“I’ve made this dozens of times and the family cannot get enough! The sauce is just incredible!”

Old-Fashioned Beef Stew: A Timeless Comfort Dish
This hearty and soul-warming beef stew is the perfect meal for chilly evenings or when you’re craving something wholesome and satisfying. With melt-in-your-mouth beef, earthy root vegetables, and a deeply savory broth, this classic recipe only gets better with time—and it’s simple to make, too.

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Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Olive Oil	2 tablespoons
Beef Stew Meat, cubed	2 pounds
All-Purpose Flour	2 tablespoons
Water	4 cups
Beef Broth	2 cups
Salt	½ teaspoon
Ground Black Pepper	½ teaspoon
Potatoes, cubed	4 cups
Carrots, chopped	2 cups
Dried Rosemary	1 teaspoon
Fresh Corn Kernels (optional)	1 cup
Green Beans, cut into 1-inch pieces (optional)	1 cup
Turnip, chopped (optional)	1 cup
Fresh Tomatoes, chopped (optional)	2 cups

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How to Make Old-Fashioned Beef Stew

Step 1: Sear the Beef for Deep Flavor

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Pat the beef dry with paper towels. In a mixing bowl, coat the beef with flour, salt, and pepper. Add the meat to the hot oil in batches, browning it on all sides. Avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure the meat develops a nice crust.

Step 2: Create a Flavorful Broth

Once all the beef is browned, pour in the water and beef broth. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom—this deglazing step adds a lot of flavor. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Add the Hearty Vegetables

Stir in the cubed potatoes, chopped carrots, and dried rosemary. If you’re using turnips or tomatoes, add them now as well. Raise the heat slightly to medium-low and cook for another 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are fork-tender.

Step 4: Optional Fresh Additions

If you’re including fresh corn or green beans, stir them into the pot during the final 10 minutes of cooking to preserve their color and texture.

Step 5: Simmer Low and Slow

Reduce the heat again and let the stew simmer for another 30 minutes to 1 hour. This slow cooking process ensures the beef becomes exceptionally tender and the flavors meld beautifully.

Step 6: Final Seasoning and Serving

Taste the stew and adjust with more salt or pepper as needed. Serve hot in bowls, ideally with thick slices of crusty bread to soak up the rich broth.

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Pro Tip: This stew tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had more time to develop. Perfect for leftovers or make-ahead meals!