rice for an easy weeknight meal! One-Pot Pasta and Ground Beef Soup — EASY, hearty, comfort food that’s full of flavor!! A FAST and tasty soup the whole family will LOVE! It will keep your warm on chilly winter nights!! The Best 30-Minute Lasagna Soup — All the flavor of lasagna minus the work! Loaded with juicy tomatoes, sausage, and topped with melted cheese! Easy, hearty, comfort food that’s perfect for busy weeknights! Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast — A foolproof recipe for tender, juicy pot roast with just FIVE main ingredients! Your slow cooker does all the work in this comfort food classic pot roast that the whole family will adore! EASIER than any pot roast you will ever make and with more robust flavor!
