Northern-Style Beef and Potato Stew with Bay Leaf
A comforting stew featuring tender beef and potatoes slow-cooked with bay leaf and northern-style seasonings. This american-inspired beef ready in about 110 minutes pairs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes, medium potatoes, peeled and diced, medium onion, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, 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 lb beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp, chopped fresh thyme
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb beef chuck cubes seasoned with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, browning on all sides for 5-6 minutes until deeply colored.
- Step 2: Add 1 diced medium onion, 1 diced large carrot, and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pot. Sauté for 4 minutes until vegetables soften and are fragrant.
- Step 3: Pour in 4 cups beef broth, add 2 peeled and diced medium potatoes, 2 whole bay leaves, and 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme. Bring stew to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low.
- Step 4: Cook gently for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender and potatoes are cooked through. Remove bay leaves before serving hot.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Northern-Style Beef and Potato Stew with Bay Leaf take to make?
Total time is about 110 minutes (20 min prep + 90 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 Northern-Style Beef and Potato Stew with Bay Leaf?
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 medium onion, diced from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Northern-Style Beef and Potato Stew with Bay Leaf?
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 Northern-Style Beef and Potato Stew with Bay Leaf for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). 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 Northern-Style Beef and Potato Stew with Bay Leaf?
American 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.
