French Oven-Braised Red Wine Beef Stew

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Tender chunks of beef slowly braised in a rich red wine and aromatic vegetable broth until meltingly soft, perfect for cozy dinners. This french-inspired beef ready in about 180 minutes pairs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes, all-purpose flour, salt 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.

Prep: 30 min Cook: 150 min Serves 6 French cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, toss 2 lbs beef chuck cubes with 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until evenly coated.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef cubes in batches, about 3-4 minutes per side until deep golden brown. Remove beef and set aside.
  3. Step 3: Add 1 large diced yellow onion, 3 sliced carrots, and 2 sliced celery stalks to the pot. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften. Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and 2 tbsp tomato paste, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 1 cup dry red wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up browned bits, and simmer for 3 minutes until reduced by half.
  5. Step 5: Return browned beef to the pot, add 3 cups beef broth, 3 fresh thyme sprigs, and 2 bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and transfer to the oven. Braise for 2.5 hours until beef is tender.
  6. Step 6: Remove pot from oven, discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir in 2 tbsp butter to enrich the sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  7. Step 7: Serve stew hot, garnished with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and crusty bread on the side.

Equipment for this recipe

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Frequently asked questions

How long does French Oven-Braised Red Wine Beef Stew take to make?

Total time is about 180 minutes (30 min prep + 150 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover French Oven-Braised Red Wine Beef Stew?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep all-purpose flour from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in French Oven-Braised Red Wine Beef Stew?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale French Oven-Braised Red Wine Beef Stew for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with French Oven-Braised Red Wine Beef Stew?

French beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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