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Beef Stew with Red Wine

Beef Stew with Red wine is a hearty stew full of tender fall apart beef, vegetables, beef broth and red wine. It’s the perfect cold weather comfort food!

When the weather starts turning cooler and the rains come, all I want to do is curl up in a blanket with a huge bowl of hearty beef stew. This Beef Stew with Red Wine is hands down the best beef stew recipe to have in your arsenal for cold fall and winter days.

A spoonful of beef stew with red wine.

How to make stew beef tender:

For this beef stew recipe, you’ll be using chuck roast. Chuck roast is from the shoulder cut of the cow and will sometimes be labeled chuck roast, shoulder steak, boneless chuck roast or chuck shoulder pot roast. Chuck roast has a higher fat content but can be on the tougher side if cooked improperly.

To ensure that you have tender beef in your stew, cook it low and slow. This method will allow the connective tissue to melt as the meat braises. This will leave you with unbelievably tender, fall apart beef.

How to make stew beef tender

What is the best red wine to use in beef stew?

For this stew recipe I prefer to use cabernet or pinot noir but really any red wine will do. I just have one rule when it comes to cooking with wine, only cook with wine that you would drink out of the bottle.  It needs to be something that you enjoy drinking because because when you cook with wine, you concentrate the flavor.

You won’t use the whole bottle of wine in this recipe, drink the rest with dinner or sip on it while you’re cooking.

Tips for how to thicken beef stew:

I have a few tips for thickening beef stew that work for me every time.

Tip #1: Dredge the beef in flour and brown it before cooking. Not only will this add extra flavor to the beef but the added flour will help thicken the stew as it cooks.

Stew beef dredge in flour.

Tip #2: Simmer the stew uncovered. The longer that you allow the stew to simmer uncovered, the more water will evaporate and the thicker the stew will be.

Tip #3: This stew recipe also calls for potatoes. The starch in the potatoes will also add a bit of thickness to the stew.

Tip #4: Finally, a corn starch slurry is added at the end. Making a corn starch slurry is very easy, simply whisk corn starch in with cool water and pour into the stew. Bring the stew to a boil then reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 20 more minutes. The broth will thicken as it cooks.

Beef stew in a ladle

Keep in mind that, like most comfort food, this beef stew with red wine isn’t a quick meal. You’ll want to plan head of time both to ensure the meat is tender and the sauce is thick and flavorful. I usually cook it for about 3 hours.

By that time everyone’s mouth will be watering and they’ll be running to the table as soon as you say dinner is ready!

And of course, don’t forget the crusty bread to sop up all of the broth.

Bread dipping in beef stew.

For a little kick, I also like to serve horseradish cream sauce along side this Beef Stew with Red Wine. If you’ve never tried it, give it a shot. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Looking for a salad to serve along side this beef stew? Check out some of our favorite salad recipes!

Warm Spinach Salad

Cranberry Arugula Salad

Roasted Carrot Salad

Beef Stew with Red wine is a hearty stew full of tender fall apart beef, vegetables, beef broth and red wine. It's the perfect cold weather comfort food! #stew #beefstew #dinner

If you love soups, stews and chowders as much as me, I’ve got some more recipes you’re sure to love!

Hearty Beef Chili 

Roasted Garlic and Chicken Chowder

Cauliflower Soup

Beer Cheese Soup

Beef Barley Soup

Note: This post was originally posted in 2009. It was updated with new photos, tips and nutrition facts in 2019.

Beef Stew with Red wine is a hearty stew full of tender fall apart beef, vegetables, beef broth and red wine. It's the perfect cold weather comfort food!

Beef Stew with Red Wine

Beef Stew with Red wine is a hearty stew full of tender fall apart beef, vegetables, beef broth and red wine. It's the perfect cold weather comfort food!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 398 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast fat trimmed and cut into bit size pieces
  • 1/4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic chopped
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups red wine I used Pinot Noir
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 4 celery stalks diced
  • 2 carrot peeled and diced
  • 2 cup sliced crimini mushrooms
  • 2 russet potatoes diced
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water

Instructions
 

  • In a resealable plastic bag combine flour, salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Add in stew meat, seal bag and toss to coat.
  • Heat olive oil in a dutch oven or other large soup pot over medium heat. Add beef and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cook for 30 seconds.
  • Stir in beef broth and red wine. Be sure to scrape up all of the flavor bits from the bottom of the pot. Add in bay leaves. Turn heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 hours, skimming fat and foam occasionally.
  • After two hours, stir in celery, carrots, mushrooms and diced potato. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
  • Dissolve cornstarch in cold water to make a slurry. Pour slurry into stew. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 more minutes. Broth will thicken.
  • Ladle into soup bowls and serve hot.

Notes

Nutrition facts are for estimation purposes only.

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcalCarbohydrates: 23.4gProtein: 42.1gFat: 9.1gSaturated Fat: 3.1gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 1445mgFiber: 2.3gSugar: 3.1g
Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!
Keywords: beef, comfort food, red wine, soup, stew

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Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    Shelley
    November 30, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    Made this tonight for dindin. BOOMIN! Thanks for another wonderful recipe!!

  • Reply
    Deseree
    March 14, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    Hi Kristine- Add the mushrooms during step 4 when you add in the other veggies.

  • Reply
    Kristine
    March 14, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    When do you add in the mushrooms?

  • Reply
    Emily
    December 29, 2009 at 3:47 am

    I wanted to update on my previous post. I made the beef stew and it was seriously the best beef stew I’ve ever had. I didn’t use the wine or mushrooms, and it was delicious!!!

    • Reply
      Deseree
      December 30, 2009 at 8:07 pm

      Emily- Thanks for following up. I’m always interested in how things turn out for everyone and I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it! :)

  • Reply
    Emily
    December 28, 2009 at 11:21 am

    I’m making this for dinner tonight. It’s supposed to be super snowy in NNY tonight, so, beef stew it is!

  • Reply
    Melissa
    November 22, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    I just made this and it was so good. I am addicted to cooking for wine, so this recipe called to me. The meat was perfect and the broth was very flavorful Thanks for a great recipe.

  • Reply
    Deseree
    November 21, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Thanks Amy! If you’re Saturday is suppose to be anywhere near as cold as ours this stew would be perfect :)
    You’re welcome Alecho, I hope you and your friend enjoy it!

  • Reply
    alecho
    November 20, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    oooooh! I love beef stew!!!! my friend made me the other day, so I guess I’ll pay her back with this recipe ;) thanx!

  • Reply
    Amy J in SC
    November 20, 2009 at 4:26 am

    If I could only make this in less than 30 minutes I would be having it for breakfast this morning. Maybe for supper Saturday? Yum.

  • Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

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