12 Homemade Beef Stew Recipes You'll Want to Serve This Winter

Oven Beef and Barley Stew

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 a super-satisfying fashion. After devouring it this way, we're pretty sure you'll never want to enjoy any stew sans croutons again.

Beef and Barley Stew with Roasted Winter Vegetables

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, but here's our favorite detail about this stew: 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.

Orange Teriyaki Beef Stew

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!"

Buy It: Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron Dutch Oven ($40, Walmart)

Rich Beef Stew with Bacon and Plums

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.

Pressure Cooker Sweet and Spicy Beef Stew

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.

Buy It: Instant Pot Duo ($100, Amazon)

Mustard-Herb Beef Stew

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.

Short Rib Beef Stew

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

Mediterranean Beef Stew with Pasta

Most recipes using beef stew meat feature 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 light enough for spring and summer. Pair with whole grain pasta or quinoa to showcase beef stew's lighter, brighter side.

Slow-Cooker Pot Roast 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.

Monday Dinner Beef Stew

This beef and potato stew beats the clock at just 25 minutes(!) from 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 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.

Skillet Beef Stew

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 essential ingredients, just with beef.

Make-It-Mine Fireside Beef Stew

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.