Vegetable Beef Stew

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/17/22
Vegetable Beef Stew

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins
Total: 3 hrs
Servings: 8 servings

This hearty and flavorful vegetable beef stew recipe is made with stewing beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, and a thickened broth. It also includes condensed beef broth, which gives the stew more beef flavor than plain water or stock would.

Feel free to add some other vegetables, swap out vegetables, or increase the number of vegetables called for in the stew. Rutabaga would be a tasty addition, or add some frozen peas or green beans shortly before the stew is done. All you need is some crusty bread to complete the meal.

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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds stewing beef, or a chuck roast

  • 2 to 3 teaspoons vegetable oil

  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

  • 1 cup chopped onions

  • 1 (10.5-ounce) can of condensed beef broth, or concentrated rich beef stock

  • 3 cups diced potatoes

  • 2 cups diced carrots

  • 2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1/3 cup cold water

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Kosher salt, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Vegetable Beef Stew ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Cut the beef into small, bite-sized cubes.

    Beef cut into pieces

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large kettle; add the beef, seasoned salt, and chopped onions and mix to combine.

    Add the beef, salt, and chopped onions to a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Cook over medium heat, turning frequently, for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the meat is browned on all sides and the chopped onions are tender. Drain off excess fat if necessary.

    Beef mixture cooking in a pot

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Add the beef broth and some hot water to the pot until the liquid level is about 1 inch above the beef.

    Beef broth and water in a pot with the beef mixture

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and ​simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender.

    Beef stew cooking in a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Add the potatoes, carrots, and celery.

    Add the potatoes, carrots, and celery to the beef mixture

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Cover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes longer, until the vegetables are tender.

    Beef stew cooking in a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  9. To thicken the stew, combine the flour with the cold water in a measuring cup or small bowl; stir until smooth. Gently stir the flour mixture into the pot a little at a time, using as much as needed to make the stew as thick as you like.

    Add flour and water mixture to the stew

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  10. Add pepper and taste for seasonings, adding salt if necessary.

    Vegetable Beef Stew in a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  11. Serve and enjoy.

    Vegetable Beef Stew

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • Marbled, fatty meat is best as it will become more tender as it cooks.
  • Do not skip browning the meat first; it creates a nice coating on the beef and helps lock in the juices.

Recipe Variations

  • For a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meal, add a few tablespoons of barley about 45 minutes before the stew is done.
  • Add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dry red wine along with the beef broth for some extra flavor.

Can the stew be frozen?

If you are cooking the stew ahead and plan on freezing it for later use, add the potatoes toward the end so that when you reheat the stew, they don't become mushy. Be sure to let the stew cool completely before placing it in an airtight freezer container.

Convert to the Slow Cooker

If you'd like to cook this stew in a crock pot, brown the meat in a pot on the stovetop and then place it in the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and cook on low for eight hours or high for four hours.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
132 Calories
3g Fat
21g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 132
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 319mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 9mg 47%
Calcium 38mg 3%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 559mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)