Beef Stew Recipe with Carrots & Potatoes
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This classic French beef stew is the ultimate comfort food. Slow-cooked in a rich wine-based broth, the meat becomes meltingly tender and enveloped in a deeply flavorful sauce—perfect for chilly nights.
With thousands of 5-star reviews, this classic French beef stew is the most popular recipe on my site—and for good reason! It’s incredibly delicious and the ultimate cold weather comfort food. Pieces of well-marbled beef are seared in a hot pan, then gently braised with garlic and onions in a rich wine-based broth. After a few hours, the meat becomes fork tender and enveloped in a deeply flavorful sauce. While it takes some time to make, this stew is mostly hands-off. Go ahead and make it a day or two ahead of time—the flavor only gets better as it sits.
When it comes to serving, this beef stew recipe is incredibly versatile. I love pairing it with crusty bread or popovers to soak up all that rich, unctuous sauce. It’s also delicious served over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or creamy polenta if you want to make it even heartier. For a lighter touch, you can balance out the richness by serving it alongside a simple green salad.
“This recipe is SERIOUSLY EPIC! Hands down, the best beef stew recipe I have ever made. Thank you. 🙏”
What You’ll Need To Make Beef Stew
- Boneless beef chuck: The key to tender, flavorful stew. Look for chuck roast with a good amount of marbling, or white veins of fat running through it. Avoid generic “stew meat,” especially if it looks lean. I guarantee you it won’t become tender, no matter how long you cook it.
- Olive oil: Used for browning the beef and sautéing the vegetables.
- Yellow onions and garlic: Adds sweetness, depth, and savory aroma to the stew as they cook.
- Balsamic vinegar: Adds acidity and depth, balancing the richness of the stew.
- Tomato paste: Thickens the stew and imparts a rich tomato flavor.
- All-purpose flour: Coats the beef and acts as a thickening agent for the stew. When added to the beef before the liquid, it mixes with the juices from the meat and creates a base for the sauce. As the stew simmers, the flour helps thicken the broth, turning it into a rich, velvety sauce that clings to the meat and vegetables.
- Dry red wine: Adds bold flavor and forms the base of the stew along with the broth and water. Use any dry red wine like Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon that is inexpensive but good enough to drink.
- Beef broth and water: Forms the liquid base along with the wine.
- Bay leaf and dried thyme: Classic aromatics that infuse earthy flavors.
- Sugar: Balances the acidity from the wine and tomato paste.
- Carrots: Adds natural sweetness and texture.
- White boiling potatoes (baby Yukons): These small potatoes soak up the rich broth and add heartiness.
- Fresh parsley: A fresh garnish that brightens the stew.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by removing any large chunks of fat that are easy to get to (like the one my knife is pointing to below), but don’t overdo it with the trimming, as the fat helps make the beef tender.
Next, season the meat generously with salt and pepper.
Heat a bit of oil in a Dutch oven or large pot and brown the meat in batches.
This step is a bit time-consuming but browning the meat adds depth and dimension to the stew. (Note: it’s important not to crowd the pan—if you try to brown all the meat at once, it will steam instead of sear and you won’t get all that lovely color and flavor.)
Remove the meat and add the onions, garlic, and balsamic vinegar to the pan. The vinegar will loosen all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan and add flavor.
Cook until the vegetables are softened, then add the tomato paste and cook for a minute more.
Add the beef back into the pan and sprinkle with the flour.
Stir until the flour is dissolved.
Add the wine, broth, water, thyme, bay leaves, and sugar.
Bring to a boil, then cover and braise in the oven for 2 hours. (If you don’t have a Dutch oven or prefer to cook the stew on the stovetop, that works, too! The timing will be the same—just keep it on the lowest heat setting and stir occasionally to prevent sticking.)
After 2 hours, add the carrots and potatoes.
Return to the oven and continue cooking for one hour, or until the meat is fork-tender, the broth is thickened, and the carrots and potatoes are tender. (Note: The broth won’t thicken until the very end of cooking. If you’d like to thicken it further after it’s done, see the FAQ below for tips.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you’ll just need to follow the initial steps of searing the meat and sautéing the onions and garlic as instructed. Once you’re ready to add the water, wine, and broth, transfer everything to the slow cooker. You can add the carrots and potatoes along with the meat at this point (no need to wait). The cook time should be 4 to 5 hours.
The stew naturally thickens as it cooks, but it won’t reach its final consistency until the very end of cooking. But if you’d like to thicken it further, you can use a beurre manié, which is a mixture of softened butter and flour. To make it, simply knead equal parts soft butter and flour (about 2 tablespoons each) into a smooth paste. Gradually stir small amounts of the beurre manié into the simmering stew, allowing it to dissolve fully before adding more. This technique adds richness and helps thicken the stew to a velvety consistency without affecting the flavor.
Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions
Simply prepare the stew as directed, then cool it to room temperature before refrigerating. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot. If you want to freeze the stew, transfer it to an airtight container once it has cooled. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw the stew overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop.
Video Tutorial
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Beef Stew
This classic French beef stew is the ultimate comfort food. Slow-cooked in a rich wine-based broth, the meat becomes meltingly tender and enveloped in a deeply flavorful sauce—perfect for chilly nights.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless beef chuck (well-marbled), cut into 1½-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium yellow onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 7 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups dry red wine
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1½ teaspoons sugar
- 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks on a diagonal
- 1 pound small white boiling potatoes (baby yukons), cut in half
- Fresh chopped parsley, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and set a rack in the lower middle position.
- Pat the beef dry and season with the salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven or heavy soup pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering. Brown the meat in 3 batches, turning with tongs, for about 5 minutes per batch; add one tablespoon more oil for each batch. (To sear the meat properly, do not crowd the pan and let the meat develop a nice brown crust before turning with tongs.) Transfer the meat to a large plate and set aside.
- Add the onions, garlic and balsamic vinegar; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon and scraping the brown bits from bottom of the pan, for about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute more. Add the beef with its juices back to the pan and sprinkle with the flour. Stir with wooden spoon until the flour is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine, beef broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, and sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid, transfer to the preheated oven, and braise for 2 hours.
- Remove the pot from the oven and add the carrots and potatoes. Cover and place back in oven for about an hour more, or until the vegetables are cooked, the broth is thickened, and the meat is tender. Fish out the bay leaf and discard, then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Serve the stew warm -- or let it come to room temperature and then store in the refrigerator overnight or until ready to serve. This stew improves in flavor if made at least 1 day ahead. Reheat, covered, over medium heat. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
- Note: If you don’t have a Dutch oven or covered pot that is appropriate for the oven, the stew can be cooked on the stove. The timing will be the same and it should be cooked over the lowest setting.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Simply prepare the stew as directed, then cool it to room temperature before refrigerating. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot. If you want to freeze the stew, transfer it to an airtight container once it has cooled. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw the stew overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 539
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Sugar: 8g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 54g
- Sodium: 1189mg
- Cholesterol: 143mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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After blowing it twice with this recipe, I finally nailed it with a few changes and would like your comments…(Don’t try to double the recipe…I boiled the beef!)
1. Selecting the right cut is key. Get a 3lb chuck roast from a good butcher, not two smaller ones. I cut mine into 1.5-2 inch squares. Don’t be shy with salt and pepper. (Kosher salt? You didn’t specify.) If you have it, use the side burner on your grill outside to brown the beef, to avoid a grease fog in the kitchen. (Wife was not amused…) Rather than use exclusively olive oil, I browned some of the fat that I trimmed to get the heat going. Do you have a favorite extra virgin olive oil?
2. The recipe calls for 2 cups of wine, water, and beef broth. What does water bring to the party? Nothin’. I used 3 cups Cabernet Sauvignon and 3 cups beef broth.
3. No celery? Any reason why not? I added it. I got my monster carrots from Sam’s Club. You suggest cooking mushrooms and adding them at the end. I threw them all in at once and wish I hadn’t. Used 2.5 bay leaves for no great reason. I’ll add peas next time too.
4. Some nice French bread and a good Cabernet Sauvignon, you’re ready to go. Excellent winter meal. I agree that it’s a great meal to make a day ahead and serve it with fermented flavor.
5. Since a like a thicker sauce, should I cook the last 30 minutes uncovered?
Thanks Jenn!
Hi John, Glad you enjoyed it! Answers to your questions:
-I used regular/table salt in the recipe but kosher is fine too. (When a recipe of mine says salt in the ingredient list, I am referring to regular/table salt. If it calls for something else like kosher salt, I will specify that.)
-My favorite brand of EVOO are Colavita and Lucini.
-There was no particular reason for omitting celery when I developed the recipe, but a lot of people have added it and have been happy with it.
-For a thicker broth, you can definitely simmer it on the stove, uncovered, until it reaches your desired texture.
Hope that helps!
I add a bouquet garni with celery and parsley and all the usual suspects. Add it when I remember…other times I skip it.
Cab is definitely the way to go, unless you want to try a Carmenère. Is what I use. Lovely stuff, less heavy than a cab. If you can get your hands on a bottle of it, give it a try. Treat it like a Merlot, but has way more body than a Merlot, yet a tad less of a cab. Beautiful wine in my opinion.
Honestly the best beef stew ever! Thank you so much for sharing this and all your recipes. Your recipes are literally feeding my family 5 days a week!
I have made this stew many times and I can’t thank you enough Chef Segal! It is perfect, I add sautéed mushrooms at the end and have also added sweet potatoes which were delicious. It is the best beef stew recipe! I serve it with your dinner rolls which I also adore.
This really is an amazing recipe. I’m making it now for probably the 5th time. It’s perfect! Thanks for this.
This is an amazing recipe! Followed exactly the first time; perfection! This has become a Fall / Winter staple. The whole house smells delicious….
Excellent and easy to follow recipe!! Have been looking around to try cooking beef stew and come across your recipe. I am using the pressure cooker to shorten the cooking time. The outcome of this beef stew taste was great!! Loving it and saved this recipe =)
I’ve been trying various stew recipes for the past few years including the highly rated New York Times stew recipe (which was bland). In all my searching for stew recipes, this stew recipe tastes the best even when I cook it on the stove. It is also easy to make.
Jenn Segal’s once upon a chef recipes and cookbook consistently provide me with “gold standard” meals. By following her recipes, Jenn can make anyone into a cook!
Made this yesterday and didn’t serve it until today. Absolutely and without a doubt the BEST beef stew I ever made! Definitely company worthy!!
This is the one of first recipes that I followed and it actually turned out! I even added in sautéed baby bellas with the carrots and potatoes and the sauce still came out nice and thick.
With a lot of recipes, something is usually amiss. Not this one, make it and you’ll love it.
I just made this, delicious! Such a lovely smell in the house while cooking! Agree with many others, wine and balsamic vinegar is a game changer. The few minor tweaks- added celery, used a little more flour on the meat than called for, used 1.5 c red wine instead of 2, didn’t use water or sugar, added a little beef bone broth, then the rest beef broth, I didn’t measure, I just filled my 5qt till about 2 inches from the top. I did add carrots 30 minutes before potatoes. Will serve with biscuits.