This is the easiest Italian beef stew recipe, bursting with rich, deep flavor. Braised beef cubes are cooked along with Italian flavors of onion, garlic, rosemary, bay leaf,and a secret flavor enhancer—fresh fennel. The rich, deep flavor of this stew is due to beef broth and Italian dry red wine that make up the liquid portion. A little concentrated tomato paste (thick tomato sauce concentrate called tomato purée in the UK) adds depth and richness.
A Hearty Beef Stew Recipe
I don’t know about you, but when the weather cools down, the best way to warm up on a cold night is with a one-pan stew. In addition to this variation, my menu rotation includes my Irish Beef and Guinness Stew and Creamy Chicken Stew with the tastiest dumplings that can all be turned into slow cooker recipes.
How Long do you Cook Beef Stew?
The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your beef and vegetables. I like to cook them until the beef is tender, which can take 2 to 3 hours on the stovetop (hob) or up to 8 hours in a slow cooker/crockpot.
Beef Stew Meat
Lean cuts of beef with collagen and connective tissue, along with a little marbling (fat), are best. These cuts come from the hardest working parts of the animal, such as chuck beef (beef chuck roast) from the upper shoulder and neck, bottom round, or short ribs. If you choose a more tender cut like filet, ribeye, or strip, they have less collagen and more fat, and the long cooking time could result in a chewy texture. When the collagen melts, it turns into gelatin, which adds both flavor and thickness to the stew.
Browning Beef for Beef Stew
Browning the beef in olive oil over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes per side before slow cooking is an important step. Getting some caramelization on the beef creates what we call ‘sucs’ (brown bits) at the bottom of the pan, which adds a lot of flavor. This can also be done in an Instant Pot.
Best Pan for Beef Stew
I love using my large Dutch oven with a lid. It retains heat well, ensuring even cooking all around. A wide braising pan is also a good option.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This recipe can be easily made in the slow cooker. For the reasons mentioned above, I highly recommend browning the beef before adding it to the slow cooker. Then, proceed to add everything to the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
Beef Stew without Wine
If you don’t want to add wine, you can use a non-alcoholic red wine, or replace with the more beef broth or beef stock.
Italian Beef Stew Additions
Potatoes, celery, butternut squash, pretty much any seasonal vegetable will work well. If you’re going to add vegetables that requires less cooking time, add them towards the last 20-30 minutes of cooking so they don’t get too soft.
Serving Beef Stew
In keeping with the Italian theme, I love to serve this tender beef stew over creamy polenta (pictured below). Just four ingredients (plus water) are all it takes to make, and it’s just as easy as making mashed potatoes. Crusty bread (Italian of course) is also acceptable. Buon Appetito!
Leftover Beef Stew
Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It also freezes well in a freezer-safe container. Just defrost in the fridge and reheat slowly in a pan. If you’ve tried this Italian Beef Stew or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love to hear from my readers! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see daily recipe updates.
