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Beef Stew

This classic beef stew is the ultimate high-protein comfort food, perfect for chilly evenings when you need a nourishing, warming meal. By slowly simmering tender chunks of beef with seasonal root vegetables and fragrant herbs, you create a rich, savoury gravy that develops a deep flavour over time. It is a timeless British staple that relies on simple pantry ingredients to deliver a satisfying and wholesome dinner for the whole family.

Ideal for batch cooking or a weekend lunch, this hearty dish is packed with vitamins from the carrots, peas and potatoes. The slow-cooking process ensures the beef becomes melt-in-the-mouth succulent, while the flour coating helps to naturally thicken the sauce into a glossy, delicious consistency. Serve this homemade stew in deep bowls, perhaps with a slice of crusty bread on the side to soak up every drop of the beef stock.

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Ingredients for Beef Stew

  • 60g flour

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoons pepper

  • 900g stew beef, cubed

  • 3 teaspoons olive oil or butter

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1 clove garlic, smashed

  • 1 beef stock cube

  • 450g small onions

  • 6 carrots, sliced

  • 3 medium-size potatoes, quartered

  • 1 package frozen peas

Mix flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl and coat each piece of beef with it. Heat olive oil or butter in a heavy pot or Dutch oven and brown the meat over moderate heat. Remove meat as necessary to brown remaining meat. Return all meat to the pot. Dissolve beef stock cube in 475ml boiling water and add to pot with meat. Add bay leaf and garlic and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer slowly until the meat is tender. Add onions, carrots, and potatoes; stir to mix ingredients, and cook for 10 minutes. Add peas, and continue simmering until the meat and vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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