Flemish-Style Beef Carbonnade with Dark Beer and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-08 · Updated 2026-06-08

Slow-cooked beef simmered in rich dark Belgian beer with caramelized onions and fresh thyme, delivering a hearty and aromatic stew. This Belgian-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 170 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes, all-purpose flour, unsalted butter 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 beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 large, sliced thin yellow onions
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 2 cups dark Belgian beer
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• to taste salt
• to taste freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Toss 2 lbs beef chuck cubes with 1/4 cup all-purpose flour seasoned with salt and pepper until evenly coated.
2. Step 2: In a large heavy-bottomed pot, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches for 4-5 minutes per batch until deeply caramelized, then remove and set aside.
3. Step 3: Add 3 thinly sliced yellow onions and 1 tbsp brown sugar to the pot, cooking over medium heat for 10 minutes until golden and caramelized.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Return the beef to the pot, pour in 2 cups dark Belgian beer and 1 cup beef broth, then add 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 4 fresh thyme sprigs, and 2 bay leaves.
6. Step 6: Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook on low heat for 2 to 2.5 hours until the beef is tender and the sauce is thickened.
7. Step 7: Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and serve hot with buttered noodles or mashed potatoes.