Slow-Cooked Beef Stifado with Pearl Onions and Red Wine

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-26 · Updated 2026-06-26

Rich and hearty Greek beef stew simmered slowly with pearl onions, garlic, and spices in a fragrant red wine sauce. This Greek recipe, ready in about 170 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes, olive oil, pearl onions for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups peeled pearl onions
• 4 cloves minced garlic cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups dry red wine
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup water
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp sugar

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 lbs beef chuck cubes and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 2 cups peeled pearl onions and cook for 5 minutes until they begin to soften and brown slightly.
3. Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, and 2 bay leaves. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Return the browned beef to the pot. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 cup crushed tomatoes, 2 cups dry red wine, 1 cup water, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp sugar.
5. Step 5: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until the beef is tender and sauce is thickened.
6. Step 6: Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves before serving.