Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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This dutch oven Beef Stew with red wine is pure comfort food, and it is utterly delicious! Tender beef is swimming in a rich beer and red wine sauce, accompanied by potatoes and carrots. Serve this easy stove top stew recipe with some crusty bread for a filling winter meal!

Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Red Wine Beef Stew

This old-fashioned beef stew with red wine is a delicious and classic dish for cold winter nights. It has a deep, rich flavor, and requires very little effort to make!

The meat in this stove top beef stew recipe comes out incredibly tender. And the red wine sauce adds so much flavor, and has a beautifully silky texture. This stew is filled with potatoes and carrots for an extra hearty and warming meal.

Everyone will love this dish, and it’s sure to become a winter staple at your house. This dutch oven beef stew is sure to please, and it makes for great leftovers too.

Why You’ll Love this Dutch Oven Beef Stew Recipe:

  • TENDER BEEF: Slow-cooked beef comes out perfectly tender in this flavorful stew.
  • RED WINE SAUCE: The combination of red wine and beer creates the most delicious red wine sauce for our beef stew.
  • ONE POT STEW: This recipe is so easy to make! All you need is one pot to make this simple stove top beef stew.

This easy red wine beef stew and potatoes is all made in one pot. It’s a mostly hands-off recipe, so just let it simmer on the stove, and then enjoy!

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Beef Stew Ingredients

  • Olive Oil: You can also use canola oil instead.
  • Butter: Use unsalted butter.
  • Beef: Use stew meat or chuck roast, and trim the fat.
  • Veggies: This recipe calls for onion, carrots, and potatoes. But you can use different veggies if desired.
  • Garlic: Freshly minced.
  • Beer: A single 12 oz bottle of beer will do. Ideally, use a stout or dark ale (dark beer is better than light for stew).
  • Red Wine: Use a dry or semi-dry wine.
  • Beef Stock
  • Beef Bouillon Cubes: Or use dry au jus mix instead.
  • Tomato Paste
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Bay Leaves
  • Beef Stew Seasonings: Smoked paprika, kosher salt, ground black pepper, sugar.
  • Garnish: Add some fresh parsley after cooking.

How to make Red Wine Beef Stew on the Stovetop

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. In a Dutch Oven, brown the meat, then remove from the pot. Then place in onions and add the garlic. After they’ve softened add the beer, then add the beef and all other ingredients except carrots, potatoes and parsley.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer covered for an hour.
  3. Remove the lid and simmer for another hour before adding the carrots and potatoes.
  4. Allow to thicken, serve with chopped parsley and crusty bread!
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Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

Recipe Variations

This easy beef stew with red wine is EASY to adapt. Feel free to make some changes based on the ingredients you have, and your taste.

Here are some ideas:

  • Substitute sweet potatoes, or leave potatoes out all together if you prefer.
  • Add in egg noodles or another pasta.
  • Toss in some frozen peas or sauteed mushrooms at the very end of cook time.

No matter how you make it, it’s a super satisfying comfort food for a cold night!

What’s the best red wine for beef stew?

Use a dry or semi-dry red wine (meaning something that isn’t sweet). I recommend using a cabernet sauvignon or pinot noir. Feel free to use something inexpensive, because you don’t want to waste the best wines on cooking!

What cut of beef should I use to make stew?

Stew is the ideal time to skip the lean, pricier cuts of meat and go for the less expensive, tougher cuts. The long, slow cook time leaves lean meat (like sirloin) tough and chewy, while tougher cuts (like chuck) break down and become really tender.

How long does it take to cook beef stew on the stove top?

Stew will need to cook on the stove top for about 2 hours. Prep is quick, so you won’t have to tack too much more time on to the rest of the recipe.

How do I thicken or thin out stew?

To thicken beef stew, add some cornstarch in and let it simmer a little longer. To thin it out, add a bit more water or broth.

What veggies are best for beef stew?

Potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables are ideal for stew. They can withstand long cook times, and become tender. You can add other veggies too if you prefer. Turnips, sweet potatoes, and peas would all taste great.

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What does adding red wine to stew do?

Adding red wine to beef stew is a great way to balance out the taste. It adds a fullness in flavor that is both savory and a little fruity (like a great red wine!). Basically, it just makes this old-fashioned stew so much more delicious!

Do I have to use a dutch oven?

I love making this stove top beef stew in a dutch oven for a few reasons. They are large, have high sides, and a heavy bottom. And for dishes like stew and chili, heft isa necessity. It means higher heat retention, which is great for slow-cooking.

We’re also browning the meat before adding it to the stew. And the heat retention of these pots means you can evenly brown and caramelize the meat.

A fitting lid is important too, ensuring a steadycooking temperature, resulting in super tender meat that is perfectly infused with moisture and flavor.

So no, you don’t have to use a dutch oven, but I highly recommend it if you have one. If you don’t, you can use any heavy-bottomed pot.

Can you freeze beef stew with red wine?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze this beef stew recipe if you have leftovers, or want to make it ahead of time. The stew can be frozen for up to 3 months!

Before serving, defrost the stew in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then reheat on the stovetop, over medium-low heat, until hot.

Note: If you are making this specifically to freeze, omit the potatoes because they don’t freeze well. Instead, boil some potatoes separately when you defrost, and then add them into the stew.

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Tips!

  • Brown your beef. It’s SO worth it. You can make this dutch oven stew without browning the beef before, and it’s still good…but the version with the browned beef is amazing!
  • Adding Veggies. Add hearty vegetables, like carrots, turnips, and potatoes halfway through cooking. If you plan to include delicate vegetables, like peas, wait to add them until a few minutes before taking the stew off the heat.
  • This recipe makes a lot, and the leftovers are even more amazing, so definitely save what you don’t eat the first night! You can refrigerate or freeze leftover beef stew.
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What to Serve with Beef Stew

This red wine beef stew is filled with carrots and potatoes, so it makes a pretty hearty meal on its own. Of course, I always recommend serving some crusty bread along with it (dipped in that red wine sauce? Delicious!). And a glass of red wine pairs perfectly for dinner.

If you want to add some side dishes, a salad or more veggies is a great idea!

  • Cheesy Roasted Vegetables
  • Creamed Corn
  • Spinach Salad with Bacon
  • Sweet Potato Rolls

This hearty beef stew with red wine is absolutely delicious! It’s filled with so much flavor, and so easy to make on the stove top. Make this for cold winter nights, and save some in your freezer to serve later. Everyone will love this stew!

More Hearty Soups and Stews

  • Instant Pot 5 Spice Beef Stew
  • Witches Brew Stew
  • Slow Cooker Guinness Stew
  • Hungarian Goulash
  • White Wine Chicken Stew
  • Creamy Chicken Stew

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe

Red Wine Beef Stew Recipe

4.63 from 40 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Total: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

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Serves8 people

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This dutch oven Beef Stew with red wine is pure comfort food, and it is utterly delicious! Tender beef is swimming in a rich beer and red wine sauce, accompanied by potatoes and carrots. Serve this easy stove top stew recipe with some crusty bread for a filling winter meal!

Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (12)

Email This Recipe

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By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 pounds stew meat or a 2½ -pound chuck roast trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 12 ounces beer
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/3 cup dry red wine
  • 3 cups unsalted beef stock
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 5 carrots peeled and chopped
  • 6 Yukon Gold or yellow potatoes peeled & cubed
  • Garnish: Fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Heat oil and butter in a large Dutch oven set over medium heat.

    3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • Brown half of the stew meat, and transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the remaining meat to the Dutch oven, brown all sides, and place it with the other browned meat.

    2 pounds stew meat or a 2½ -pound chuck roast

    Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

  • Place the chopped onions in the pot and cook 3-4 minutes or until translucent and softened. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, stirring often.

    1 yellow onion, 3 cloves garlic

    Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (14)

  • Slowly add the beer and stir while deglazing the pan.

    12 ounces beer

    Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (15)

  • Add the browned beef and all other ingredients EXCEPT carrots, potatoes and parsley. Stir well.

    1 yellow onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1/3 cup dry red wine, 3 cups unsalted beef stock, 2 beef bouillon cubes, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 bay leaves, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  • Bring the mixture to a boil, stir, cover and reduce the heat to low.

    Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (16)

  • Simmer the stew (covered) for 1 hour. Remove the lid and simmer an additional 1 hour.

  • Add carrots and potatoes and cook until vegetables are tender and stew has thickened.

    5 carrots, 6 Yukon Gold or yellow potatoes

    Dutch Oven Beef Stew with Red Wine Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (17)

  • The stew should be somewhat thick(ish). If too thick, add additional water or broth. If it is too thin, add 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch (according to package directions). Simmer until the stew has thickened to the desired consistency.

  • Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with toasty bread. Enjoy!

    Garnish: Fresh parsley

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Brown your beef. It’s SO worth it. You can make this stew without browning the beef before, and it’s still good, but the version with the browned beef is amazing!
  • Don’t go for ‘fancy’ beef cuts! Stew is the ideal time to skip the lean, pricier cuts of meat and go for the less expensive, tougher cuts. The long, slow cook time leaves lean meat, like sirloin, tough and chewy, while tougher cuts, like chuck, break down and become really tender.
  • Adding Veggies. Add hearty vegetables, like carrots, turnips, and potatoes halfway through cooking. If you plan to include delicate vegetables, like peas, wait to add them until a few minutes before taking the stew off the heat.
  • This recipe makes a lot, and the leftovers are even more amazing, so definitely save what you don’t eat the first night!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 403kcal (20%) Carbohydrates: 10g (3%) Protein: 22g (44%) Fat: 30g (46%) Saturated Fat: 10g (63%) Cholesterol: 84mg (28%) Sodium: 720mg (31%) Potassium: 690mg (20%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 5g (6%) Vitamin A: 6535IU (131%) Vitamin C: 5mg (6%) Calcium: 49mg (5%) Iron: 3mg (17%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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FAQs

What is the best red wine to use in beef stew? ›

Zinfandel or Syrah/Shiraz. These bold wines will stand up well to these hearty dishes. Best dry red wine for cooking beef stew or a wine-based sauce: Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Can you put too much red wine in stew? ›

Remember, if the red wine is not sufficient for the meat you have prepared, you can add water. Do not use too much red wine or the meat may start to blacken.

What is the secret to tender stew? ›

If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours. Chuck meat is your best bet for beef stew, but it's also a pretty tough cut so it needs time to break down and become tender.

Why do you put red wine vinegar in beef stew? ›

Oil - Use vegetable oil, olive oil, or canola oil to brown the beef and sauté onions. Vinegar & optional red wine - Use red wine vinegar and some red wine to give this stew a deep and rich sweet and savory flavor.

Does red wine make stew taste better? ›

When you slow-cook tough cuts of meat like beef chuck, the acid present in the wine eventually helps to break the meat down, making it more tender. Red wine in beef stew also adds depth of flavor — some of the liquid evaporates in the oven, which concentrates the flavors going on in the pot.

What does red wine do to beef? ›

Molecules in red wine called tannins soften fats in the meat, helping to release the taste of beefy goodness. The fat in turn softens the astringent qualities of the wine, helping to mellow the beverage and produce a juicier, more fruit forward flavor.

When should wine be added to stew? ›

Adding wine to stews is not unknown. Here's the standard operating procedure used happily for many generations: fry red meat (beef or pork) until the surface is golden; add wine (red or white will do) to the ingredients, close the lid and cook on low heat for a few hours; wait, wait, wait (check your phones); finish!

What does red wine do for stew? ›

Just as the red wine and tomatoes work to tenderize and flavor the beef, they'll have the same impact on mushrooms and vice versa, because the mushrooms will release their earthy, comforting flavors into the stew as they cook.

How long does it take for wine to cook out of stew? ›

Sorry to spoil the party, but here's the real deal: Simply heating alcohol, or any other cooking liquid, does not make it evaporate as quickly as a child's allowance in a candy store. The longer you cook, the more alcohol cooks out, but you have to cook food for about 3 hours to fully erase all traces of alcohol.

What is the best tenderizer for stew beef? ›

The choice becomes easier when you realize that simple baking soda can be an ideal meat tenderizer that helps to bring out all the aromas and flavors in every sizzling beef stew or charburger.

Does beef get more tender the longer you stew it? ›

Don't Stew the Stew Too Long Either

It might seem that cooking your beef stew on low for 8 hours will make it even better, but that is not true at all. Your beef will be tough if you don't cook it enough and it will be tough if you cook it too much.

How to make beef stew more flavorful? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

Should I put tomato paste in my beef stew? ›

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

Should beef stew have tomato paste? ›

What does tomato paste do for beef stew? It definitely gives another layer of flavor and can thicken up your gravy. But it can also be very acidic so you might want to simmer finally chopped carrots in your sauce to give it some sweetness. And for me, there is nothing like fresh basil, parsley, and oregano.

Do you need to put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

Do you need tomato paste for beef stew? We recommend using tomato paste for this recipe. Tomato paste adds crucial flavor and body to the stew meat when cooked with herbs, garlic and wine.

What red wine is best for slow cooking? ›

CHOOSING YOUR RED WINE FOR COOKING

Bigger dishes like pot roast or slow cooked beef however almost demand bigger wines like full-bodied Shiraz or Cabernets, but if in doubt, stick with a low tannin wine like Merlot – it's widely considered the most versatile red wine for cooking with.

Is Merlot or Cabernet better for stew? ›

The best red wine for cooking beef stew is Cabernet sauvignon. Beef stew tends to be a hearty and rich meal, so avoiding fruity flavors is a good idea. Cabernet is known for being a very flavorful and rustic-flavored wine, so it can help bring that stew to the next level.

Is red wine necessary in beef stew? ›

For a flavorful beef stew it's important to start with good meat and a good broth or stock, since that's a huge base of your dish. Making sure you have quality beef chuck that's well-marbled will add a bunch of flavor that you won't be getting from red wine.

What kind of red wine is dry and good for cooking? ›

Best Red Wine To Cook With

In general, if your recipe calls for dry red wine, you can feel confident adding a Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon to your dish. A Zinfandel or Shiraz will work nicely for hearty dishes, such as ribs, lamb, or roast beef.

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