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Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

A comforting and traditional beef stew, perfect for chilly evenings, easy to prepare with minimal ingredients.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth Can substitute with water or chicken broth
  • 3 medium carrots, sliced
  • 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 leaves bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Brown each piece for about 5-7 minutes until nicely caramelized.
  2. Add the onions and garlic to the pot, stirring gently. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until the onions become translucent.
  3. Add in the beef broth, carrots, potatoes, celery, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
  4. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
  5. If you prefer a thicker stew, mix the cornstarch with a bit of cold water to create a slurry and stir it into the stew during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
  6. Remove the bay leaves before serving and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

This stew tastes even better the next day, so make it in advance, let it cool, and store it in the fridge. Just reheat when hunger strikes.