The Best Beef Cuts For Cooking Beef Stew:
When you shop for meat for beef stew, I recommend avoiding the shrink-wrapped packages of meat labeled stew meat.
The meat in those is often a mixture of trimmings from a variety of beef cuts, which means they vary widely in fat content and tenderness.
- Beef chuck: Boneless chuck is my top choice for beef stew. The chuck comes from the shoulder portion of the cow between the ribs and the brisket.
- Use a chuck roast to make beef stew
- Trim off excess fat and cut into large chunks
This heavily exercised muscle contains a lot of connective tissue and fat marbling, which makes for a tastier piece of meat.
Look for chuck roasts labeled blade roast, chuck shoulder, top chuck or shoulder clod roast. If you dont want to bother cutting up the meat yourself, ask the staff behind the meat department to do it for you.
Tips For Making The Best Beef Stew
- Sear your beef beforehand. This is important! Browning the beef in a skillet beforehand will bring out even more flavor.
- Cook it on low. While many slow cooker recipes can be made on high for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend cooking this beef stew on low for the full 7-8 hours. This will ensure that the beef gets nice and tender.
- Thicken your stew properly. When its time to add your flour to thicken the beef stew, remove 1 cup of beef broth from the slow cooker and add it to a bowl. Youll then whisk in ¼ cup flour until there arent any lumps, add back to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Be sure you dont add flour straight to the slow cooker as it will become lumpy.
Tools For This Recipe
– Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- Kitchen tongs make it really easy to delicately handle the meat to place it into the pot for searing it and to remove it afterward.
- I have this Crock Pot which allows you to sear meat right on the stove-top. It also automatically switches to warm once the cooking time is up.
- Kitchen Bouquet Browning + Seasoning Sauce – Adds an even richer darker color.
Read Also: Recipe For Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies From Scratch
How To Make Slow
This amazing stew could not be easier to make.
We put the entire dish together the night before we intend on serving it.
Keep it in the fridge, covered, and then slow cook it the following day. Easy peezy!
NOTE: If you liked this video, please . And remember to click the bell icon so youll never miss a new video!
What Is The Best Meat To Use For Beef Stew
The best meat to use to make beef stew is beef chuck. Youll have to cut it into cubes yourself. Chuck is a tough, but flavorful cut that comes from the shoulders and front end. It is perfect for slow cooker beef stew or pot roast!
Once it has been slow cooked it has the most tender melt in your mouth texture. You can also use store bought beef stewing meat that comes pre-cut but the texture is a bit different.
Read Also: Healthy Baking Recipes For Kids
What Kind Of Wine Goes With Beef Stew
For this red wine beef stew recipe, I used the Cabernet Sauvignon DIY My Wine kit and it worked perfectly.
The wine kit is perfect for all the upcoming holiday parties, or if you dont entertain that much and stuff have leftovers it is incredible added to spaghetti sauces, used in a red wine steak marinade, or in this red wine beef stew.
As I mentioned before, Its good for six weeks after opening, so youll have a ton of time to play and create new recipes or enjoy a glass or two with friends.
French Beef Stew With Red Wine
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Rich and delicious French beef stew with red wine and vegetables. Youll love the intense flavor and its so easy to make in a Dutch oven, low and slow! Serve this stew with wide egg noodles or simply with crusty bread and a salad.
This is my version of a Provencal-inspired French beef stew, chock-full of classic beef stew ingredients. Think fork-tender braised beef, beef broth, chunky vegetables, hearty red wine and aromatic fresh rosemary and other herbs.
Traditionally made on the stovetop in a very large earthenware dish called a daubiere, its slow-cooking at its best rich with tender beef, herbs and red wine.
This beef stew recipe is based on a French-style beef daube, which is just a fancy name for you guessed it! Beef stew.
You May Like: 1800 Coconut Tequila Margarita Recipes
How Do You Make Beef Stew With Red Wine
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Season the meat with salt and pepper, place in a large bowl, and toss with the flour.
- Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or wide-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat.
- Add the tomato paste, wine, broth, onion, bay leaves, thyme, and 2 of the carrots and bring to a boil.
What Cut Of Beef Is Best For Beef Stew
For slow cooker beef stew, I use Chuck roast. I use it because the fat content and internal marbling creates finished beef that is just so tender and juicy.
Plus, it tends to be a pretty inexpensive cut of beef which is always nice since beef can get expensive in a hurry!
Sometimes you can find beef thats labeled asstew meat and can be a mixture of Chuck roast with other cuts of meat.
Recommended Reading: One Year Old Baby Food Recipes
How To Make Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Making beef stew in your Crock-Pot is easy by following these straightforward steps:
Tip: Make sure to read the full recipe in the recipe card section below before beginning so you are sure what youre doing and will be doing since elements in the recipe start on the stove and finish in the slow cooker.
Step 1: Trim and cube your Chuck roast and then toss it in mixture of flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Step 2: To a large heavy skillet, brown the Chuck roast and then transfer it into your slow cooker.
Step 3: Add the red wine to deglaze your skillet.
Add half the butter and melt it.
Step 4: Add the onions and cook the onion for 5 minutes. Pour this over the beef in the slow cooker.
Step 5: To the slow cooker, add the beef broth, tomato paste, soy and Worcestershire sauces, garlic, beef bouillon, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, and stir.
Step 6: Add the potatoes and vegetables.
Step 7: Dissolve the corn starch into the water and pour the mixture into the slow cooker.
Step 8: Cover and cook on either low or high in your slow cooker.
Step 9: Ten minutes before serving, add the remaining butter and optional Kitchen Bouquet, and then serve.
Best Beef Stew Slow Cooker Recipe
Beef stew was one of my all time favorite comfort foods growing up and because I love to get a little nostalgic, I decided to make a slow cooker version to share with you. Who doesnt love to prepare their dinner in the morning and slow cook it all day?
Whether you work or would just rather be doing something else rather than stand in the kitchen prepping dinner, this is the perfect recipe for you. The best part is you end up with the tastiest stew with moist tender tasty beef!
ITS SIMPLY AMAZING and perfect for Sunday night dinners. Serve with my easy Focaccia Bread Recipe, Copycat Little Caesars Breadsticks or a slice of toasted French bread for a great way to warm up during cold winter nights.
This beef stew is the best Slow Cooker recipe! Its loaded with tender bites of juicy beef, golden potatoes, carrots, peas, red wine, onions, garlic, and a hearty broth. Trust me when I say you have to try this recipe!
All of the ingredients in this recipe complement one another so well and the quantities of each are perfect, with no ingredient overpowering another. The combination of herbs creates an amazing flavor and depth!
Don’t Miss: Chicken And Rice Dog Food Recipe For Upset Stomach
Tips And Notes For This Healthy Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Did you know you could freeze tomato paste? I find that I always open a can of tomato paste and then it ends up in my fridge for a while and somethings end up going bad because the recipe doesnt use the whole can. Freeze it and thaw it whenever you need some!
- It might be tempting to get stew beef for beef stew , I really recommend you get chuck roast and then cutting it yourself so all your meat is similar in size and the same type of meat!
- Dont be tempted to skip the bay leaf! The bay leaves add a lighter note to the healthy slow cooker beef stew and helps the other flavours shine. Its a small step and a single ingredient but it does a lot.
- I find that the longer the stew simmers on low, the more tender the beef becomes. For melt in your mouth beef, I like to cook it on low for 8 hours.
- Avoid opening the slow cooker while your beef stew is still cooking. This releases the heat that was built up and itll take time to re-built all that lost heat and your beef stew might not turn out as great as intended.
- Everything is cut into 2 inch chunks so they can cook evenly in the slow cooker together. If you cut them into larger chunks or smaller chunks, youll have to adjust the cooking time.
- To make Paleo or Whole30 friendly use arrow flour.
The Ingredients You Will Need
The ingredients for standard beef stew are simple and straight forward. They include:
EXPERT TIP: The red wine adds a wonderful depth of flavor to the stew, and 99% of the alcohol will cook off. However, if you prefer to not cook with wine, then simply omit it and increase the beef broth to 5 cups.
Recommended Reading: Pumpkin Pie Spice Latte Recipe
Storing Reheating And Freezing Tips
- Store all leftovers in an airtight container inside of your fridge for up to 5 days.
- Leftovers can be quickly reheated in the microwave or you can reheat it by simmering it on the stovetop. Simmering it on the stovetop to reheat might make your beef stew thicker but I think thats a great bonus side effect.
- You can freeze leftovers in freezer bags for up to 4 months. Be sure to thaw in the fridge beforehand and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Tips For The Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Ive provided some tips already such as low and slow is my referred cooking method rather than cooking faster on the high heat setting.
Dont lift the lid of your slow cooker and check on the stew too often. Every time you do that, youre allowing heat to escape, and it will lengthen the cooking process. Leave it alone.
If youre cooking on high, I wouldnt even bother checking until at least 6 hours have passed since it simply wont be anywhere near done.
Red wine adds to the richness in flavor that classic beef stew has and unless you have very good reason, dont skip it.
If youve never heard of Kitchen Bouquet thats okay. Its been around forever although isnt terribly common other than maybe in your grandmothers kitchen.
Its optional in my slow cooker beef stew recipe, but if you add a few drops 10 minutes before serving, it adds a nice rich brown color and makes the overall stew look more appetizing. It does very slightly enhance the flavor as well. Keep it on hand for gravies and stews if you want to darken the color a bit.
Whats not optional is the butter in beef stew, especially at the end.
There are only 4 tablespoons used in the whole recipe, two of which are used when you brown the onion, and the remaining two tablespoons at the end. It really makes the stew broth silky smooth and lends such a comfort food touch.
Cuisine:Category:
Don’t Miss: Enfamil 24 Calorie Formula Recipe
How To Make Beef Stew In The Slow Cooker
Making this slow cooker beef stew is easier than you think!
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my privacy policy.
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon has crazy tender melt in your mouth beef and hearty veggies slow cooked to perfection in a rich sauce. This meal is comforting and perfect for the cold months ahead!
This rich and hearty meal is warm and satisfying this winter season. If you love a good stew try this Tuscan Vegetables Chicken Stew, Skillet Pork Cacciatore or Beef Stew with Bacon.
You May Like: Easy Low Fat Dinner Recipes For Family
Slow Cooker Beef Stew: Tips And Tricks
While this is an easy recipe that relies on a Crockpot or slow cooker to tenderize the beef, there are a few tips and tricks to get the best results.
- Sear the beef until golden brown before adding it to the Crockpot or slow cooker. This is an extra step, but its maybe the most important part of the recipe. The flour that coats the beef gets cooked and helps thicken the sauce. Also, the caramelization on the beef gives the stew a deep, rich flavor that you wont get otherwise.
- Deglaze the skillet. You worked hard to develop flavors by searing the beef. Now add some red wine to help scrape up the browned bits stuck to the skillet! All that good flavor should go into the stew.
- Thicken the stew slightly with a cornstarch slurry. A thick sauce sticks to the meat and veggies. Add the slurry to the stew at the very end to help it thicken.
Simply Recipes / Nick Evans
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Ingredients
- Onion and Garlic: These aromatic ingredients add a delicious base layer of flavor. You can chop the onions into smaller pieces or larger slices, depending on your preference.
- Celery, Carrots and Potatoes: These are classic beef stew vegetables. I like to use Yukon gold potatoes because of their rich flavor and creamy texture. Other potatoes, such as baby potatoes or red potatoes will also work.
- Tomato Paste: The tomato paste both adds richness and helps to thicken the broth. It wont make your beef stew taste like tomato sauce.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce adds depth of flavor, but if you dont have any on hand or dont care for it you can leave it out.
- Flour and Olive Oil: You will brown the beef and sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil before adding the ingredients to the slow cooker. Coating the beef with flour creates a flavorful crust on the meat as it browns in the skillet. The flour also thickens the broth as the stew simmers in the slow cooker.
- Seasonings: The seasonings for this beef stew include Italian seasoning, dried thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
- Beef Broth: I recommend using a low sodium beef broth so that you can control the amount of salt in your finished dish. You can always add more salt, to taste, after the stew cooks, but you cant take it away.
- Boneless Chuck Roast: This is the cut of beef that I recommend for the best beef stew. Read more below about what kind of meat is best for beef stew.
Don’t Miss: Ninja Blender Recipes For Weight Loss
Variations On Making Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
This beef bourguignon is known to be a decadent and one of the most flavorful stews. It is thick and hearty with rich flavors that continue to grow while cooking. Each ingredient is a key role in making this slow cooker beef bourguignon recipe the BEST. Make this ahead of time and have all the aroma lofting about in your home. Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is a MUST make this winter season. It is comforting and warms you up on those cold nights.
Enjoy these tips to making this slow cooker beef bourguignon recipe even better!
How Much Meat Per Person For Beef Stew
The rule of thumb when making beef stew in a slow cooker is to use 1/2 pound of beef per adult and 1/4 pound of beef per child.
However, youll notice that my easy Crockpot beef stew recipe calls for just 2 to 3 pounds of beef but serves 10 people. Thats because I like to load up my stews with hearty vegetables. Adding veggies amps up the flavor and texture of the stew and also helps cut costs!
Also Check: Vegetable Smoothie Recipes For Weight Loss