Brown's Classic Beef Stew

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

A hearty, slow-simmered stew with melt-in-your-mouth beef, tender vegetables, and a rich, savory broth. This american-inspired beef ready in about 140 minutes pairs cut into 1-inch cubes stew beef, all-purpose flour, vegetable oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 395 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, cut into 1-inch cubes stew beef
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds carrots
• 2 medium, peeled and cubed potatoes
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 large, diced onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat beef cubes dry, then toss with 2 tbsp all-purpose flour until evenly coated. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per batch until golden, then set aside.
2. Step 2: Add diced onion to the pot and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add 1 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Step 3: Return beef to the pot, then add carrots, potatoes, celery, 4 cups beef broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently for 2 hours until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through, stirring occasionally.