Easy Beef Stew

There’s nothing quite like a hearty bowl of beef and vegetable stew on a snowy winter’s night, but to be honest, I’d take it on a not-so-snowy summer’s night, too. Growing up in Florida, the concept of seasonal cooking was a bit foreign for me, living in a state that only has two seasons: very hot and less hot. Not wanting to be deprived of these classic wintertime delights, my mom would often make stews like this for two main reasons—they were inexpensive, a huge plus when feeding five kids, and they were delightfully hands off. 

Boneless Chuck Roast for Thrift and Flavor

You might find that most beef stews call for short ribs, chuck roast, or “stew meat” (which is almost always chuck). The top choice for me is always boneless chuck roast, and look for marbling if you can find it. Short ribs have tons of flavor and are super delicious, but these days, they also cost tons of money. This hardworking part of the cow’s shoulder is delightfully inexpensive, but it’s tough, not unlike human shoulders. So consider this long braise the equivalent of a good massage to make the beef more tender. 

And yes, you can absolutely buy pre-cut pieces of beef. Even less work! Just be sure to pick through the package to make sure they’re all cut to about the same size: one-inch pieces are what you’re looking for. Any bigger and they won’t get tender in the cooking time. 

Hot Take: Browning Might be Overrated

It’s a phrase you read again and again: “searing meat seals in the juices.” It’s something we’ve chosen to believe over time, but what does it really mean? You might be shocked to find out this “tip” doesn’t actually mean a whole lot—in fact, it’s not even true. 

While browned meat might look a lot more appetizing than that pale gray meat color (Benjamin Moore, that name is all yours), the truth is that in the end, all of the liquid and fat from the meat stays in the same pot, and all of the meat beautifully breaks down after two hours of cooking. 

So I’ve skipped the tedious babysitting and flipping of small pieces, and added all the meat in the pot at the same time. It’s not the prettiest (at first!), but it only requires some occasional stirring, while you can get on with prepping the rest of your ingredients. 

Build a Better Broth 

If you’re the kind of person who has homemade beef stock or broth in the freezer, I admire you. You should use it here! If you’re like the rest of us, you’re hitting up the canned/boxed broth aisle of the grocery store. Keep in mind that there’s a big difference between brands in terms of flavor and salinity. I developed this recipe using Campbell’s beef broth, as I know it’s widely available, it’s reasonably priced, and I happen to think it has great flavor. If you have a favorite, feel free to use it. Other broths will likely have less added salt, so be mindful of that while you’re cooking. Keep tasting as you go to adjust for seasoning as needed. 

Simple Quick Breads to Serve With Stew

• Irish Soda Bread
• Rosemary Garlic Beer Bread
• Guinness Bread with Molasses
• Oatmeal Soda Bread
• Spicy Paleo Pumpkin Muffins