Rustic Bourbon-Infused Beef Stew

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

Tender beef chunks simmered slowly in a rich bourbon-spiked broth with root vegetables for deep, comforting flavors. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 180 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes, all-purpose flour, vegetable 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

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Toss 2 lbs beef chuck cubes with 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, salt, and black pepper to coat evenly.
2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat. Add the floured beef cubes in batches, searing for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply browned. Remove beef and set aside.
3. Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 1 diced yellow onion, 3 peeled and chunked carrots, and 2 sliced celery stalks to the pot; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 2 tbsp tomato paste, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Pour in 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey carefully, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
6. Step 6: Return the seared beef to the pot, add 4 cups beef broth, 3 sprigs fresh thyme, and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a simmer.
7. Step 7: Cover and reduce heat to low, cooking gently for 2 to 2.5 hours until the beef is fork-tender and the stew has thickened.
8. Step 8: Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf, adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed before serving.