Creamy Beef Stew
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Creamy Beef Stew is a hearty Southern comfort food recipe made with tender beef, sweet onions, fresh carrots, and redskin potatoes simmered in a rich, homemade cream gravy. It's an easy one-pot meal that's perfect for Sunday suppers!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Don't you just love comfort food that can be prepared and served in one, big pot? My Momma was the best one-pot cooker in all the world. Her avocado-green dutch oven could turn any meal into a masterpiece.
Most old fashioned stew recipes include some type of tomato base. Momma made a southern version by adding a dash of cream, or half and half. Her creamy beef stew recipe is rich, rib-sticking, and absolutely delicious!
Ingredients You'll Need
To make this creamy beef stew recipe, you'll need the following ingredients. For quantities, see the printable recipe card below.
- lean stew beef
- onion
- beef broth
- garlic powder
- black pepper and salt to taste
- carrots
- potatoes
- cornstarch and cream to make a hearty gravy
How to Make Creamy Beef Stew
1 - Start by roughly chopping one onion. Toss it into a dutch oven or stock pot with a pat of butter. Sauté on low heat until onions become transparent.
2 - Add one pound of lean stew meat and sear over medium heat until all sides are nicely browned. Add a carton of beef broth, garlic powder, and a dash of pepper.
3 - Close the lid on the dutch oven and lower heat to simmer. Cook for at least 2 hours until meat is fork-tender, stirring occasionally.
4 - Roughly chop a few carrots and redskin potatoes and throw them into the pot. Add a cup of water or more beef stock and stir well.
5 - Increase heat to medium, cover, then cook for 30 minutes until veggies are tender. Make a slurry of 2 Tbsp. cornstarch and 2 Tbsp. water in a separate bowl. Pour into pot and stir while cooking over medium heat until gravy thickens.
6 - Take the stew off the heat and add cream or half and half. Stir well and add salt and pepper to taste. Allow to rest for a few minutes before serving in large bowls!
Recipe FAQ
The beef will be more tender if it's cooked in broth for 2 hours before adding vegetables. If you overcrowd the beef before it has a chance to cook, it will cause it to be tough.
Yes, if you're cutting back on calories or don't want to add dairy, you can serve this beef stew without adding cream. Or, use half and half instead of heavy cream if desired.
This is an old fashioned recipe, but if you want to spice it up a little, feel free to add dried oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary or paprika to the mix!
Serving Suggestions
I like to make a cake of Southern Cornbread and a serving of Creamy Coleslaw to go with a big bowl of hearty beef stew. The aroma and flavors of this meal takes me back to Momma's kitchen, which feels like home to me.
Helpful Tips
- Make sure to cook the stew meat for at least 2 hours without adding vegetables to the pot.
- Taste the stew before you add extra salt since the beef broth adds plenty of sodium.
- Remember to take the stew off the heat before adding the cream or it may curdle.
More One Pot Meals
Love meals that are made in just one pot? Well, you've come to the right place!
- Broccoli Cheese Chowder (with video)
- Dutch Oven Potato Soup
- Bacon Black Bean Soup
- Creamy Corn Chowder
- Dutch Oven Corned Beef (with video)
Thanks for visiting Quiche My Grits! ❤️ I love making recipes for you! Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!
Recipe Card
Creamy Beef Stew
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 1 pound lean beef stew meat
- 32 ounce carton beef broth
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 4 whole carrots (roughly chopped)
- 4 large redskin potatoes (roughly chopped)
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch and 2 Tbsp. water
- ½ cup heavy cream (or half & half)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Saute' onion with butter in a large dutch oven or stock pot until transparent.1 onion, 1 Tbsp. butter
- Add beef stew meat, stir frequently to and sear on all sides.1 pound lean beef stew meat
- Add beef broth, garlic powder and pepper.32 ounce carton beef broth, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- Stir well and cover pot with lid. Cook on low heat (simmer) for 2 hours until beef is fork-tender, stirring occasionally.
- Roughly chop carrots and potatoes and add to pot. Add 1 cup of water. Increase heat to medium and cook for at least 30 minutes until veggies are tender.4 whole carrots, 4 large redskin potatoes, 1 cup water
- Make a slurry of 2 Tbsp. cornstarch and 2 Tbsp. water. Pour into pot and stir while cooking over medium heat until gravy thickens.2 Tbsp. cornstarch and 2 Tbsp. water
- Take stew off of heat and add cream, stirring well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into big bowls and serve with a cake of cornbread.½ cup heavy cream, salt and pepper to taste
Notes
- Serve Hearty Beef Stew piping hot in large bowls with a slice of southern cornbread!
- Make sure to cook the stew meat for at least 2 hours without adding vegetables to the pot.
- Remember to take the stew off the heat before adding the cream or it may curdle.
- Taste the stew before you add extra salt since the beef broth adds plenty of sodium.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
I love to research recipes
I truly have to send Ms debi I LOVE your online recipe blog
the format is soooo exciting because of the recipe cards
what an amazing concept
please keep that format
oh by the way my gourmet friend loves your blog too
Thank you Brenda! What a kind thing to say!💜
This is delicious!! Made as written with no changes.
Thank you so much Cathy!
How well does this stew freeze?
Since this stew has cream in it, I don't recommend freezing it because the cream breaks down during the freezing process. If you don't mind the possibility of it becoming curdled, then you could give it a try. But for the most part, dairy ingredients don't freeze well.
Just made this today, and it is a KEEPER, the only thing I changed was I cooked the stew meat in my smaller crockpot with the beef broth after searing it with the onions then transferred to my cooking pot & finished it on the stove top. I also added chopped celery along with the potatoes and carrots. I will so look forward to this on my rotation schedule. It is a winner and comes together so easily. Thank you for this recipe.
I am so excited I found this recipe as I cannot have anything with tomatoes in it, allergic to nightshades. I have been wanting a beef stew, now I have a recipe. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much Carol Ann! I'm so glad you found a recipe that works for you!
Stews and hearty soups are what I love about fall! This will be amazing!
This is so hearty and good!
It's one of my favorite 'mom' recipes!
My mom makes beef stew like this with cream in it. I haven't seen any recipes like this, so I am excited to find one.
I'm so glad you found my recipe, Kara. Enjoy!