Beef Stew Recipe for Two is an easy beef stew recipe that can be cooked on the stove-top, in an Instant Pot, or in a slow cooker. The best part is the tender beef, but the vegetables and sauce are great as well. We ate ours with a take-and-bake loaf of bread brushed with one tablespoon oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan. Sometimes I omit the bread and serve the stew over cooked egg noodles. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. If two starches bother you, swap out the potatoes for green beans.
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You'll Love my Beef Stew Recipe for Two
- This beef stew is flavorful from the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, bay leaf, and lots of fresh sliced garlic.
- A bowl of beef stew will fill you up and warm you up from the inside out.
- Autumn is the perfect time to try new recipes for serving in winter.
- This recipe is conveniently developed for two large servings or three smaller servings, perfect to pair with a salad. If you need more servings you can adjust for that in the recipe card with just one click.
Ingredients
Full ingredients list & measurements provided in the recipe card.
Step-by-Step Instructions with Photos
Cut beef into large (1") pieces. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
Toss the tender chunks of beef in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour.
Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a Dutch oven or large pot.
Over medium-high heat, brown the beef, turning to sear all edges.
The beef should be seared well and brown bits should form on the bottom.
Add ¼ cup red wine or beef broth. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom.
Add the liquids plus the aromatics. Cover. Cook over low heat for 2 hours.
Prepare the vegetables as shown in the image and set them aside.
Add the prepared vegetables and tomato paste to the pot.
Stir to mix everything together and cook for an additional hour over low heat.
Make a cornstarch slurry and pour it into the pot. Stir as the sauce thickens.
Remove the stew from the heat and serve piping hot.
Alternative cooking methods
- Pressure Cooker
- Instant pot beef stew is to make. I sear the beef first on the saute setting then add the liquids and garlic and pressure cook the beef for 45 minutes. I then remove the beef and set it aside. I then add the vegetables and tomato paste to the liquid in the pot and pressure cook for 15 minutes. Add the remaining beef back in and saute for a few minutes until the beef is heated through. If the sauce is too thin I use one tablespoon of cornstarch in one tablespoon of water to make a slurry to thicken the sauce.
- Slow Cooker
- Slow cooker beef stew is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes. Just sear the beef chunks in a large skillet and put all the ingredients except cornstarch in the cooker and cook according to manufacturer recommendations. I like to use high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. When cooking is done, use the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce if desired.
Recipe FAQ'S
What kind of beef is best for stew?
What is fond in cooking?
Looking for More Hearty Beef Recipes?
Equipment
- Dutch oven
- Wooden spoon
- Knife and cutting board
Food Storage Tips
Leftover stew should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Expert Tips
- Cooks have been making beef stew for centuries. It does not really require any advanced cooking skills. My best tip is to follow the instructions for searing the beef. Use tongs to turn the beef to sear it on all sides. Get a nice hard sear on it. This will add flavor and build those brown bits or "fond" on the bottom of the pot. When you de-glaze the pot with wine or stock, great flavor is released into the stew. Don't skip this step.
- The real key to making a great stew is slow cooking. Slow cooking the flavors of the beef chuck, a collagen rich, fibrous cut of beef that needs at least two hours to break down. Cook over low, avoid boiling, and give the stew the time it needs.
- I leave my potatoes whole while cooking then slice them in half at serving time. This retains the color and integrity of the potato. If you prefer potatoes to take on the color of the broth and and fall apart a bit, by all means, halve them before cooking.
Perfect Pairings
What wine pairs well with beef stew?
Recipe
Beef Stew for Two
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
- wooden spoon
- Cutting board and knife
Ingredients
- 10 ounces Beef chuck
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 tablespoon All purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- ¼ cup Red Wine (optional) or use additional beef broth
- 1 cup Beef Broth or beef stock
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
- 1 Bay Leaf or two small
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
- 6 small Yukon Gold Potatoes russet potatoes break apart too easily.
- 1 small Onion
- 2 carrots Carrot
- ⅓ cup Peas
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 sprig Fresh thyme optional
Instructions
- Cut beef into large (1") pieces. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
- Toss the chunks of beef in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour.
- Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a Dutch oven or large pot.
- Over medium-high heat, brown the beef, turning to sear all edges.
- The beef should be seared well and brown bits should form on the bottom of the pan.
- Add ¼ cup red wine or beef broth to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom to loosen the bits.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, beef broth, bay leaf, garlic, and fresh thyme (optional). Cover. Simmer over low heat for 2 hours.
- Prepare the vegetables leaving the potatoes whole if they are small, peeling and cutting the carrots into 1" pieces, cutting the onion into sixths, and slicing the garlic.
- Add the prepared vegetables and tomato paste to the pot.
- Stir to mix everything together and simmer for an additional hour over low heat.
- If the liquid is the right consistency for you skip this step. If not, make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and pouring it into the pot. Stir as the sauce thickens.
- Remove the stew from the heat and serve piping hot.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition information is provided as a convenience and courtesy only. You are encouraged to do your own calculations if precise data is required.
We take every effort to ensure that the estimated meal cost per serving is accurate. We use a meal cost analysis application that estimates the cost of a recipe based on groceries purchased at a Walmart store in my geographical area, northern California.
Stephanie says
Another fabulous recipe from you. The broth and ingredients are so good. Thank you for the detailed instructions and tips!