Bitter Chocolate Beef Stew

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-06 · Updated 2026-04-06

A rich, complex stew where dark chocolate mellows the beef's depth, creating a velvety sauce with subtle bitterness balanced by red wine. This general-inspired one pot ready in about 175 minutes pairs cut into 1-inch cubes beef chuck, olive oil, large, chopped onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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

• 2 lbs, cut into 1-inch cubes beef chuck
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, chopped onion
• 2, chopped carrots
• 2 stalks, chopped celery
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 2 oz, 70% cacao, chopped dark chocolate
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• to taste salt
• freshly ground, to taste black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season 2 lbs beef chuck cubes with salt and pepper, then heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat; sear beef in batches for 4 minutes per side until browned, then set aside.
2. Step 2: Add 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped carrots, 2 chopped celery stalks, and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pot; cook for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Return seared beef to the pot, add 1 cup beef broth, 1/2 cup red wine, 2 oz chopped dark chocolate, 1 tsp tomato paste, 1 bay leaf, and 1 tsp dried thyme; bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low for 2 hours and 15 minutes until beef is fork-tender.