As a kid, we ate a lot of beef stew. In fact, this Hearty Beef Stew recipe was our standard Sunday dinner. Everything would go into the Dutch oven and then into the oven before we went to church and when we got home 3 hours later, it would be ready. We ate it with whole wheat bread and butter and it felt warm and homey. I’ve changed the old standard a little–added some (a lot of) garlic, substituted V8 for tomato juice and beef bouillon instead of just salt. But really, it’s all the same: something easy, nourishing, and delicious that just about everybody loves.
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
- Baby potatoes
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onion
- Fresh garlic
- Vegetable juice cocktail – Like V8 or Bloody Mary Mix.
- Condensed tomato soup
- Water
- Basil
- Beef bouillon cubes or beef base
- Black pepper
- Beef stew meat
- Bay leaf – Optional, but adds a great depth of flavor.
- Stew Meat – You’ll also need some lean stew meat. You may need to cut some of the pieces into something a little more bite-sized.
How to Make Hearty Beef Stew
- Cut the veggies–I usually make the potatoes on the large side of bite-sized, the carrots and celery on the small side of bite-sized, and then the onions chopped pretty small because I don’t like them in chunks. But you can do it however you like! Combine all the ingredients in a large Dutch oven or other heavy oven-safe dish with a tight-fitting lid.
- Pop that in the preheated oven for 3 hours, and that’s it!
Storing and Other Tips
- Store cooled stew in and airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3-4 days for best results.
- Stew freezes well! Feel free to freeze individual portions for an easy meal on busy days.
- Crock Pot Instructions: Follow the instructions as written, but reduce the water and V-8 by about half. Combine everything in your crock pot. Cook 6-8 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Soups and stews are often even better when reheated and usually freeze really well. You can prepare the stew and reheat as needed, or freeze individual portions in silicone muffin tins or Souper Cubes for an easy lunch or dinner.
Sure! Potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery are standard stew fare, but feel free to add whatever additional vegetables you like. Mushrooms are a great addition. If adding frozen peas, I recommend adding them at the end of cooking to heat through or they can get mushy.
Sure. Lamb works well in this recipe. I imagine it would be great with wild game like elk or venison as well.
Hearty Beef Stew
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound baby potatoes cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4-5 carrots, medium peeled and chopped
- 4 stalks celery chopped
- 1 onion, large, chopped or 2 small, chopped
- 5-6 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups vegetable juice cocktail like V8 or Bloody Mary Mix
- 1 10-ounce can condensed tomato soup
- 10 ounces water just use empty soup can to measure
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 2 beef bouillon cubes or 2 teaspoons beef base
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 2-3 pounds beef stew meat, lean cut into smaller cubes if necessary
- bay leaf optional, but adds great flavor
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300℉. Combine all the ingredients in a large Dutch oven or other heavy oven-safe dish with a tight-fitting lid. Lay a bay leaf on top (if using), cover, with lid, and cook for 3 hours.
Notes
- I haven’t had great luck making this in the slow cooker or the pressure cooker–the recipe seems to rely on a little evaporation and when I’ve made it using these methods, the stew ends up a little soupy/watery. If you’d like to try it either of these ways, I would recommend reducing the water and possibly the V-8. This has not been tested, so just know you’ll be in uncharted territory!
- Store cooled stew in and airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3-4 days for best results.
- Stew freezes well! Feel free to freeze individual portions for an easy meal on busy days.
Questions & Reviews
Had this for dinner and at first I thought this might not be as good as I’d hoped. So I held out and let it cook for the full 10+ hours added a little kosher salt and pepper and then we were talking. We ate it with the honey butter and bread (because the honey butter is divine and makes a TON) And then for dessert the Coconut Banana Bread with lime Glaze.(Again with the Honey butter, which just made it all the yummier)
I have one question, Do you need to brown the beef first?
Nancy–You can, although I never have and it’s always been fabulous. 🙂
I baked our leftover stew into individual serving pot pies. I had to drain off a little of the broth, but they were so moist and delicious! I almost liked it better as a pot pie than the stew by itself. Made it with the homemade crust too.
Made it. Loved it. 🙂
Gee, I haven't made this recipe yet but I just had to chime in with all of the Boxcar Children camaraderie in the comments! I read the first one and ONLY remember the part where they set up camp, so to speak, basically everything everyone's mentioned here (the detail sticking out the most in my mind being the milk behind the waterfall). I really want to reread it now. How interesting that it's left such an impression on those who read it…
Oh yeah, and I put this recipe on my next week's menu. 🙂
I loved The Boxcar Children too!
I made this stew tonight and it was FABULOUS!! I LOVED it. I have tried A LOT of different recipes for stew and don't ever really love any of them. I love the concept of stew it's so hearty and healthy, especially on cold days like today. To be totally honest I wasn't really expecting to care for it much, I just thought I didn't like stew, but this was o so good! I am already thinking of the next time I can make it! Serioulsy both my husband and I went back for seconds and my two small boys ate all theirs up! Thank you so much! I love your site and all your recipes. You are both amazing!
I shared the recipe on my facebook page using your link 🙂 I had to tell everyone how good this stew is!
Great thanks!
Murray Family–You can totally freeze the leftovers and they come out great. 🙂 I just don't recommend freezing it before you cook it because weird things happen to the potatoes.
Thanks for the info!! I’m working on getting my freezer stocked ahead of baby coming, but not many of the meals in your freezer article are ones my family will eat…I love the advice bit about only putting up food that will actually get eaten!
mle–Nope, just pop it in there raw and it comes out perfect! 🙂
You don't have to brown the meat first before it goes into the pot?