Homemade Beef Stew Recipes You'll Want to Spoon All Fall and Winter Long

After testing stew upon stew, we had an aha moment. "You know what's missing in most stew recipes? Crunch!" So for this whole grain, vegetable, and beef stew meat recipe, we explain how to craft crispy garlic-herb croutons to garnish each bowl in super-satisfying fashion. After devouring it this way, we're pretty sure you'll never want to enjoy any stew sans-croutons again.

Chuck roast, sliced into pieces, makes wonderfully rich beef stew meat, as you'll discover in this beef and barley stew. That sturdy whole grain and roasted root vegetables make it extra hearty, and we haven't even mentioned our favorite detail about this stew yet. It can be prepared up to 3 months early and frozen until you're ready to thaw, reheat, and garnish with a pile of perky fresh parsley.

Take a break from takeout and try this cozy, homemade twist on beef teriyaki, stew-style. This recipe combines the heartiness of a homemade beef stew with the freshness of sweet oranges, bok choy, and grated ginger. Chinese five-spice powder and teriyaki sauce infuse even more Asian flair. One BH&G home cook says of this slow cooker or Dutch oven dish: "This is a keeper for us!"

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One BH&G reader raves of this stick-to-your-ribs dish, "Definitely rich but very good. I would make it again!" So what makes it worthy of "rich" in its beef stew recipe moniker? A trio of luscious ingredients: Marbled beef chuck roast, salty applewood smoked bacon, and nearly full bottle of red wine. (We call for 22 ounces; what you do with the other 3.4 ounces is up to you, but a glass sounds like a good idea to us!). The dried plums, cinnamon, and cloves add an irresistibly sweet angle to the savory dish.

Potluck favorite chili meets classic stew in this crowd-pleasing dinner idea that features a one-to-one ratio of ground beef and beef chuck. Whether you whip it up in your Instant Pot or slow cooker, the result will be one of the best beef stew recipes you'll ever dive into. Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, cumin, and garlic powder layer on the flavor, while bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and onions help each bowl eat like a meal.

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For one of our quickest homemade beef stew recipes, turn to this one-pan Moroccan-inspired masterpiece. Nutrient-packed, naturally sweet and earthy butternut squash plays nicely with smoky cumin, warm cinnamon, and hot red pepper flakes, which all cook surprisingly quickly together in shifts in the same saucepan. Pile this unique stew over fluffy couscous to soak up the rich tomatoey sauce—you won't want to let a drop go to waste.

If you've ever had a Guinness beef stew, you're familiar with how much richness and depth of flavor beer can add. In this old-fashioned beef stew recipe, dark porter beer does the trick. Alongside spicy brown mustard, tomato paste, beef broth, and a mix of fresh and dried herbs, this easy Dutch oven beef stew packs a lot of boldness per bite. 

Chuck isn't your only option for beef stew meat. For this beef stew recipe without wine, remarkably tender short ribs take center stage. As they cook, they practically fall off the bone and remain super moist. Carrots, rutabagas, parsnips, and polenta make the slow cooker beef stew into a one-dish meal.

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Most recipes using beef stew meat star root vegetables like carrots and potatoes and are designed to be savored during the coldest months of the year. But with fresh zucchini and basil, this variation is fresh enough for spring and summer. Pair with whole grain pasta or quinoa to showcase a lighter, brighter side of beef stew.

Choose your own adventure as you create this beef stew with red wine (or without). Opt for red wine or beef broth to sauce up the stew, choose between quince or apples to offer a welcome burst of natural sweetness, and make it all on your stove top or slow cooker. You can't go wrong with this nicely-spiced template as your guide. A blend of crushed red pepper, cinnamon, and rosemary flavors the simple and succulent beef stew.

This beef and potato stew beats the clock at just 25 minutes(!) start to finish. The secret is tapping the supermarket to help you with a head-start ingredient: refrigerated cooked beef tips with gravy. (Psst...you could totally use leftover beef and gravy from earlier in the week if you have those on-hand!) Quick-cooking vegetables like fresh kale, green onion, diced carrots, and potatoes complete this weeknight dinner winner.

Related: 30-Minute Beef Recipes That Will Quickly Become Family Favorites

No Dutch oven? No need. This entire stew recipe comes together in a single skillet. Chase away the chill by spooning the homemade vegetable-beef stew over a bed of simple-to-prep mashed potatoes. P.S.: If you're looking for an Irish beef stew, try this recipe. While traditional Irish stews are made with lamb, this has the same basic ingredients, just with beef instead.

Related: One-Pot Beef Recipes That Make Dinner Cleanup a Snap

You're probably familiar with using condensed soups in cozy casserole recipes. (We're talking about you, green bean casserole!) Well in this slow cooker beef and potato stew, a can of cream of mushroom soup is the shortcut solution that helps thicken the juices into a rich sauce. Green beans, added at the end of cooking time, lend brightness to the dish and offer a nod to spring on the way.

Take your beef stew on a trip south of the border. With spicy ancho chiles, smoky chorizo sausage, and zippy chili powder, this might just be the best beef stew recipe for spicy food fans. A bottle of dark Mexican beer tames the heat just enough, and combines with diced tomatoes to complete the good-to-the-last-drop broth.

What's the secret to the best beef stew? It's all about using the best beef stew meat. Rather than buying precut stew meat, start with a chuck roast. Slice the meat into 1-inch pieces for the boldest beef flavor—that's the secret to this luscious slow cooker beef stew. Dry mustard and allspice amplify the flavors in this savory beef and vegetable stew. All of the above, plus tomato sauce, beef broth, and aromatic vegetables make this taste like you spent far more than 25 minutes of prep time to execute.

Related: How to Choose a Steak