Dutch Oven Beef Stew

Is there anything more comforting than a cozy bowl of beef stew? With layers of rich flavors, soul-warming veggies, and melty tender chunks of beef, this just may be the ultimate comfort food dish.

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, International

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 10

Servings

Calories 614kcal

Author Imma

Equipment

1 Dutch oven

Ingredients

2½-3 pounds (1-1.5k) whole boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1½-inch chunks
¼ cup (60ml) olive oil, divided
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon (1g) fresh thyme, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons (30g) tomato paste
2 teaspoons (10ml) Worcestershire sauce
½ cup (120ml) dry red wine
¼ cup (60g) all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
4 cups (950ml) beef broth, plus more if needed
1 pound (450g) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup (150g) frozen peas

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325℉ (160℃).
Pat the beef dry with a paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper. Then heat some olive oil over high heat in a large Dutch oven. Brown the meat batches and sear on all sides until golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side.
Transfer the browned meat to a plate. Set aside. Leave the brown bits in the pot, and don't wipe it clean.
Reduce the heat to medium, add about 1 tablespoon olive oil, then add onions, celery, garlic, and thyme to the same Dutch oven and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine. Stir using a wooden spoon, scraping the browned bits until reduced, 2-3 minutes.
Add flour and stir to coat. Add 4 cups of beef broth and stir until the flour is incorporated and the broth starts to thicken. Add the seared beef, cubed potatoes, carrots, and bay leaves. If it's too thick, add more broth to achieve the desired texture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer for 5-7 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
Cover with an oven-safe lid. Finish cooking in the oven at 325℉ (160℃) for about 90 minutes or until the meat is tender. Stir in the peas 10 minutes before the cooking time is up.
Remove bay leaves, ladle into soup bowls, and garnish with chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Notes

Sear the beef in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan and to prevent steaming. If you notice things beginning to steam up, remove the excess liquid and continue browning. This is critical to achieving that rich and intense stew flavor we all love.
Do your best to chop the veggies into even-sized chunks so they cook evenly.
Position the vegetables on top of the beef before they go in the oven. That way, the weight of the meat won't make them mushy.
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition