What Is Stewing beef and How Can I Use It?

If stewing beef has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 184 recipes to try it in.

Key Points

Stewing beef is cubed tough beef, usually chuck, made for long, gentle simmering in liquid.
Brown the cubes in batches first; a crowded pan steams them grey and loses flavor.
Simmer gently at 180 to 200°F for 1½ to 3 hours until fork-tender, never at a boil.
Slow cooker runs 7 to 8 hours on low; a pressure cooker needs only 30 to 35 minutes.
Skip tender cuts like sirloin; they lack the collagen and turn dry and grainy.

What is stewing beef?

Stewing beef is just tougher beef cut into bite-size cubes for slow, wet cooking. Most of what sits in the supermarket "stew meat" pack is chuck from the shoulder, sometimes mixed with trimmings from round or brisket.

It is the cut you reach for when you want spoon-tender meat in a bowl of gravy, not a quick steak.

The whole point is collagen. These cubes come from hard-working muscle full of tough connective tissue, and only time in liquid breaks it down into silky gelatin. That same gelatin is why a good stew sets up almost gravy-thick when it cools.

Buy it pre-cubed for convenience, or cut your own from a chuck roast for better control over size.

How to Cook It

Brown the cubes first, and brown them properly. Pat the meat bone-dry and salt it, then sear in small batches in a hot pan with a little oil. Crowd the pan and the cubes steam grey instead of browning, and you lose the deep flavor that searing builds.

After browning, the stew is mostly patience. Add liquid, bring it up to a bubble, then drop the heat so the surface barely trembles. A hard boil toughens the meat and makes it stringy. You want a lazy simmer, around 180 to 200°F (82 to 93°C) in the liquid.

Give it time. Most beef stews need 1½ to 3 hours on the stove before the cubes go fork-tender. They are not "almost done" at the one-hour mark; they are at their toughest right then, before the collagen lets go.

A slow cooker handles this on low for 7 to 8 hours, as in Slow Cooker Beef Stew a la Lynn. A pressure cooker collapses the same job into about 30 to 35 minutes once it comes up to pressure, the trick behind Pressure Cooker Beef Stew.

Building Flavor and Avoiding Mistakes

Beef cubes love a savory backbone of onions and garlic with tomato, plus a long-simmering liquid such as stock, red wine, or dark beer. A spoonful of tomato paste cooked into the fond adds color and savory depth.

Root vegetables go in partway through rather than at the start, or they dissolve to mush by the time the meat is ready.

The most common failure is rushing. Pull the lid too early and the cubes are still chewy, which leads cooks to think the meat was "bad" when it just needed another hour. Trust the fork test over any timer.

Thin, watery stew is the second complaint. Brown more aggressively next time, reduce the liquid uncovered at the end, or mash a few of the softened vegetables into the broth to thicken it without flour.

For something beyond the classic bowl, the same braised cubes carry hearty dishes like Old-Fashioned Beef Stew and the chunky Garbanzo Bean Stew.

Substitutes

Any tough, well-marbled cut works. A whole chuck roast cubed at home is the gold standard and usually cheaper per pound. Boneless short rib makes an especially rich stew, while brisket point gives big beefy flavor but needs the full cooking time.

Leaner round cuts like bottom round can stand in, though with less marbling they trend dry, so keep them well covered in liquid.

Skip tender quick-cooking cuts entirely. A cubed sirloin or tenderloin turns dry and grainy in a long braise because it has no collagen to convert.

Buying and Storing

Look for cubes with visible white marbling and a few threads of connective tissue rather than lean, uniform red blocks.

Even sizing matters more than people expect. Mismatched cubes finish at different times, leaving some dry while others are still tough. Cutting your own to a consistent 1½-inch (4 cm) size fixes that.

Keep raw stewing beef in the coldest part of the refrigerator and cook it within 3 to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze the cubes spread in a single layer. Once solid, bag them and use within 3 to 4 months for best texture. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Finished stew keeps 3 to 4 days refrigerated and often tastes better on day two. It also freezes well for up to 3 months, though potatoes can go grainy, so leave them out if you plan to freeze.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 piece, cooked, excluding refuse (yield from 1 lb raw meat with refuse) (285g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 829Calories from Fat 505

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 56.2g 86%

Saturated Fat 22.1g 111%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 247mg 83%

Sodium 179mg 7%

Total Carbohydrate 0.0g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars ~

Protein 75.3g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 3% • Iron 42%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Food group: Stewing beef is a member of the Beef Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 炖牛肉
British (UK) term: Stewing beef
en français: boeuf à bouillir
en español: carne de vaca guisado

How much does stewing beef weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 piece, cooked, excluding refuse (yield from 1 lb raw meat with refuse)	285 grams
3 ounce	85 grams

Beef Products

Beef, short ribs 58 Beef, steak 94 Beef liver 36 Suet 51 Corned beef 76 Rump steak 5 Beef roast, rump 38 Beef, tenderloin 63 Beef, filet mignon 50 Stewing beef 184

Recipes using stewing beef

There are 184 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Beef & Peppers

A simple 2 serving beef chunks with green peppers. Simplistic ingredients deliver big satisfying flavor.

Alamo Chili

A simple but savory chili made with succulent stewing beef, pinto beans and jalapeno peppers.

Beef & Noodles in a Crockpot

Beef and noodles the easy way: stew beef and canned soups dumped in the slow cooker, cooked low until fork-tender, then ladled over hot egg noodles. Barely any prep, no browning.

Black Bean Beef & Pork Chili

Black bean chili built on two meats: cubed stewing beef and pork shoulder browned with onions, peppers and jalapeños, then simmered with tomatoes, cumin and a splash of red wine. Thick, smoky, deeply savory.

Crockpot Beef in Mushroom Gravy

Crockpot beef in mushroom gravy with a clever twist: a can of lemon-lime soda helps cook the stewing beef fork-tender and rounds out a cream-of-mushroom gravy. Mostly dump-and-go.

Hungarian Beef & Barley Stew (Instant Pot)

Hearty, rich, flavorful, and so easy to make. No Instant Pot. No worries, the stovetop method is included. And the bang for the buck on this barley beef stew recipe for inflationary times checks all the boxes.

Easy Crockpot Beef Stew with Root Vegetables & Peas

Easy Crockpot Beef Stew with Root Vegetables and Peas recipe

Beef Stew over Mashed Potatoes

A hearty beef stew served over mashed potatoes - a cold weather delight!

Mama Delilah's Beef Stroganoff

Creamy and tender stroganoff is one of my favorite comfort foods

Beef Stew, President Ronald Reagan's Favorite

Discover Ronald Reagan's favorite beef stew recipe: easy, hearty comfort food with tender beef, artichokes, and mushrooms in a rich wine broth. Perfect for beginners—stovetop, oven, or Instant Pot directions included for stress-free dinners like "easy homemade beef stew for families" or "classic presidential beef stew with vegetables."

Favorite Skillet Beef Stew

A stove-top beef stew recipe. Nothing beats a hearty, savory beef stew that warms you up a cold day and satisfies your hunger.

Beef Jardiniere

Beef Jardiniere is a comforting, one-pot dish featuring tender chunks of beef slow-cooked in a rich tomato-based sauce with sweet carrots and vibrant peas. This stove-top recipe is simple yet deeply satisfying, ideal for a cozy family meal served over egg noodles or rice.

Crock Pot Beef Bourguignon

This was outstanding. A huge amount of flavor was developed in the slow and low technique using my slow cooker. A classic mostly hands-free make ahead main dish that filled the house with aroma.

Pressure Cooker Beef Stew (Instant Pot)

Instant pot pressure cooker beef stew. Deliver rich "slow-cooker" flavor in just 30 minutes.

Beef Chili with Navy Beans

Beef chili with navy beans, one of our many easy chili recipes. Perfect for simmering on the stovetop or use your crock-pot for a slow-cooker chili recipe.

Mock Creole Turtle Soup

Rich Creole-style mock turtle soup with beef, tasso, and a dark roux, simmered until the meat melts into a spicy, tangy broth. Finish with hard-boiled eggs and a splash of sherry.

Beef with Spaghetti

Tender beef cubes braised in a from-scratch garlic tomato sauce with red wine, then spooned over spaghetti. Slow-cooked in a Dutch oven for 3 hours of deep, saucy flavor.

No Peeky Beef Casserole

Dump-and-go crockpot beef casserole with mushroom soup, onion soup mix, and red wine. Cook on low 8 to 12 hours without peeking. Serve over noodles or rice for effortless comfort.

Katzeng'schrei (Caterwauling)

A rustic German egg dish: leftover cooked beef fried with golden onions and lightly beaten eggs. Serve with cranberries and a crisp green salad for a fast, satisfying meal.

Herbed Beef Stew

Loaded herbed beef stew packed with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, corn, peas, green beans, and fresh tomatoes. Rosemary, oregano, basil, and marjoram build layers of savory warmth.

Naabil's Grecian Beef Stew

Greek-inspired beef stew slow-cooked with eggplant, chickpeas, cinnamon, and tomato wedges. Ten hours in the crockpot turns tough beef into spoon-tender, warmly spiced comfort.

Crock Beef Stew

Classic crockpot beef stew with potatoes, carrots, pearl onions, and celery. Flour-coated beef browns first, then slow cooks 8 to 10 hours until everything is melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Lazy Daze Beef

Two ingredients, zero effort, four hours in the oven. Stewing beef and cream of mushroom soup transform into fork-tender, gravy-rich comfort food. Just serve over egg noodles.

Venison Stew#3

Hearty venison stew with carrots, potatoes, and a warm blend of paprika and allspice. Brown the meat, simmer low and slow, and let the crockpot do the heavy lifting.

Venison Stew with Raspberries

Braised venison stew with red wine, raspberry preserves, green peppercorns, and cream. A refined, fruity twist on game meat that turns tough cuts into something elegant.

Provencal Beef Bacon Stew with Potato & Carrot

Provencal Beef Bacon Stew with Potato and Carrot recipe

Burrito Filling

Slow-simmered beef brisket with green chiles and garlic shreds into tender burrito filling perfect for meal prep, taco nights, or feeding a crowd on a budget.

Savory Beef Stew

Savory beef stew with parsnips, turnips, succotash, and red wine in a crushed tomato base. A hearty root vegetable stew with chuck beef simmered until tender.

Stefado of Beef & Garlic

Thirty cloves of garlic, white wine, cinnamon, and cumin transform beef stew into a Greek stifado that smells like a Mediterranean kitchen. Topped with crumbled feta and crunchy walnuts for the finish.

French Stew

French-style beef stew braised low and slow in Burgundy wine with cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, baby carrots, and green olives. Four hours in the oven, almost no prep.

Cabbage Soup #2

Hearty cabbage soup with stewing beef simmered into a rich broth, then loaded with tomatoes, green beans, carrots, and a whole head of chopped cabbage. A filling one-pot meal.

C.S.Beef Stew

Oven-baked beef stew with a creamy mushroom soup and onion soup mix gravy. Cornstarch-dredged beef sears at high heat, then slow-bakes with potatoes, carrots, and celery until fork-tender.

Beef Daube Provencal

In this classic French braised beek, red wine and vegetable stew is a simple and delicious dish. The flavour and texture allow you to keep it warm for your guests.

Beef Stewed in Cranberry Chutney

Beef stew braised in cranberry chutney with raisins, walnuts, honey, and warm spices. Stewing beef slow-simmered until the tart cranberries melt into a rich, fruity sauce.

Beef Stew, Pressure Cooked

Pressure cooker beef stew with potatoes, carrots, peas, and stewed tomatoes. Tender stewing beef in 10-12 minutes under pressure with a simple homemade spice blend.

Slow-Cooker Tamale Pie

Slow cooker tamale pie with a cornmeal crust lining the crock and a filling of sausage, stew beef, sundried tomatoes, green chile, corn, and olives. A set-it-and-forget-it Tex-Mex one-pot dinner.

Shoko

Shoko is a West African beef and spinach stew slow-simmered with tomatoes, onions, green pepper, ginger, and cayenne. Hearty, warming, and served over boiled rice after three hours of cooking.

Way of Life Stew

Easy 4-ingredient beef stew with stewing beef, onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, and sherry baked low and slow in a covered casserole. A dump-and-bake comfort classic.

Tayleea Cheecha-Savory & Sweet Stew

Sweet and savory beef stew simmered in apple cider with dried apricots, raisins, mushrooms, and a lemon slice. A North African-inspired one-pot meal served over rice or potatoes.

Beef Stew - Pressure Cooked

Pressure cooker beef stew with stewing beef, potatoes, peas, carrots, and stewed tomatoes, ready in about 30 minutes start to finish. The slow-Sunday classic in weeknight time.

Ranch Style Beef

Ranch-style slow cooker beef braises stewing beef and whole small onions in a brown gravy spiked with red wine vinegar, cloves, bay, and thyme. Set it and forget it for fork-tender results.

Dymamite Chili with Beans

Hearty chili with cubed pork and beef, pinto beans, jalapeno, and dry red wine. Slow-simmered in a Dutch oven with Mexican oregano, cumin, and chili powder.

Dutch Oven

Dutch oven beef stew with sausage and cheddar: stewing beef seared then layered with potatoes, carrots, celery, peppers, and sausage, all smothered in melted cheddar. One pot, cabin-style hearty.

Venison Stew #3

Venison stew simmers browned venison with onion, bay, Worcestershire, and a hint of allspice until fork-tender, then adds carrots and potatoes. A hearty, warmly spiced stew that tames the gamey edge and warms a cold night.

Super Easy Crockpot Stew

Five-ingredient crockpot beef stew with stewing beef, onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, mushrooms, and red wine. Dump-and-go, no browning required, serve over rice.

Homemade Beef Potpie with Potatoes

Homemade beef pot pie, Pennsylvania Dutch style: no baked crust, just handmade dough squares and cubed potatoes simmered with tender stewing beef in its own rich broth. Old-fashioned and hearty.

Beef Bourguignonne 2

Classic beef bourguignonne braised in Burgundy wine with mushrooms, onions, thyme, and marjoram. Stewing beef simmers low for 2 hours until fork-tender in a rich wine sauce.

Carne Guzado

Carne guisada, a Tex-Mex beef stew braised with cumin, chili powder, serrano peppers, and tomato paste. Fork-tender stew meat in a thick, spiced gravy.

Daube De Boeufs Aux Champignons Et a L'Orange

Daube De Boeufs Aux Champignons Et a L'Orange recipe

Farm Style Stew

Slow cooker beef stew loaded with zucchini and sweet corn in a savory steak sauce broth. Fork-tender meat meets a glossy cornstarch-thickened sauce in this set-it-and-forget-it dinner.

All 184 recipes