Smith Family Hearty Stew

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-01 · Updated 2026-04-01

A comforting one-pot stew inspired by America's most common surname, featuring tender beef, root vegetables, and a rich broth that warms the soul on chilly days. This american-inspired one pot ready in about 180 minutes pairs beef chuck roast, medium carrots, medium potatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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

• 1.5 lbs beef chuck roast
• 3 medium carrots
• 4 medium potatoes
• 1 large onion
• 2 stalks celery
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut 1.5 lbs beef chuck roast into 1-inch cubes; season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering, then brown the beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply golden — do not crowd the pan.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large chopped onion, 2 chopped celery stalks, and 3 peeled, diced carrots to the pot; sauté for 5 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized.
3. Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute until it darkens slightly and smells nutty, then sprinkle 2 tbsp all-purpose flour over the mixture and stir constantly for 1 minute to eliminate raw flour taste.
4. Step 4: Pour in 4 cups beef broth, add 1 tsp dried thyme and 2 bay leaves, and return the browned beef to the pot. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low.
5. Step 5: Simmer for 2 hours, adding 4 diced medium potatoes during the last 30 minutes of cooking until fork-tender. Remove bay leaves before serving.