Busy Day Beef Stew
Perfect for hectic schedules, Busy Day Beef Stew is a hearty, one-pot comfort meal that delivers big flavor with minimal effort. This robust stew combines tender, seared beef stew meat with a medley of carrots, potatoes, and peas, all simmered in a rich, savory broth infused with tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and aromatic spices like thyme and bay leaf. Ready in under two hours with just 15 minutes of prep, this recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays. Thickened with a quick cornstarch slurry, the velvety sauce clings to every bite, making it the ultimate cozy dish that pairs perfectly with crusty bread or fluffy rice. Easy, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing, this homemade stew is sure to become a family favorite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium (diced) yellow onion
- 3 cloves (minced) garlic
- 3 large (peeled and sliced) carrots
- 4 medium (peeled and cubed) potatoes
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp (or to taste) salt
- 0.5 tsp (or to taste) black pepper
Instructions
Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil.
Season the beef stew meat with salt and pepper. Brown the meat in batches, ensuring all sides are seared. Remove the meat and set aside.
In the same pot, add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
Stir in the carrots, potatoes, and seared beef. Pour in the beef broth, ensuring the ingredients are just covered.
Mix in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the stew simmer for 75 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 75 minutes, add the frozen peas and stir them into the stew.
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water to form a slurry. Gradually add this mixture to the stew while stirring to thicken the sauce.
Taste the stew and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
Serve hot with crusty bread or over rice for a complete and satisfying meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3726 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 168.8 g | 216% | |
| Saturated Fat | 60.4 g | 302% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 816 mg | 272% | |
| Sodium | 7267 mg | 316% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 255.2 g | 93% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 36.3 g | 130% | |
| Total Sugars | 40.8 g | ||
| Protein | 281.0 g | 562% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 573 mg | 44% | |
| Iron | 40.9 mg | 227% | |
| Potassium | 9582 mg | 204% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
