Beef Stew Recipe

by Danielle Cochran

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This Beef Stew is rich, hearty, and packed with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, and barley simmered in a deeply savory broth. Slow-cooked in the oven with red wine, tomatoes, herbs, and beef stock, it turns into the kind of cozy dinner that fills your kitchen with incredible flavor. It’s the kind of classic comfort food recipe that feels simple enough for a weekend family dinner but satisfying enough to make again and again when cooler weather hits.

Hearty beef stew with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and barley

Why You’ll Love This Beef Stew Recipe

  • This Beef Stew Recipe is rich and hearty
  • Tender beef slow-cooks until perfectly soft
  • Loaded with potatoes, carrots, celery, and barley
  • Great for cozy dinners and meal prep
  • Simple ingredients with classic flavor
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day
Beef browned and in a glass bowl

Ingredients You Need To Make Beef Stew

  • Beef short ribs
  • Canned diced tomatoes
  • Onion
  • Celery
  • Freekeh or barley
  • Red wine
  • Dried parsley
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • Onion powder
  • Thyme
  • Marjoram
  • Garlic cloves
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Carrots
  • Potatoes
  • Beef stock
  • Olive oil

How To Make The Beef Stew

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  3. Season the cubed beef with kosher salt and black pepper.
  4. Add the beef in batches and sear until browned on all sides.
  5. Transfer to a plate.
  6. Reduce heat to medium.
  7. Add diced onion to the pot.
  8. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
  9. Pour in red wine and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  10. Let simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
  11. Stir in the remaining ingredients
  12. Mix well.
  13. Add the browned beef back to the pot.
  14. Bring everything to a gentle boil.
  15. Cover with a lid.
  16. Transfer to the oven.
  17. Cook for 2½ to 3 hours, or until the beef is fork tender.
  18. Remove from oven.
  19. Let rest for 10 minutes.
Classic homemade beef stew recipe

Storage

  • Store leftover beef stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat or microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
  • The stew will thicken as it sits. Add a splash of beef stock when reheating if needed.

Freezing

  • Allow the stew to cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers.
  • Freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Tips for the Best Beef Stew Recipe

  • Brown the beef well before adding liquid for deeper flavor
  • Cut the potatoes and carrots into even pieces so they cook evenly
  • Use enough broth to keep everything covered during braising
  • Cook low and slow for tender beef
  • Let the stew rest for 10 minutes before serving
  • Taste and adjust salt before serving
  • Add extra broth if the barley absorbs too much liquid
Beef stew simmering in Dutch oven
A close-up of a hearty beef stew with chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and barley in a rich tomato-based broth, being stirred with a wooden spoon—classic comfort food at its best.

Beef Stew

Danielle Cochran
This Beef Stew Recipe is rich, hearty, and packed with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, and barley slow-cooked in a savory broth. It’s classic comfort food that’s perfect for cozy family dinners.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 234 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 1/2 lb boneless beef short ribs, cubed (cubed)
  • 2 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 3/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 large onion (diced)
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 14 ounces can diced tomatoes
  • 4 whole celery ribs (diced)
  • 1 cup freekeh or barley
  • 2 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp thyme (not ground)
  • 1/2 tsp marjoram
  • 4 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups carrots (diced)
  • 2 cups potatoes (cubed)
  • 48 ounces beef stock
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Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  • Season the cubed beef with kosher salt and black pepper.
  • Add the beef to the hot pot and brown on all sides, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Remove the browned beef and set aside.
  • Reduce heat to medium and add diced onion.
  • Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
  • Pour in the red wine and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  • Let simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Stir in diced tomatoes, celery, barley, parsley, onion powder, thyme, marjoram, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, carrots, potatoes, and beef stock.
  • Mix until everything is evenly combined.
  • Return the browned beef to the pot and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
  • Cover with the lid and transfer to the oven.
  • Cook for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until the beef is fork tender.
  • Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Stir well and serve warm.

Notes

  • Browning the beef first builds rich flavor
  • If the stew thickens too much, add extra beef stock while reheating
  • Chuck roast works well if short ribs are unavailable
  • The beef is ready when it easily pulls apart with a fork
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 17gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 1261mgPotassium: 1056mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 5441IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 3mg
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Commonly Asked Questions

Can I use chuck roast instead?

Yes. Chuck roast is a great substitute and becomes very tender when slow cooked.

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Yes. Brown the beef first, then transfer everything to a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.

Can I leave out the barley?

Absolutely. You can skip it or add extra potatoes instead.

Why is my beef still tough?

It needs more time. Continue cooking until it easily pulls apart with a fork.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Definitely. This stew tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to develop.

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