Slow-Cooked Beef Stifado with Red Wine and Cinnamon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-24 · Updated 2026-04-24

Tender beef chunks slow-cooked in a rich tomato and red wine sauce infused with cinnamon and aromatic spices, a classic Greek stew. This Greek recipe, ready in about 200 minutes, pairs beef chuck, olive oil, small pearl onions for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 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 cut into 1.5-inch cubes beef chuck
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 20 peeled small pearl onions
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups dry red wine
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 whole allspice berries
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp sugar

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 lbs beef chuck cubes in batches and brown evenly on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 20 peeled small pearl onions and sauté for 5 minutes until lightly caramelized.
3. Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 3 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen flavor.
4. Step 4: Return the browned beef to the pot. Pour in 1 1/2 cups dry red wine and 2 cups beef broth. Add 1 cinnamon stick, 2 bay leaves, 5 whole allspice berries, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp sugar.
5. Step 5: Bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook gently for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until beef is fork-tender and the sauce thickens.
6. Step 6: Remove cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and allspice berries before serving. Adjust seasoning as needed.