Slow-Simmered Beef Stifado with Red Wine and Cinnamon
A hearty Greek beef stew slowly simmered with aromatic cinnamon, tomatoes, and red wine, perfect for cozy dinners. This Greek-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 170 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes, olive oil, small pearl onions, peeled 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 1-inch cubes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 20 small pearl onions, peeled
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups crushed canned tomatoes
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar
The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Pans + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- 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 for 8-10 minutes.
- Step 2: Add 20 peeled small pearl onions and sauté with the beef for 5 minutes until onions begin to soften.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 2 tbsp tomato paste; cook for 2 minutes until fragrant and tomato paste darkens slightly.
- Step 4: Pour in 1 cup dry red wine and 1 cup beef broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze.
- Step 5: Add 1 1/2 cups crushed canned tomatoes, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 2 bay leaves, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp sugar. Stir well.
- Step 6: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until beef is tender and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
- Step 7: Remove bay leaves before serving with crusty bread or over creamy mashed potatoes.








