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Homemade beef Stew Recipe

Easy Hearty Beef Stew

This hearty beef stew recipe is rich, comforting, and slow-simmered to perfection. Tender chunks of beef cook down in a flavorful broth with carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and garlic for the ultimate cold-weather comfort meal.It’s an easy, reliable recipe perfect for weeknight dinners, Sunday suppers, or make-ahead meal prep. If you're looking for a classic, flavorful, and easy beef stew, this version hits all the marks.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, comfort food, Southern
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 lbs beef chuck cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 2 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp Bayou City Garlic Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Bayou City All Purpose
  • 1 tsp Onion powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 3 celery stalks diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 1/4 cup red wine optional — sub beef broth
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tsp dried thyme
  • 4 carrots peeled and cut into chunks
  • 3-4 russet potatoes peeled & quartered
  • fresh parsley chopped (optional)

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot
  • Chef’s knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Wooden spoon
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Prep bowls

Method
 

Season & brown the beef
  1. Pat beef dry so it browns well.
  2. Toss with flour, salt, pepper, Bayou City All Purpose, Bayou City Garlic Pepper, and onion powder.
  3. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high.
  4. Sear beef in batches until deeply browned. Remove and set aside.
Build the flavor base
  1. In the same pot, add diced onions and chopped celery.
  2. Cook 4–5 minutes until softened.
  3. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
Deglaze the pot
  1. Pour in red wine and scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom.
  2. Let it simmer 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
Add liquids & aromatics
  1. Add beef broth, Worcestershire, bay leaves, thyme, and return the browned beef to the pot.
  2. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat.
  3. Cover and cook 1 hour.
Add vegetables
  1. Add carrots and potatoes.
  2. Cover and cook another 45–60 minutes, or until beef is fork-tender and vegetables are soft.
Final touches
  1. Taste and adjust seasoning with more Bayou City blends, salt, or pepper.
  2. Stir in fresh parsley if desired.

Video

Notes

  • Browning the beef adds essential depth — don’t skip this step.
  • Celery is added with the onions to build a stronger base flavor.
  • Red wine is optional but highly recommended for richness; substitute beef broth if preferred.
  • For a thicker stew, simmer uncovered for the last 10 minutes or mash a few potatoes into the broth.
  • Tastes even better the next day — perfect for meal prep or leftovers.
  • Freezes well for up to 3 months.