Smithfield Beef Stew

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

A comforting, slow-simmered stew with tender beef, root vegetables, and a rich savory broth, inspired by America's most common surname. This american-inspired one pot ready in about 160 minutes pairs stew beef, all-purpose flour, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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 stew beef
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 carrots
• 2 stalks celery
• 2 potatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat the stew beef dry, then toss with 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until evenly coated.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until browned, transferring to a plate.
3. Step 3: Add the diced onion to the pot and cook for 3 minutes until softened, then add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Return the beef to the pot, add the sliced carrots, celery, cubed potatoes, 1 cup beef broth, 1 cup diced tomatoes, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 bay leaf, and 1/4 tsp salt; bring to a simmer.
5. Step 5: Cover and reduce heat to low, then cook for 2 hours until the beef is fork-tender, stirring occasionally.
6. Step 6: Remove the bay leaf, stir in 2 tbsp fresh parsley, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.