Slow-Cooked Braised Beef with Star Anise and Cinnamon

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-05 · Updated 2026-05-05

A hearty Vietnamese-style braised beef simmered slowly in fragrant spices and caramelized sauce until tender and flavorful. This Vietnamese-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 200 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cut into 2-inch chunks, vegetable oil, garlic cloves, crushed 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 2-inch chunks
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 5 cloves garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 shallots, thinly sliced
• 4 tbsp fish sauce
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cups water
• 3 star anise pods
• 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp scallions, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 lbs beef chuck chunks and brown on all sides for about 6-8 minutes, turning frequently to develop a deep crust.
2. Step 2: Add 5 crushed garlic cloves and 3 thinly sliced shallots to the pot, sautéing for 3 minutes until fragrant and softened but not browned.
3. Step 3: Stir in 4 tbsp fish sauce and 3 tbsp brown sugar, cooking for 1 minute until the sugar dissolves and the mixture caramelizes slightly.
4. Step 4: Pour in 2 cups water, then add 3 star anise pods, 1 cinnamon stick, and 1 tsp black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and cover partially. Let the beef braise for 2.5 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally until the beef is fork-tender and the sauce has thickened.
5. Step 5: Remove star anise and cinnamon stick. Garnish the braised beef with 2 tbsp chopped scallions and 2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves before serving with steamed rice or crusty bread.