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 cubed beef chuck, red wine, medium, diced 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
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.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
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 cubed 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.