Slow-Cooked Beef with Red Wine
A tender, flavorful dish where beef simmers in red wine, evoking the theme of time and transformation. This french-inspired beef ready in about 115 minutes pairs beef chuck, red wine, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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
- 1.5 lbs, cubed beef chuck
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 medium, diced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 medium, peeled and sliced carrots
- 2 stalks, sliced celery
- 1 tsp, fresh thyme
- 1 leaf bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1 medium onion and sauté for 5 minutes until golden. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 1.5 lbs beef chuck cubes and cook for 5 minutes until browned on all sides. Stir in 1 cup red wine, scraping the pot to release browned bits. Cook for 2 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Step 3: Add 2 sliced carrots, 2 sliced celery stalks, 1 tsp thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Pour in 2 cups water, bringing the liquid to just below the surface of the meat.
- Step 4: Cover and simmer on low heat for 1.5 hours, or until the beef is tender. Remove bay leaf and serve with the juices spooned over.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Beef with Red Wine take to make?
Total time is about 115 minutes (25 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 Slow-Cooked Beef with Red Wine?
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 beef chuck from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Beef with Red Wine?
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 Slow-Cooked Beef with Red Wine 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 Slow-Cooked Beef with Red Wine?
French 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.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Brought this to a potluck and it was the first dish to disappear.
- ★★★★☆
Reliable weeknight option. Not going to blow your mind but always satisfying.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.
