Fall and winter call for dishes that warm you from the inside out, and nothing does it quite like a rich, flavorful beef stew. If you’re searching for the ultimate comfort food experience, look no further. This beef stew recipe, inspired by the hearty, home-style cooking of the Pioneer Woman, is destined to become a family favorite. It’s packed with tender beef, wholesome vegetables, and a depth of flavor that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Hearty and colorful beef stew recipe pioneer woman style in a bowl, showcasing rich broth and tender vegetables.
Why This Beef Stew Recipe is a Must-Try
What makes this beef stew stand out from the crowd? It’s all about building layers of flavor and using quality ingredients. This isn’t just any beef stew; it’s a deeply satisfying and incredibly delicious meal that’s surprisingly easy to make. Imagine sinking your spoon into a bowl filled with melt-in-your-mouth beef, perfectly cooked vegetables, and a rich, savory broth. This recipe delivers exactly that, and here’s why you’ll absolutely love it:
- Unbelievable Flavor: The secret ingredient? Beef demi-glace. This concentrated beef reduction adds an unparalleled richness and depth that elevates the stew to gourmet levels. Don’t worry if you can’t find it easily – we’ve got great substitutes too!
- Hearty and Comforting: This stew is loaded with tender chunks of beef and plenty of vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and celery, making it a complete and satisfying meal. It’s the perfect dish to warm you up on a chilly evening.
- Easy to Make (Slow Cooker Friendly): While the flavor is complex, the method is simple. We start with searing the beef for maximum flavor, then let the slow cooker do its magic. Set it in the morning, and come home to a house filled with the irresistible aroma of home-cooked goodness.
- Family-Friendly Favorite: Kids and adults alike will devour this stew. It’s a classic comfort food that brings everyone to the table.
Key Ingredients for Pioneer Woman Style Beef Stew
This recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to create something truly special. Here’s what you’ll need to create this hearty beef stew:
- Beef Stew Meat: Choose a good quality beef stew meat, such as chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes. The marbling in chuck roast makes it perfect for slow cooking, resulting in incredibly tender and flavorful beef.
- All-Purpose Flour and Seasoning Salt: A light coating of seasoned flour helps to brown the beef beautifully and also slightly thickens the stew.
- Olive Oil: For searing the beef and sautéing the onions.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a touch of spice.
- Onion: A diced onion forms the aromatic base of the stew.
- Bay Leaves: These fragrant leaves infuse the stew with a subtle, herbal note.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds umami and depth of flavor to the broth.
- Beef Demi-Glace: The star ingredient! Beef demi-glace provides an intense beef flavor. If you can’t find it, you can substitute with beef bouillon or a product like Better than Bouillon Beef Base for a concentrated beefy flavor.
- Red Skinned Potatoes: These hold their shape well during long cooking and add a creamy texture to the stew.
- Carrots and Celery: Classic stew vegetables that provide sweetness and earthy notes.
Step-by-Step Guide to Delicious Beef Stew
Let’s get cooking! Here’s how to make this incredible beef stew recipe, Pioneer Woman style:
- Prepare the Beef: In a resealable plastic bag, combine the beef stew meat, flour, and seasoning salt. Shake until the beef is evenly coated.
- Sear the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the floured beef in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan, and sear on all sides until nicely browned. Searing the beef creates a rich, caramelized flavor that is essential for a delicious stew. Remove the beef from the skillet and transfer it to your slow cooker. Season with black pepper.
- Sauté the Onions: Add the diced onion to the same skillet and sauté for about 2 minutes, until softened. Don’t worry about cleaning the skillet – those browned bits at the bottom are packed with flavor and will deglaze beautifully. Transfer the sautéed onions to the slow cooker with the beef.
- Deglaze the Skillet: Pour water, Worcestershire sauce, and beef demi-glace (or your chosen substitute) into the hot skillet. Whisk to combine, scraping up all the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan. This creates a rich and flavorful liquid base for the stew.
- Add Vegetables and Simmer: Add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaves to the slow cooker. Pour the broth mixture from the skillet over the vegetables and beef.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, or until the beef and vegetables are tender. The long, slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld together beautifully and tenderizes the beef to perfection.
- Serve and Enjoy: Before serving, remove the bay leaves. Ladle the hearty beef stew into bowls and enjoy!
Close-up of simmering beef stew pioneer woman recipe in a slow cooker, highlighting tender beef and vegetables.
Serving Suggestions for Your Beef Stew
This beef stew is a complete meal on its own, but it’s even better with some classic accompaniments:
- Crusty Bread: Perfect for soaking up every last drop of the delicious broth.
- Homemade Biscuits: Fluffy biscuits are a wonderful side to serve with stew.
- Mashed Potatoes or Creamy Polenta: For an extra comforting and satisfying meal.
- A Simple Side Salad: To add a touch of freshness and balance the richness of the stew.
Storing Leftover Beef Stew
Lucky you if you have leftovers! Beef stew tastes even better the next day.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover beef stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the stew in freezer-safe containers for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating: The best way to reheat beef stew is on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave.
Ready to Make the Best Beef Stew Ever?
This Pioneer Woman inspired beef stew recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for a cozy family dinner. Gather your ingredients, follow these simple steps, and get ready to enjoy the most comforting and delicious beef stew you’ve ever tasted!
Printable beef stew recipe pioneer woman style, perfect for easy home cooking.
BEST EVER Beef Stew Recipe
This Beef Stew is a hearty and flavorful dish, perfect for a comforting family meal! Inspired by home-style cooking.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, such as chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups water
- 2 heaping teaspoons beef demi-glace or beef bouillon or Better than Bouillon Beef Base
- 4 medium to large red-skinned potatoes, washed and diced
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
Instructions
- Shake the beef stew meat in a resealable plastic bag with the flour and seasoning salt until evenly coated.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the floured stew meat to the pan in batches and brown on all sides. Remove using a slotted spoon or tongs and place into the bottom of a slow cooker. Season with pepper.
- Sauté the diced onion in the same hot skillet for 2 minutes, until softened. Transfer the onions into the slow cooker as well.
- Pour the Worcestershire sauce, water, and beef demi-glace (or substitute) into the skillet and whisk until mixed, making sure you scrape up any browned bits in the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- Add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaves to the slow cooker.
- Pour the broth/Worcestershire mixture into the slow cooker as well.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, or until beef and vegetables are tender.
- Remove the bay leaves before serving. Enjoy!
