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This Hearty Beef Stew is chock full of tender steak, potatoes, and veggies simmering in a rich, savory broth. Filling and warm, this is comfort food at its finest!
This hearty beef stew is full of flavor and is a comforting soup that everyone loves! It is the perfect meal for feeling cozy on a cold night. We serve it with some simple apple slices and warm bread or biscuits. It’s the perfect dinner to serve to a crowd, or just a simple weeknight supper.
Get all your main food groups in one soup! This soup has all you need for a complete meal. There is not much preparation for making this stew, perfect for a busy night. It is simple to make and has all the delicious flavors. It is thick, rich, and hearty in every bite!
Hearty Beef Stew Ingredients
Melt-in-your-mouth steak simmering in a rich broth combined with chunks of potatoes and hearty vegetables make this one of those warm meals that make you want to linger around the dinner table. Take your traditional beef stew to the next level with these delicious ingredients!
- Steak – Cut your steak into bite sized pieces. Use beef stew meat if that is easier!
- Tabasco sauce – Don’t be worried about this being too spicy. The heat does cook out some during the simmer process. Use as much or as little as you would like, depending on who is going to be enjoying the stew.
- Worcestershire sauce – Gives the meat a nice rich, robust flavor.
- Onion – Cut into small chunks that give it a nice, soft texture when cooked through.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic is best!
- Beef broth – This gives the stew some liquid with flavor.
- Potatoes – Wash, peel, and cut the potatoes evenly so they cook all together without becoming mushy or undercooked.
- Carrots – Peel and slice or shred carrots to add into the homemade stew.
- Corn and peas – These can either be frozen or fresh. They are great add-ins for color, texture, and flavor.
- Tomato juice – Add in more tangy and sweet flavor with this tomato juice.
- Cornstarch – This will help thicken the beef stew while it is cooking all together. We prefer this as a thickener to all purpose flour.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper – to taste
How to Make the Best Beef Stew
This homemade beef stew is perfect for a family dinner! It is full of the most flavorful ingredients and brings warmth to the table. Grab your dutch oven and let’s start making the best beef stew recipe!
- Cooking the beef – Braise beef in oil until just brown on all sides (turning only once if possible). Make your beef tender and juicy!
- Liquid ingredients – Add Tabasco, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Vegetables – Add onions and sauté until onions become clear. Transfer to a large pot and add beef broth, potatoes, and carrots.
- Simmer – Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour, or until potatoes are cooked through. If you want the beef to be really tender, simmer for even longer.
- Cooking on medium-high heat – About 20 minutes before serving, add corn, peas, and tomato sauce and simmer until ready to serve. If you like your stew nice and thick, add about 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch to some beef broth, stir until smooth, then stir into the stew.
- Balance the broth – Add beef broth to thin out and cornstarch to thicken. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Tips for Perfect Beef Stew
You will love how simple this beef stew recipe is to make! Follow these extra tips to help the process run smoother. You will love the way this classic beef stew turns out!
- Browned bits – Sear or braise the meat in a hot oiled skillet until all sides are nice and brown. This locks in the moisture of the meat so it doesn’t dry out.
- Meat – Instead of steak, you can use your leftover chuck roast or beef chuck from your Sunday dinner! It tastes delicious and is a perfect way to use up leftovers.
- Slow cooker – This stew can be made on the stove top as directed in the recipe card below, or you could throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do all the work. Your house will smell delicious!
- Smaller vegetables – Peas and corn cook up really quick, so don’t add them until about twenty minutes before serving.
- Extra vegetables – Feel free to throw in any veggies you like! Mushrooms, pea pods, celery, green beans, red peppers, just about anything you have in your fridge you can chop up and add to this soup.
- Thicken your stew! For a thicker stew, add a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour to a little bit of cold beef broth or water, then stir it into the soup. If it’s too thick, add some more beef broth. You can also use tomato paste instead of tomato juice to thicken the soup.
- Add some flavor – give your stew some added spice by adding some rosemary, thyme, or red pepper flakes for some heat. Try adding a little balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar for a different kick.
What to Serve with Beef Stew
Bread is always the first choice in a side dish for soup. There’s nothing as comforting as dipping a piece of crusty bread into a bowl of piping hot soup. Try some of these delicious recipes to serve alongside this hearty beef stew for a show-stopping meal.
- Honey Whole Wheat Bread
- Brazilian Cheese Bread
- Irish Soda Bread
- Homemade Crescent Rolls
- Best Dinner Rolls from Scratch
“This stew is so rich in flavor! Thanks for the recipe!”
-Anna
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just throw everything (except potatoes, corn, and peas) in a crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add potatoes, corn, and peas for the last 2 to 3 hours so they don’t get too mushy.
Once the beef is tender and the thicker vegetables, like the potatoes and carrots, are fork-tender, then the stew is ready to be served.
Yes, check out our recipe for Instant Pot Beef Stew!
READ NEXT: Easy Crockpot Soup Recipes
Storing Homemade Beef Stew
This beef stew makes a large amount and is perfect for feeding a family or even a crowd. There are usually leftovers with this stew that make it nice to have lunches, more dinners, freeze it, or share it with others around you. Here are a few ways to keep your beef stew
- Refrigerate – Place the leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to a week long. When ready to reheat, place on the stovetop until warm, or warm up in the microwave stirring in between intervals.
- Freeze – Make a big batch of stew ahead of time and freeze. Store it in a freezer-safe bowl or Ziplock bag, and it’ll keep for several weeks.
More Warm Soups and Stew Recipes
How to Make Hearty Beef Stew
Hearty Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 2 pounds steak cubed
- Tabasco sauce to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 medium onion chopped or diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 large potatoes cleaned and cut into large cubes
- 4 carrots peeled and cut
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup tomato juice or to taste
- cornstarch optional
Instructions
- Braise beef in oil until just brown on all sides (turning only once if possible).
- Add Tabasco, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add onions and garlic, sauté until onions become clear.
- Transfer to a large pot and add beef broth, potatoes, and carrots. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour (or until potatoes are cooked through) if you want the beef to be really tender, simmer for even longer.
- About 20 minutes before serving, add corn, peas, and tomato juice and simmer until ready to serve.
- If you like your stew thick, add about 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch to some beef broth, stir until smooth, then stir into the stew.
- Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Notes
How to make Beef Stew in the Crock Pot
Add everything (except potatoes, corn, and peas) to a crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Add potatoes, corn, and peas for the last 2 to 3 hours so they don’t get too mushy.Recipe Tips:
- Browned bits – Sear or braise the meat in a hot oiled skillet until all sides are nice and brown. This locks in the moisture of the meat so it doesn’t dry out.
- Meat – Instead of steak, you can use your leftover chuck roast or beef chuck from your Sunday dinner! It tastes delicious and is a perfect way to use up leftovers.
- Smaller vegetables – Peas and corn cook up really quick, so don’t add them until about twenty minutes before serving.
- Extra vegetables – Feel free to throw in any veggies you like! Mushrooms, pea pods, celery, green beans, red peppers, just about anything you have in your fridge you can chop up and add to this soup.
- Thicken your stew! For a thicker stew, add a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour to a little bit of cold beef broth or water, then stir it into the soup. If it’s too thick, add some more beef broth. You can also use tomato paste instead of tomato juice to thicken the soup.
So flavorful. We all loved it. I didn’t have tomato juice so i added just a tablespoon of tomato paste and it was just enough. Great job, Erica.
Thanks Allison! You are the best, and so good to hear from you! It has been a long time! Hope you are doing well!
mmm…the perfect comfort food!! YUM!!
Beef stew is a classic & favorite of ours!! This weather in AZ has made me crave some…so I will be adding it to the menu this week!
This is a great one to keep on hand for Fall. I love the hearty comforting flavors!
There’s a very similar Vietnamese beef stew recipe and it reminds me of my mother and her cooking. Love! Wonderful for fall.
This stew is so rich in flavor! Thanks for the recipe!
It says tomato juice in the ingredients but tomato sauce down in the directions. which is it supposed to be?
I made this stew for dinner last week. Me and my husband loved it! It was so easy to make. I threw in some matchstick carrots and 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables that I had on hand–there were plenty of carrots. 🙂 I replaced the tomato juice with a small can of V8 juice. Yum! This one is a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
This stew sounds like something that my husband would love!