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    You are here Home » Recipes » food

    By: Melissa

    The Best Dutch Oven Beef Stew

    When the weather starts to get cold, the first recipe I love to make is my dutch oven beef stew. This old-fashioned beef stew is cooked in a Dutch oven until tender then carrots and potatoes are added to the stew at the end to round it off. This all day beef stew recipe (almost all day) not only tastes amazing because of the beef stew seasoning, it is so easy to make. This hearty beef stew is one of those great comfort food recipes that just warms you up on a cold winter's day.

    finished dutch oven beef stew with spoon
    Jump to Recipe
    Total Time: 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

    This beef stew is one that I have been cooking for my family for years and it is always loved. It is one of my absolute favorite Dutch oven recipes and a family tradition.

    This easy oven-cooked beef stew is so full of flavor because the meat is browned on the stove first with some really amazing spices (my favorite beef stew seasoning that was given to my family many years ago!).  The beef stew is then slow-cooked in a Dutch oven (which is made of cast iron) which gives it a much richer and deeper flavor than you would get with a slow cooker. 

    I even like to entertain at the holidays with this \recipe because who doesn't love a hearty and delicious beef stew when the weather starts to cool.

    An oven-roasted stew may seem like a lot but most of the cooking time is the beef stew slowly cooking in the oven. Once you try out this recipe, you will see that it is worth every bit of effort and why it has been a loved family recipe of ours for so long.

    Why Cook Beef Stew in the Oven

    I really believe the best beef stews are slow-cooked in the oven to really develop that amazing flavor in the beef. The heat in the oven that surrounds a Dutch oven pot is a gentle and even heat that cooks the meat evenly. This is because Dutch ovens are made with cast iron which retains heat really well.

    You cannot get this same type of flavor on the stovetop where the heat is concentrated on the bottom. Cooking stew in the oven really produces the best results! I even cook my French beef stew in a Dutch oven for this same reason.

    To keep it traditional, this Dutch oven stew has carrots and potatoes for that classic comfort food taste.

    We love serving this oven-roasted beef stew with a side of fluffy yogurt biscuits, Yukon gold mashed potatoes , cheesy polenta, or cheddar scones.

    Ingredients

    This beef stew Dutch oven recipe has all the classic ingredients you want to find in a delicious beef stew. Here they are (full recipe below):

    1. Stew meat or chuck roast cut into cubes: This Dutch oven stew is great because it uses a less expensive cut of beef and serves lots of people.
    2. Carrots: No classic beef stew is complete without carrots.
    3. Potatoes: Potatoes add to the hearty nature of this stew and soak up all of those delicious flavors.
    4. Red wine: Adds wonderful depth of flavor. Red wine beef stew is always the way to go when making a beef stew.
    5. Beef stock: This is the base of this beef stew.
    6. Garlic: I prefer fresh garlic for this hearty stew.
    7. Paprika: Sweet paprika is what you want here.
    8. Olive oil: Any olive oil works.
    9. Salt and pepper: I prefer kosher salt.
    10. Tomato paste: Tomato paste helps thicken this Dutch oven beef stew and adds flavor.
    old fashioned beef stew in pot with spoon in a closeup view

    Beef stew seasoning

    My favorite beef stew seasoning to use for this oven-roasted beef stew is a mix of garlic, paprika and salt. It actually comes from a Jewish brisket recipe given to my mom many years ago to make brisket and the flavors are out of this world.

    This beef stew seasoning is so good we also use it on our turkey patties and hamburger patties.

    This dish is perfect for those days that you know you will be in the house all day either from snow or just to relax.

    When making this stew, it is very little hands-on time and most of the time is the stew roasting in the oven doing its own thing. I usually have time to make a batch of homemade biscuits or mashed potatoes which taste so good served alongside this stew.

    How to make this all day beef stew in the Dutch oven

    seasoning for beef stew in bowl
    cubed beef for stew in bowl
    • Prepare your spices and mince your garlic.
    • Cube beef into about 1-inch pieces.

    adding beef to the seasoning for stew
    seared beef in pot

    • Add your meat to the beef stew seasoning and mix well to make sure all the beef is covered in those delicious flavors.
    • Sear the meat which will caramelize the seasoning onto the meat and give it lots of flavor.

    beef stew meat with broth added
    lid on beef stew before it goes in the oven
    • Add your beef stock to the meat.
    • Place a lid on your dutch oven then place in the oven for a couple hours.

    beef stew cooking
    dutch oven beef stew just out of thee oven
    • After a couple hours, add your tomato paste and red wine to the stew. Also, add your veggies and cook a little longer.
    • After cooking for another hour, taste for seasonings and tenderness of beef.
    • Enjoy!

    You won't want any other beef stew after trying this easy Dutch oven beef stew. I promise everyone will love it.

    beef stew in pot

    Best Red Wine For Beef Stew

    If you ask me, I will tell you every time that beef stew with red wine is hands down the best beef stew you can make. It is also how my family has always made it.

    If you are unsure of the best types of red wine to use when making beef stew, I have a list of some of my favorites!

    • Cabernet
    • Pinot Noir
    • Rioja
    • Bordeaux

    All of these red wines are strong and fully bodied and can stand up to the heat of the oven and the flavor of the beef.

    Storing and Reheating

    If you have leftover beef stew, you are a lucky person! Beef stew makes the most delicious leftovers and reheats beautifully.

    To store leftover beef stew, let it come to room temperature then place it in an a container with a lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

    To reheat the beef stew, you can either microwave individual portions on high heat for about 2 minutes or you can place the stew in a pan with a lid and heat on low covered with a little water added until hot.

    Tips

    Are Dutch ovens good for beef stew?

    Dutch ovens are one of the best ways to cook stew because they are heavy bottom pots with lids that allow the stew to cook in the oven without losing moisture.

    How do you cook beef stew so it is tender?

    It is really easy to make tender beef stew if you follow two principles. First, make sure that you cook the stew on low heat for a long period of time, this is called the low and slow method of cooking.
    The second thing that you want to make sure of is that you know the type of meat you are cooking. Some cuts of meat take longer to cook than others. I prefer a chuck roast for all of my beef stews. I always know about how long it should take to cook if I cut the chuck roast into 1-inch pieces.

    Is stew better in the oven or on the stovetop.

    Beef stew (or any stew) can be cooked on the stovetop or in the oven. I prefer stew cooked in the oven because you can create a gentle even heat that surrounds the entire pot of stew allowing it to cook slowly and evenly.

    For more delicious comfort food recipes, you may like

    If you are looking for more ideas like this Dutch oven beef stew, here are some of our favorites:

    • Cuban Ropa Vieja
    • Amazing Pulled Pork and Sides
    • Beef Bourguignon in the Slow Cooker
    • Italian Baked Meatballs
    • Pasta Carbonara
    • Pasta Genovese (slow-cooked Italian Beef and Onion Ragu)
    • Italian Gravy
    • Vegetable Cassoulet
    • Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
    • Quick Classic Chili Recipe
    old fashioned beef stew in pot with spoon in a closeup view
    Print Recipe
    5 from 17 votes

    Dutch Oven Beef Stew

    A delicious beef stew slow roasted in the oven for maximum flavor.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time3 hours hrs
    Total Time3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Servings: 8 servings

    Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!

    Author: Melissa

    Equipment

    • large dutch oven or similar heavy bottom deep baking dish with a tight fitting lid.

    Ingredients

    • 4 lbs chuck roast or chuck roast cut into 1-inch cubes
    • 1.5 lbs fingerling potatoes or mini baby potatoes halved lengthwise
    • 7 large carrots peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces make sure they are all the same size and thickness
    • 2 cups of water plus more if needed
    • ¼ cup good red wine
    • 6 cloves of garlic diced
    • 4 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 tablespoon of olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon cornstarch mix cornstarch with a little water until smooth. This is the cornstarch slurry to thicken the stew. See note below if you do not have corn starch.
    • 2 tablespoon sweet paprika
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus more to taste
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    Instructions

    • Pre-heat your oven to 300 degrees.
    • In a large bowl, add your meat, garlic, paprika, 2 tablespoon olive oil and salt and toss your meat around and make sure all of the seasonings are coating the meat.
      4 lbs chuck roast, 2 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 2 tablespoon sweet paprika, 6 cloves of garlic diced
    • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your dutch oven (or heavy-bottomed pan. Make sure your pan has a tight-fitting lid which you will need later).
    • Add your meat to the pan and sear it on all sides. Make sure to get all of that yummy spice mixture out of the bowl and into your pan.
    • Once your meat has seared and turned a nice golden brown color, water and mix it into the dish. Place a tight-fitting lid on it and place in the oven for about 2 hours.
      2 cups of water
    • After 2 hours, check to make sure there is still some liquid (just a little is fine). If it is dry, add ½ cup of water. 
    • After it has cooked for about 2 hours, remove from the oven and place back on the stovetop over medium-high heat.
    • Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water until the liquid is fully combined and smooth.
      2 tablespoon cornstarch
    • Now add your tomato paste, wine, corn starch slurry and mix it in well and bring to a simmer.
      ¼ cup good red wine, 4 tablespoon tomato paste
    • Simmer for about 5 minutes to cook off the alcohol. After 5 minutes, add your carrots and potatoes.
      7 large carrots peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces, 1.5 lbs fingerling potatoes or mini baby potatoes
    • Now place the lid back on the pot and place in the oven for 1 more hour.
    • After an hour check the tenderness of the meat and vegetables. The meat should easily cut with a fork and the vegetables should be easily pierced with a fork as well. If vegetables need more time to cook, cook for an additional 15 minutes at a time until done.
    • Once done, remove from the oven and taste for seasonings. At this stage, add more salt to taste.
    • To serve: Ladle into bowls and serve with warm crusty bread and butter on the side. Also, serve with a nice red wine.
    • Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    If you do not have cornstarch to thicken the stew at the end, you can use this beurre manie (flour and butter soup thickener).

    Nutrition

    Calories: 549kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 1176mg | Potassium: 1451mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 9937IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 6mg

    Nutrition Values are estimates only.

    See full nutrition disclaimer here
    Course :Main Course

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Denise says

      September 06, 2023 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for a good old fashioned beef stew recipe that cooks in the oven so I tried this and I’m so glad I did. This beef stew was so good! It’s just like my grandma’s recipe I grew up with (actually better!)

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 06, 2023 at 3:18 pm

        Love hearing that 🙂

        Reply
    2. Ruth Bugg Robinson says

      January 28, 2023 at 12:04 am

      5 stars
      The best beef stew recipe I still tweaked by adding bouillon to my water and much more liquid..I like sauces / gravies.. also added a inch of harissa chili paste.. a chopped onion But loved you cooked the meat first with onion for the first 2 hours great recipe and thank you.

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        January 28, 2023 at 1:25 am

        so glad you enjoyed it Ruth 🙂

        Reply
    3. Mandy says

      January 16, 2023 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      This Dutch oven beef stew was beyond amazing! I followed the recipe exactly and it made such a delicious meal. A keeper recipe!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        January 16, 2023 at 10:03 pm

        So glad to hear that!

        Reply
    4. Ben says

      December 29, 2022 at 1:11 pm

      5 stars
      Was very tasty!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        December 29, 2022 at 1:25 pm

        Hi Ben. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Anna b says

      December 28, 2022 at 6:52 pm

      5 stars
      Love your recipes! This beef stew was pure comfort food deliciousness 😊

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        December 28, 2022 at 7:01 pm

        I so glad to hear that!

        Reply
    6. JR says

      December 22, 2022 at 10:58 pm

      This was delicious!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        December 23, 2022 at 12:37 am

        I'm glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    7. Annie says

      November 06, 2022 at 1:22 pm

      5 stars
      It came out amazing! Everyone loved it

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        November 06, 2022 at 1:31 pm

        So glad to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    8. Julie says

      September 27, 2022 at 7:51 pm

      5 stars
      First time making beef stew and it turned out fantastic. I will be making this again!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 27, 2022 at 9:06 pm

        Hi Julie. I am so happy to hear your first beef stew was a success!

        Reply
    9. Lee says

      September 24, 2022 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      This dutch oven beef stew was amazing. So much flavor!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 24, 2022 at 1:03 pm

        Thanks Lee! I am so glad you enjoyed it

        Reply
    10. eve says

      September 23, 2022 at 3:10 pm

      5 stars
      This beef stew was so good. Followed it exactly and it was raved about by the whole family.

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 23, 2022 at 3:28 pm

        So happy to hear that 🙂

        Reply
    11. Lidia says

      September 23, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      5 stars
      This was exactly what I was looking for- an old fashioned cook in the oven beef stew recipe. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 23, 2022 at 3:28 pm

        I love an all day stew too! I am so glad you enjoyed it

        Reply
    12. Andy says

      September 23, 2022 at 3:08 pm

      5 stars
      This beef stew was really delicious!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        September 23, 2022 at 3:28 pm

        So happy to hear you enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply
    13. Ed says

      October 09, 2021 at 12:44 pm

      5 stars
      I love oven roasted stews and this one was easy to follow and really good.

      Reply

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