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
I made this yesterday for the first time in the crockpot. I always make it in the oven, and it turns out great, but I don’t recommend in the crockpot. The meat was…it was hard to chew, and then all of a sudden would disintegrate while chewing. The veggies were okay, but the “broth” was not any good. Plus it didn’t cook in the right amount of time. I started it on high for an hour, then cooked it on low for 6, checked it, and cranked it on high because I could tell it wasn’t going to be done in two more hours…as it is, after two more hours on high, I just pulled the crock out of the cooker and stuck it in the oven, uncovered for a half hour.
Definitely will just stick to the oven on this one!!
I loved this recipe. I can’t use the soup because of gluten issues in our family so I coated the beef with gluten free flour and added the V8 juice along with the beef base and beef broth to cover. It turned out great!!
I read that book so so many times when I was in 2nd grade! I loved all of them, but I definitely read the first one over 30 times 🙂 The entire idea was so intriguing.
lol…I read the whole series
My children (ages 8 & 10) & I just put this together & it is cooking now. My daughter loved the book when they read it in class in second grade so she enjoyed the refenrence. It’s 33 degrees for the high today so it’s a perfect night for this meal. Thank you for the pictures with the recipies, it makes more interesting for my young chefs.
Made this tonight in the crock pot. Everyone loved it! Will definitely be making it again this fall/winter! Thanks!!
this looks so yummy! i would love to make this on sundays, to have right after church. but i worry about leaving my oven on, when im not home. so…. my question is…. can i cook this at alower temp, for a little longer time.?
I would say about 8-10.
Looks so yummy! How many does this serve? I have a bid family to cook for 🙂
Is it possible to substitute something if I don’t have fresh garlic on hand? Garlic powder or something else?
Thank you, for this recipe! I just got a new crockpot, and am SO excited to use it. This is what my family requested for dinner, so I’m grateful I found a simple recipe! THANK YOU! 🙂
You could add some garlic powder or you could just leave it out–it’ll be delicious either way! 🙂