Best Beef Stew in Red Wine Sauce

Recipe Image
Image: eatinspired.com / All Rights reserved
A classic French-inspired beef stew that simmers to tender perfection in a rich red wine sauce with carrots, mushrooms, and pearl onions. While it takes a few hours to cook, the hands-on prep is surprisingly simple – just brown the meat, add your vegetables and wine, then let your Dutch oven do all the work! My family has been making this cozy dish for Sunday suppers since I learned it from my grandmother, and it’s become our go-to meal for chilly evenings or when we’re entertaining guests. There’s something magical about the way the house fills with warming aromas as it slowly cooks, promising a memorable meal ahead.


Ingredient List

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 lb beef chuck (marbled, cut in 1.5-inch cubes)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups red wine (dry)
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 medium onions (yellow, cut in 1-inch pieces)
  • 7 cloves crushed garlic
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1.5 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 0.5 tsp dried thyme
  • 1.5 tsp sugar
  • 4 large carrots (peeled, cut in 1-inch diagonal slices)
  • 1 lb baby yukon potatoes (halved)
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley (diced, optional)

Preparation Time 20-30 minutes
Cooking Time 180-240 minutes
Total Time 200-270 minutes
Level of Difficulty Medium

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F with rack in lower middle position. Pat beef dry, season with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown beef in 3 batches (5 minutes each), adding 1 tablespoon oil between batches. Transfer beef to plate.
  3. Add onions, garlic, and balsamic vinegar to pot. Cook 5 minutes while scraping brown bits. Add tomato paste, cook 1 minute.
  4. Return beef and juices to pot, sprinkle with flour, and stir 1-2 minutes until flour dissolves.
  5. Add wine, beef broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, and sugar. Bring to boil, scraping any remaining brown bits.
  6. Cover pot and braise in oven for 2 hours.
  7. Remove pot from oven, add carrots and potatoes. Return covered pot to oven for 1 hour until vegetables and meat are tender and broth thickens.
  8. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning to taste. Garnish with parsley if desired.
  9. For best results, cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight. Reheat covered over medium heat.
  10. Store cooled stew in refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. When using frozen stew, thaw overnight in refrigerator and reheat over medium-low heat.

Recipe Image
Image: eatinspired.com / All Rights reserved

Recipe Image
Image: eatinspired.com / All Rights reserved

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