Authentic German Beer Stein Beef Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-04-03

A hearty, slow-simmered stew inspired by the vintage German beer steins from Council Bluffs, featuring tender beef and root vegetables in a rich, aromatic broth. This French-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 255 minutes, pairs beef chuck, carrots, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs beef chuck
• 3 medium carrots
• 1 large onion
• 2 celery stalks
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 medium potatoes
• 3 thyme sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut beef chuck into 1-inch cubes and pat dry with paper towels. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, then brown the beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply seared, transferring to a plate.
2. Step 2: Add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the pot, then cook diced onion and celery for 5 minutes until softened and translucent, stirring occasionally.
3. Step 3: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute until it darkens slightly and becomes fragrant.
4. Step 4: Return beef to the pot, add beef broth, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low.
5. Step 5: Simmer covered for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until beef is fork-tender.
6. Step 6: Add cubed carrots and potatoes, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes until vegetables are tender and broth has thickened slightly.
7. Step 7: Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves, then adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.