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Hearty Beef & Veggie Stew: 1 Perfect Recipe

Oh, you know those days when you just crave something *real*? Something that warms you up from the inside out, sticks to your ribs, and makes the whole house smell amazing? That’s exactly what comes to mind when I think about hearty beef and vegetable dishes. My grandma used to make this incredible beef stew, and the smell alone was enough to make me forget all my troubles. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a hug in a bowl, really. That’s why I’m so excited to share my go-to recipe for a truly satisfying beef and vegetable stew with you all!

Why You’ll Love This Hearty Beef and Vegetable Dish

Seriously, there are so many reasons this beef and vegetable stew is a winner in my kitchen! It’s the kind of meal that just makes you feel *good*. It’s incredibly comforting, especially on a chilly evening or after a long day. Plus, it’s packed with wholesome goodness – tender beef and all those delicious veggies mean you’re getting a really nutritious meal without even trying too hard.

A Satisfying Meal for Any Occasion

Whether it’s a cozy weeknight dinner, a Sunday family gathering, or even a casual get-together with friends, this stew fits right in. It’s got that hearty, crowd-pleasing vibe that makes everyone happy. You can just let it simmer away and then serve it up – no fuss!

Packed with Flavor and Nutrients

Trust me, the flavor combination here is just *chef’s kiss*. You get that rich, savory beef broth, the sweetness from the carrots and potatoes, and all those aromatic herbs like thyme and rosemary. And the best part? You’re getting a good dose of protein from the beef and fiber and vitamins from all those lovely vegetables. It’s a win-win for your taste buds and your body!

Simple to Prepare, Delicious to Eat

I know sometimes cooking can feel like a chore, but this recipe is genuinely straightforward. You just chop, brown, simmer, and serve. It doesn’t require any fancy techniques, and the slow cooking does most of the work for you. The result is a deeply flavorful, tender, and satisfying dish that tastes like you spent hours slaving over it!

Gathering Your Ingredients for Hearty Beef and Vegetable Dishes

Okay, so to get started on our amazing hearty beef and vegetable dish, you’ll want to pull together a few key players. Don’t worry, it’s not a crazy list, and having everything ready makes the cooking process so much smoother. It’s kind of like prepping for an art project, but way tastier!

Quality Beef for Your Dish

First up, the star of the show: beef! I always grab about a pound of beef chuck, and you want to cut it into nice, bite-sized cubes, about an inch big. Chuck roast is my absolute favorite for stews like this because it has just enough fat and connective tissue to become super tender and flavorful as it simmers away. It’s the secret to that melt-in-your-mouth texture we’re going for!

Fresh Vegetables for Heartiness

Now for the veggies that make this dish so hearty and wonderful. You’ll need one large onion, just chopped up. Then, grab three carrots and peel them, slicing them into nice rounds. Three celery stalks, also sliced, add a lovely subtle flavor. We’ll also need two cloves of garlic, minced nice and fine – that’s where a lot of the aroma comes from! Oh, and don’t forget two potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes. Lastly, about a cup of frozen peas, which we’ll toss in at the end to keep them bright and sweet.

Flavorful Broth and Seasonings

To bring it all together, we need our liquid gold and flavor boosters. You’ll want four cups of beef broth – the better the quality, the better your stew! A cup of diced tomatoes adds a little tang and depth. For that classic, comforting stew flavor, we’re using a teaspoon each of dried thyme and dried rosemary. And of course, salt and pepper to taste – you can always add more later! Oh, and two tablespoons of olive oil to get everything started.

Crafting Your Hearty Beef and Vegetable Dishes

Alright, let’s get down to making this incredible hearty beef and vegetable dish! It’s really not complicated, I promise. Think of it as an adventure in your kitchen, and the reward is a bowl of pure comfort. We’ll take it step-by-step, and you’ll see how easy it is to create something truly delicious.

Preparing the Beef

First things first, let’s get that beef ready. Take your cubed chuck roast and give it a good sprinkle of salt and pepper. Don’t be shy! Then, heat up your olive oil in a big, heavy pot or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once it’s nice and hot, carefully add the beef. You want to brown it up on all sides – this is where a lot of that deep flavor comes from! Don’t overcrowd the pot; you might need to do this in batches. Once it’s nicely browned, just scoop it out and set it aside on a plate for a bit.

Sautéing the Aromatics

Now, into that same pot (don’t you dare clean it!), toss in your chopped onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Give them a good stir and let them cook down for about 5 to 7 minutes. You’re looking for them to get a little soft and maybe just starting to smell amazing. Next, add in your minced garlic. Garlic is potent stuff, so just a minute more is all it needs – you don’t want it to burn. Stir it around until you can really smell that garlicky goodness popping.

Building the Stew Base

Okay, time to bring it all back together! Put that beautiful browned beef right back into the pot with all those softened veggies. Now, pour in your beef broth, the diced tomatoes, and sprinkle in your dried thyme and rosemary. Give everything a good stir to make sure it’s all mixed up. Then, bring the whole mixture up to a boil. It should look and smell promising already!

Slow Simmering for Tenderness

This is where the magic really happens, and it requires a little patience. Once it’s boiling, turn the heat down to low, put a lid on your pot nice and snug, and let it simmer away. You’re going to want to let this go for about 1.5 hours. Seriously, just let it do its thing. The goal here is to get that beef super tender, like it’s falling apart. This slow cooking is what makes these hearty beef and vegetable dishes so incredibly satisfying. For more on the benefits of slow cooking, check out this guide to slow cooking.

Adding the Vegetables

After that hour and a half, it’s time to add the rest of our veggies! Toss in your cubed potatoes. Put the lid back on and let them cook for about 20 minutes, or until they’re nice and tender when you poke them with a fork. Finally, stir in those frozen peas. They just need about 5 minutes to heat through and stay bright and lovely. See? Almost there!

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Final Seasoning and Finishing Touches

Give your stew a taste. Does it need a little more salt? A bit more pepper? Go ahead and adjust it until it tastes just perfect to you. This is your hearty beef and vegetable dish, after all! You’ve done all the hard work, and now you just have this incredible pot of goodness ready to go.

Tips for Perfect Hearty Beef and Vegetable Dishes

Making a truly fantastic hearty beef and vegetable dish is all about a few little tricks that make a big difference. I’ve learned over the years that sometimes the smallest adjustments can elevate a good meal to a great one, and these tips are ones I swear by!

Achieving the Right Consistency

Now, if you like your stew a little thicker – and I usually do! – here’s my favorite shortcut. Towards the end of the cooking time, maybe in the last 10 minutes or so, just whisk together about two tablespoons of flour with a little bit of cold water until it’s smooth, like a thin paste. Stir that little slurry into your simmering stew. It thickens everything up beautifully without making it gloopy. Trust me, it’s a game-changer for that perfect stew consistency!

Customizing Your Vegetables

One of the best things about hearty beef and vegetable dishes is how versatile they are. Don’t feel tied down to just the carrots and potatoes! Feel free to toss in other veggies you love. Parsnips add a lovely sweetness, or maybe some green beans for a bit of crunch. Whatever you have in your fridge or pantry that needs using up can probably go in here. It just makes your stew even more special and unique! For more ideas on vegetable pairings, see this guide to vegetables.

Serving Your Hearty Beef and Vegetable Dishes

Now that you’ve poured all your love and effort into this amazing hearty beef and vegetable dish, it’s time for the best part: enjoying it! This stew is so satisfying on its own, but there’s one simple thing that just takes it over the top and makes it a truly complete meal.

The Perfect Accompaniment

Seriously, you absolutely HAVE to serve this stew hot, piping hot! And the absolute best thing to have alongside it? A big, crusty loaf of bread. It’s perfect for soaking up every last bit of that rich, flavorful broth. Don’t you just love dipping bread into stew? It’s pure comfort food bliss! If you’re looking for a great bread recipe, try this No-Knead Crusty White Bread.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hearty Beef and Vegetable Dishes

Got questions about making this hearty beef and vegetable dish? I totally get it! Sometimes you just want to make sure you’re doing it right, or maybe you’re looking for ways to tweak it. Here are some common things people ask me, and hopefully, they help you out!

Can I use a different cut of beef?

Great question! While chuck roast is my go-to for its amazing tenderness when stewed, you *can* use other cuts. Sirloin or even round steak can work, but you’ll want to keep an eye on the cooking time. They might not need as long to become tender, so start checking them a bit earlier. Just remember, cuts with a little more fat and marbling tend to give you the best flavor and texture in hearty beef and vegetable dishes like this.

How can I make the stew richer?

Oh, if you want to really amp up the flavor and make this stew even more decadent, I have a couple of tricks! Before you add the beef broth, try deglazing the pot with about half a cup of dry red wine – like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Let it bubble and reduce for a minute or two. Also, tossing in a bay leaf with the broth and herbs adds a subtle depth that’s just lovely. It really makes those hearty beef and vegetable dishes sing! For more on wine pairings in cooking, explore cooking with wine.

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Absolutely! Slow cookers are fantastic for stews. You’ll want to brown the beef and sauté the veggies as directed in the recipe first – that step is still super important for flavor. Then, just transfer everything (beef, veggies, broth, seasonings) to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the beef is fall-apart tender. Add the potatoes and peas during the last hour of cooking. It’s a wonderfully hands-off way to get that hearty beef and vegetable goodness!

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Nutritional Information for Hearty Beef and Vegetable Dishes

Just a little note: the nutritional details you see for this hearty beef and vegetable dish are estimates, of course! They can change a bit depending on the exact brands of ingredients you use, like the beef broth or even the olive oil. It’s always good to keep that in mind, but it gives you a nice idea of what you’re getting!

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Hearty Beef and Vegetable Dishes

Hearty Beef & Veggie Stew: 1 Perfect Recipe


  • Author: memorecipes.com
  • Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

A satisfying and nutritious beef and vegetable stew, perfect for a comforting meal.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions

  1. Season beef cubes with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  3. Brown the beef on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
  4. Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
  5. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
  6. Return beef to the pot.
  7. Add beef broth, diced tomatoes, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil.
  8. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1.5 hours, or until beef is tender.
  9. Add potatoes and cook for 20 minutes, or until tender.
  10. Stir in frozen peas and cook for 5 minutes.
  11. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Notes

  • For a thicker stew, you can mix 2 tablespoons of flour with a little water to make a slurry and stir it into the stew during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
  • You can add other vegetables like parsnips or green beans.
  • Serve hot with crusty bread.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stewing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 20g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 13g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 35g
  • Cholesterol: 100mg

Keywords: beef stew, vegetable stew, hearty, comforting, beef and vegetables

Recipe rating