Dutch Oven Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

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ByAnn Drake

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Super easy, classic, and hearty Dutch oven beef stew recipe that feeds a family with plenty of leftovers. Uses very basic ingredients and has minimal prep.

One of the most challenging things about having your family home for the holidays, at least for me, is feeding them. I really enjoy having everyone here, and I so want to make delicious meals for them. There’s nothing better than sitting around a table with those you love, enjoying a hot and hearty meal. In order to do that, and still keep my sanity, I make dishes that are relatively easy, and that feed an army. This oven roasted beef stew is a one-pot meal that’s a definite crowd-pleaser!

A few years ago, I spent some time visiting my daughter-in-law’s parents, helping out with our grandchildren. The day I arrived, I walked in their home, and the most delicious aroma was coming out of the kitchen. Turns out there was beef stew slowly cooking in the oven. It was such a lovely way to be welcomed, and dinner that night was delicious. When I asked for the recipe, I was surprised to find out it revolved around McCormick’s Beef Stew seasoning mix!

Why This Recipe Is Amazing

This is a one pot meal that’s super simple to put together. The seasoning mix adds just the right amount of rich flavor, and as it cooks, it makes a delicious broth. The tender beef and vegetables literally melt in your mouth!

Ingredient Notes + Variations

  • Tasty additions: Worcestershire sauce, one or two bay leaves, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, fresh thyme or other fresh herbs, dry red wine, garlic cloves.
  • Any fresh vegetables can be used depending on your family’s tastes, but the one ingredient I would not leave out is the onion. For maximum flavor, use a sweet onion, or yellow onion.
  • Any kind of potatoes can be used. Large red potatoes work well, but they should be quartered before adding them to the pot. Baby potatoes can go in whole. I’ve also added a peeled and chopped sweet potato, and it’s delicious as well.
  • Beef stew meat or a chuck roast work equally well, and both produce tender chunks of beef. Pick out meat that has a good amount of marbling.
  • Cook the stew at a low heat to allow the flavors to meld, and the meat to become tender. This often means a longer cooking time, but results in a more flavorful dish.

The Cooking Process

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  • Prepare the celery, carrots, potatoes, and onion.
  • Coat the bottom of a 7 quart Dutch oven or roasting pan with olive oil.
  • If using a chuck roast, cut it in 1 inch cubes.
  • Place stew meat or beef chuck roast cubes in a large bowl.
  • Cover with 1/4 cup all purpose flour and toss until meat is completely covered.
  • Place meat over vegetables in Dutch oven or roaster.
  • Mix together 3 cups water with the McCormick’s packet, whisking until combined.
  • Pour water/packet mixture over meat and vegetables in pan.
  • Add beef consommé or beef broth.
  • Cover your pot and bake at 300 degrees F for 3.5 hours.
  • Halfway through the cooking time, remove from the oven. Using a large wooden spoon, stir contents and move what’s on the bottom of the pan to the top.
  • Return to the oven.
  • When done, remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before removing cover.
  • Taste and add salt/pepper if desired. I have found that there’s no need for salt, but fresh cracked pepper is a wonderful addition.
  • Mix together before serving.

Dutch Oven Beef Stew Tips

  • This is the perfect meal for busy days, or when you have guests, and you want to get dinner prep out of the way early in the afternoon. At meal time, all that’s required is taking the beef stew out of the oven.
  • Taste the stew before serving and adjust the seasoning if necessary. I have found that the seasoning packet adds plenty of flavor, and extra salt is rarely needed.Fresh cracked pepper is a delicious addition.
  • Serve this beef stewwith hot crusty bread, beer bread, garlic cheese bread, or rosemary buttermilk bread.
  • Store any leftoversin an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.
  • I’m sure this delicious beef stew can be made in a slow cooker, but I have not tried it. My best guess is that it would need to cook on low for at least 8 hours.

Large Dutch Oven vs. Roaster

I first shared this recipe in 2019. Back then, my hands were strong, and lifting a cast iron pot in and out of the oven was no problem. Well…those days are over. I’ve lost quite a bit of hand strength, and I just can’t do it anymore. I’ve had this large black roaster for years, and it makes the best pot roast, so I tried making beef stew in it. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best…and for the past year or so, I’ve been using my big old roaster to make this hearty beef stew…and it’s wonderful! A cast iron Dutch oven is definitely a good choice, but if you don’t have one, or can’t lift one, a roaster will work just as well.

DON’T FORGET TO PIN THIS!

Like I mentioned above, the best thing about this oven roasted beef stew recipe, besides the taste, is that it fills your home with the most amazing aroma. This classic beef stew recipe is total comfort food that’s perfect for feeding your whole family over the holidays, or on a chilly day. Or anytime!

More Easy Dinner Ideas

  • Rosemary Chicken with Vegetables
  • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
  • Chicken Parmesan for Two
  • Meyer Lemon Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Dutch Oven Beef Stew Recipe

Super easy, hearty, and delicious dutch oven beef stew recipe that feeds a family with plenty of leftovers. Very basic ingredients and minimal prep.

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4.57 from 30 votes

Servings: 6 people

Author: Ann Drake

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. beef stew meat or chuck roast (cut up)
  • 1.5 cups chopped celery
  • 1.5 cups mini carrots
  • 12 oz. small red potatoes
  • 1 large onion (cut into 8 pieces)
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 packet McCormick’s Beef Stew Seasoning Packet
  • 10.5 oz. beef consommé

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

  • Prepare the celery, carrots, potatoes, and onion.

  • Put vegetables in a 7 quart dutch oven, or a large roaster.

  • If using a chuck roast, cut it in 1 inch cubes.

  • Place stew meat or chuck roast cubes in a large bowl.

  • Cover with 1/4 cup flour and toss until meat is completely covered.

  • Place meat over vegetables in dutch oven or roaster.

  • Mix together 3 cups water with the McCormick’s packet, whisking until combined.

  • Pour water/packet mixture over meat and vegetables in your pot.

  • Add can of beef consommé.

  • Cover your pot and bake at 300 degrees F for 3.5 hours.

  • Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before removing cover.

  • Taste and add salt/pepper if desired. I have found that there's no need for salt, but fresh cracked pepper is a wonderful addition.

  • Mix together before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 984mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4531IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 4mg

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If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!

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Dutch Oven Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to cook beef stew in Dutch oven on stove top? ›

Directions
  1. Stir together flour, paprika, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined. ...
  2. Heat olive oil in a cast iron Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. ...
  3. Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until meat and vegetables are tender, about 2 hours 30 minutes.

What is the secret to good beef stew? ›

Start with leaner meat.

For a rich, succulent stew, resist the instinct to buy the gorgeously marbled piece of meat you would want for a steak or roast. Look instead for cuts with cartilage, tendons and (at least a few) bones: Chuck, brisket, oxtails, cheeks and shin are ideal.

Does beef stew get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

Why use Dutch oven for stew? ›

Soups and stews: Dutch ovens are ideal for cooking things low and slow, which makes them perfect for hearty soups and stews. And they're typically generously sized, which means they can hold a lot of liquid.

Do you cook stew in the Dutch oven with the lid on or off? ›

The answer is simpler than you would imagine. If you are instructed to crack the lid of your Dutch oven it is to allow for the evaporation of the liquid concentrating it's flavors. If the lid is to remain closed the recipe is simply stating nothing else needs to be done but add heat t...

How long do you simmer stew meat to make it tender? ›

Add remainder of the beef broth; bring to a simmer before adding carrots, potatoes, celery, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, basil, paprika, and garlic powder. Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook stew at a simmer until the meat and vegetables are very tender, 3 to 4 hours.

What gives beef stew more flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

Why put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

I contacted Laurence to get the lowdown on why she adds tomato paste to her beef stew. "I include tomato paste in many braised recipes because it adds a depth of flavor without increasing the liquid quantity in the dish," Laurence explains.

What can I add to my stew to make it taste better? ›

19. It is a good idea to always taste the stew before serving. Adding a bit of sauce, some herbs, some seasoning or even brown sugar or honey can just lift the taste. I had a friend who swore by putting a spoonful of peanut butter in her stews to flavour and thicken them.

Why add vinegar to beef stew? ›

Tough stew meat will take a couple of hours to get tender, and the vinegar helps this happen as well as add special flavor. Then add the onions, carrots, celery, Brussels sprouts etc and cook until the vegetables are the way you like them.

Do you cook stew meat before you put it in the stew? ›

You should never throw your raw cubes of beef into the stew pot. You must sear the cubes first in a pan to brown them and begin building that rich flavor. It's important not to brown them too lightly—sear them until there's a dark crust on each side of the meat cubes.

Do you need to brown beef for stew? ›

"The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish." If you are making a slow-cooked recipe that calls for ground beef, like chili, beef stew, or meat sauce, browning the meat beforehand makes a huge difference.

Is beef stew better in a crockpot or Dutch oven? ›

Dutch Ovens are way more versatile than Slow Cookers. Not only can you make stews like you could in a Slow Cooker, but you can also bake bread, build a pasta sauce, sear meat, sauté vegetables, and plenty more.

What is a Dutch oven trick? ›

You fart, under some blankets, then pull the blankets over someone's head, thereby trapping them and the fart in a contained space for a short time. The Dutch Oven is also a cookpot meant to be buried in hot coals for long, slow cooking.

What's the point of a Dutch oven? ›

A Dutch oven is a heavy-duty pot with lid designed for browning meat and veggies and then simmering on the stovetop or braising in the oven. It can also be used for soup and more simple tasks like boiling pasta. It's often used to make bread as well.

Can you slow cook in a Dutch oven on the stove top? ›

Dutch oven: Can be used on a stovetop or in an oven. The cast iron retains and distributes heat evenly, making it suitable for both searing and slow cooking.

Can you cook a stew on a stove top instead of oven? ›

Cooking a stew in an oven generally results in slower, more even cooking, while cooking on a stove is faster and may require more frequent stirring. Oven cooking can lead to tender, flavorful dishes, while stove cooking is quicker but may require more attention to prevent burning or sticking.

How long does it take for beef stew meat to get done? ›

Cook over medium-high heat, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the beef, beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Cover and cook, skimming broth from time to time, until the beef is tender, about 1½ hours.

Is stew better in crockpot or stove? ›

While you can make a beef stew on the stovetop or also in the Instant Pot, I'm partial to using my slow cooker for beef stew, to give the ingredients that long, unattended time they need to become really tender and delicious.

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