Easy Paula Deen Beef Stew Recipe: Hearty Comfort in Every Bite

Paula Deen’s beef stew represents the ultimate comfort food for cold nights.

Hearty and satisfying, this classic recipe transforms simple ingredients into a mouthwatering meal.

Rich brown gravy coats tender meat chunks with deep, robust flavors.

Home cooks appreciate its straightforward preparation and minimal kitchen equipment needed.

Each spoonful offers warmth and nostalgia, reminiscent of traditional family gatherings.

The stew rustic charm comes from slow-simmered ingredients melding together perfectly.

Generous portions guarantee everyone leaves the table feeling completely content: get ready to enjoy a truly delicious dinner.

Why Paula Deen’s Beef Stew is the Ultimate Comfort in a Bowl

• Slow-Cooked Flavor Explosion: Simmering beef for 1.5 hours transforms tough meat into melt-in-your-mouth tender bites, infusing every morsel with deep, rich Worcestershire and aromatic spice notes that dance across your taste buds.
• Quick and Easy Comfort: This one-pot wonder delivers maximum deliciousness with minimal kitchen effort, letting home cooks create a hearty meal in just over two hours without complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
• Nutritious Veggie-Packed Goodness: Packed with colorful carrots, potatoes, and celery, this stew delivers a balanced meal that fills you up while providing essential nutrients and satisfying textures from crisp vegetables to soft, succulent beef chunks.
• Customizable Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for family dinners, chilly evenings, or weekend gatherings, this adaptable recipe welcomes personal twists like adding different herbs or adjusting spice levels to suit individual preferences while maintaining its classic, comforting core.

Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Beef Stew

• Stew Beef: Hearty, tender meat that becomes melt-in-your-mouth soft after slow cooking. Choose well-marbled cuts for rich flavor and best texture.

• Garlic Clove: Adds deep, pungent flavor base to the stew. Fresh garlic provides the most intense taste.
• Onion: Brings sweet and savory undertones to the dish. White or yellow onions work best for robust flavor.
• Bay Leaves: Provides subtle herbal background notes. Removes before serving.
• Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Allspice or Ground Cloves: Essential spices that build complex flavor profile. Use freshly ground spices for maximum taste.
• Sugar: Balances and enhances overall flavor depth.

• Carrots, Red Potatoes, Celery: Classic stew vegetables that add nutrition and hearty texture. Choose firm, fresh produce for best results.

• Water: Creates the stew base and helps tenderize meat.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds tangy, umami depth to the liquid.
• Vegetable Oil: Used for initial meat browning to seal in flavors.
• Cornstarch: Helps thicken stew to desired consistency. Ensures smooth, glossy gravy.

How to Make Paula Deen’s Beef Stew

Step 1: Sear the Beef

Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add stew beef pieces and brown on all sides to create a rich, caramelized exterior that locks in incredible flavor. This step takes about 5-7 minutes, ensuring each piece develops a beautiful golden-brown crust.

Step 2: Build the Flavor Base

• 1 water
• Worcestershire sauce
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 sliced onion
• Salt
• Sugar
• Black pepper
• Paprika
• Dash of allspice or ground cloves

Stir everything together, cover the pot, and let it simmer on low heat for 1.5 hours. This slow cooking process helps tenderize the beef and develop deep, rich flavors.

Step 3: Add Fresh Vegetables

• Sliced carrots
• Quartered red potatoes
• Chopped celery

Cover the pot and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes until vegetables become tender and soft.

Step 4: Create a Luxurious Gravy

• Water
• Cornstarch

Blend until smooth, then pour the mixture back into the pot. Stir well and cook until the stew becomes bubbly and reaches a thick, luxurious consistency. This final step transforms your stew from good to absolutely amazing!

Pro Tips for Paula Deen’s Beef Stew

• Capture Flavor Depth: Sear meat thoroughly to lock in rich, robust tastes that transform a basic stew into a memorable meal.
• Balance Vegetable Freshness: Select crisp, seasonal produce that adds vibrant color and natural sweetness to your beef stew.
• Master Gentle Cooking Technique: Control heat levels carefully to preserve meat tenderness and prevent tough, chewy textures.
• Create Smooth Gravy Magic: Blend cornstarch mixture seamlessly without clumps for a silky, luxurious stew consistency.
• Personalize Seasoning Adventure: Sample and adjust spices midway, letting your taste buds guide the final flavor profile.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Beef Stew

• Freeze: Seal cooled beef stew in heavy-duty freezer bags or rigid containers, pressing out excess air to prevent freezer burn. Label each container with the date and contents. Properly stored stew maintains peak flavor and texture for up to 4 months, offering a convenient meal for busy days.
• Refrigerate: Transfer stew to shallow, airtight containers to speed up cooling and prevent bacterial growth. Store in the coldest part of the refrigerator, typically the back shelf. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and safety, always checking for any signs of spoilage before reheating.
• Reheat: Warm stew slowly in a covered pot on the stovetop, stirring occasionally to distribute heat evenly. Add a splash of broth or water to restore moisture and prevent drying.

Creative Twists on Paula Deen’s Beef Stew

• Herbaceous Mediterranean Beef Stew: Replace allspice with oregano, rosemary, and thyme. Add diced bell peppers and kalamata olives for a Greek-inspired flavor profile. Use red wine instead of water to enhance the rich, earthy taste.
• Spicy Southwestern Beef Stew: Incorporate chipotle peppers, cumin, and chili powder for a bold kick. Include black beans and corn kernels. Top with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime for brightness.
• Winter Root Vegetable Stew: Swap regular potatoes with sweet potatoes, parsnips, and turnips. Add a splash of apple cider for subtle sweetness. Include fresh sage and thyme to complement the hearty root vegetables.
• Asian-Inspired Beef Stew: Replace Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce and rice vinegar. Add ginger, star anise, and five-spice powder. Include mushrooms and bok choy for an authentic East Asian touch.

Final Thoughts on Paula Deen’s Beef Stew

Heartwarming comfort meets culinary magic in Paula Deen’s beef stew, a soul-soothing masterpiece that whispers southern hospitality.

Slow-cooked perfection emerges from carefully layered ingredients, creating a symphony of rich flavors dancing across palates.

Complex spices mingle with tender beef, transforming simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal that connects family and friends.

Kitchen aromas promise warmth and nourishment, inviting memories of cherished gatherings around dinner tables.

Rich gravy envelops vegetables and meat in a luxurious embrace, telling stories of traditional cooking techniques passed through generations.

Hearty portions guarantee satisfaction – you’ll crave seconds, share recipes with loved ones, and celebrate this classic comfort dish that transcends mere sustenance into a delicious experience worth savoring, liking, and spreading across social platforms.

Paula Deen Beef Stew Recipe

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4.7 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Paula Deen’s hearty beef stew brings Southern comfort to your dinner table with tender meat and rich, slow-simmered flavors. Generous chunks of beef, root vegetables, and aromatic herbs create a memorable meal that warms hearts and satisfies hungry diners.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 lbs (907 grams) stew beef

Vegetables:

• 1 medium sliced onion
• 3 large sliced carrots
• 4 quartered red potatoes
• 3 ribs chopped celery
• 1 clove peeled garlic

Seasonings and Liquids:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 2 cups (473 milliliters) water
• 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) salt
• 1 teaspoon (4 grams) sugar
• ½ teaspoon (1 gram) pepper
• ½ teaspoon (1 gram) paprika
• 1 dash ground cloves allspice
• 1 or 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons (16 grams) cornstarch

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Instructions

1. Prepare the meat by heating vegetable oil in a spacious Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Carefully place stew beef pieces into the hot oil, searing each side to develop a rich, caramelized exterior that will enhance the overall flavor profile of the dish.
2. Create a flavor base by introducing Worcestershire sauce and water to the browned meat. Incorporate whole garlic clove, bay leaves, thinly sliced onion, salt, sugar, ground black pepper, paprika, and a subtle hint of allspice or ground cloves. Thoroughly combine all ingredients, then reduce heat to low, covering the pot and allowing the beef to slowly tenderize for approximately 90 minutes.
3. Elevate the stew’s nutritional value by introducing fresh vegetables. Gently remove bay leaves and garlic clove, then add sliced carrots, quartered red potatoes, and chopped celery. Return the lid and continue cooking for 35 to 45 minutes, ensuring vegetables reach a perfect tender consistency.
4. Transform the cooking liquid into a luxurious, velvety gravy by extracting 480 milliliters (2 cups) of hot liquid from the pot. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk 60 milliliters (1/4 cup) of cool water with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch until achieving a silky, lump-free mixture. Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry back into the pot, stirring continuously to integrate and thicken the stew to a rich, glossy consistency.

Notes

• Sear meat thoroughly to lock in deep, robust flavors before slow cooking.
• Select farm-fresh vegetables for maximum taste and nutritional punch.
• Low and slow cooking transforms tough beef cuts into melt-in-your-mouth tender bites.
• Cold water blending ensures silky-smooth gravy without annoying lumps.
• Taste testing midway allows flavor adjustments for personalized deliciousness.
• Oven braising creates richer depth compared to stovetop cooking methods.
• Chop vegetables uniformly for consistent cooking and beautiful presentation.
• Allow resting time after cooking to let flavors meld and intensify.
• Use cast-iron Dutch oven for even heat distribution and superior results.
• Trim excess fat from beef to prevent greasy texture in final dish.
• Fresh herbs sprinkled at end provide bright, aromatic finishing touches.
• Leftover stew often tastes better next day as flavors continue developing.
• Pair with crusty bread or fluffy mashed potatoes for complete comfort meal.
• Store in airtight container for up to four days in refrigerator.
• Freeze remaining portions for quick future meal solutions.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 235
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 7.6g
• Saturated Fat: 2.8g
• Carbohydrates: 21g
• Fiber: 2.8g
• Protein: 19g
• Cholesterol: 58mg