Healthy, Hearty Beef Stew

Last year, for our first Halloween in our new house, we didn’t quite know what to expect in terms of trick-or-treaters. We live in a neighborhood, but also at the top of a hill that would make even the most determined kiddo hesitate. I decided that we would make our own Halloween, costumed visitors or not. So I made a big pot of Beef Stew, turned on Hocus Pocus, and waited! We ended up handing out a whole bowl’s worth of candy, and the night felt like the quintessential Halloween evening!

Since Travis and I are in the early years of our marriage, I am big on trying to make traditions that will continue for years. You can’t force these things, but that Beef Stew stuck in my mind as the perfect Halloween meal. So, I made it again this year (noting the recipe) and I am officially declaring Beef Stew on Halloween a tradition!  I think it will stick 🙂

For some reason, making beef stew used to intimidate me. I think it has something to do with the couple of times I have forced my family to chew through leathery chunks of meat in the past. (We all have to start somewhere, right?) I have heard the trick is higher quality meat, but to me, it’s all about time. I have found that Beef Stew can be very easy to make, and simply by letting it cook for as long as possible, you can yield great results.

I made the stew on the stove in the morning and let it simmer for about 8 hours (since I was home all day, and love using my Dutch Oven when I have the chance!) Alternatively, I would recommend browning the meat, and then throwing everything into the crockpot on low, the longer the better! Even better, if you have an Instant Pot, you can brown the meat in the pot itself and then let it slow cook all day!

Anyway, this recipe is gluten-free, paleo, Whole30 (minus the wine), simple, clean, will feed a crowd, and tastes delicious!! Perfect for Halloween, yes, but also for any cool fall or wintery evening!

Ingredients:

• 2.5 lbs beef, cut into chunks
• 1 Tbsp butter, divided in 1/2
• 2 medium onions
• 1 tsp each salt & pepper
• 4 large carrots
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1.5 cups red wine
• 2 cups chicken or beef broth (beef is probably preferred, but I didn’t have any and chicken worked fine!)
• 1 cup water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• More salt & pepper to taste
• Side Note: I think peas make a great addition if for no other reason than to add a pop of color! But I forgot to add any before taking pictures (eye roll).

Instructions:

1. In a large dutch oven, heat 1/2 Tbsp butter on medium heat until melted. Add 1/2 of the beef, salt, and pepper and brown on all sides (takes about 8 minutes per batch). Repeat (adding another 1/2 Tbsp of butter) for 2nd 1/2 of beef. 
2. While the meat is browning, prepare your vegetables. Chop onions, carrots, and potatoes into chunks. Mince the garlic. 
3. Once all the meat is browned, remove from pot and set aside. Using the juices and browned bits from the meat, saute the garlic and onions until translucent(about 5 minutes). Stir in tomato paste. 
4. Add meat back into the pot. Add all liquid (wine, broth, and water). Add Bay leaf, thyme, and more salt and pepper. (The smell of the wine at this point was about all I could take! Felt a bit like Julia Child up in here!) 
5. Stir, cover, and allow to simmer on low for about 2 hours. After 2 hours, add carrots and potatoes, stir, and simmer for another 2-6 hours! If using peas, you can add them just before serving and cook long enough for them to heat through. 

After letting it simmer, the beef will be super tender, the potatoes and carrots perfectly soft, and the flavors incredible!

Glamor shot taken with my phone after I remembered to add peas! 🙂

We served our stew with a big green salad, and even my dad (a tough critic when it comes to food!) was delighted. 

I hope you enjoy this beef stew as much as we did! I am already looking forward to next Halloween, when we will keep the Healthy, Hearty Beef Stew Tradition alive! (Not that I will wait that long before making this again!)

Print

Healthy, Hearty Beef Stew

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

8 hrs

Total Time

8 hrs 20 mins

 

Our new Halloween dinner tradition, this Beef Stew recipe checks all the boxes- healthy, hearty, simple, and delicious! 

Course: Main Course

Servings: 6

Author: Maggie @ Our Fine Day

Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs beef cut into chunks
• 1 Tbsp butter divided in 1/2
• 2 medium onions
• 1 tsp each salt & pepper
• 4 large carrots
• 6 cloves garlic peeled
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1.5 cups red wine
• 2 cups chicken or beef broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• More salt & pepper to taste
• 1 Cup frozen peas (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large dutch oven, heat 1/2 Tbsp butter on medium heat until melted. Add 1/2 of the beef, salt, and pepper and brown on all sides (takes about 8 minutes per batch). Repeat (adding another 1/2 Tbsp of butter) for 2nd 1/2 of beef.

2. While the meat is browning, prepare your vegetables. Chop onions, carrots, and potatoes into chunks. Mince the garlic.
3. Once all the meat is browned, remove from pot and set aside. Using the juices and browned bits from the meat, saute the garlic and onions until translucent(about 5 minutes). Stir in tomato paste.

4. Add meat back into the pot. Add all liquid (wine, broth, and water). Add bay leaf, thyme, and more salt and pepper. (The smell of the wine at this point was about all I could take! Felt a bit like Julia Child up in here!)

5. Stir, cover, and allow to simmer on low for about 2 hours. After 2 hours, add carrots and potatoes, stir, and simmer for another 2-6 hours! If using peas, you can add them just before serving, long enough for them to heat through.