Johnson's Hearty Beef Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A slow-simmered stew with tender beef, root vegetables, and a rich tomato base, perfect for a cozy family dinner. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 130 minutes, pairs stew beef, all-purpose flour, olive oil 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

• 1.5 lbs stew beef
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, diced onion
• 2, peeled and diced carrots
• 2 stalks, diced celery
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup (canned, undrained) diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 medium, peeled and diced potatoes
• 1 cup frozen peas
• to taste salt
• to taste pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 1.5 lbs stew beef cubes dry with paper towels, then coat evenly in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering; add beef in a single layer (cook in batches) and sear 3-4 minutes per side until deeply browned, avoiding stirring to form a crust.
3. Step 3: Remove beef and set aside; add 1 diced onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks to the pot, cooking 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
4. Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Return beef to pot, then pour in 2 cups beef broth and 1 cup diced tomatoes (undrained), stirring in 1 tsp dried thyme and 1 bay leaf.
6. Step 6: Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 1.5 hours, skimming foam occasionally.
7. Step 7: Add 2 cups diced potatoes and simmer uncovered 25 minutes until potatoes are tender.
8. Step 8: Stir in 1 cup frozen peas and cook 5 minutes until heated through; season with salt and pepper to taste.