Ina Garten’s Hearty Ultimate Beef Stew Recipe: Cozy Perfection

Beef stew brings warmth and comfort to cold evenings, transforming simple ingredients into a soul-satisfying meal.

Robust and hearty, this classic dish speaks to our deep craving for nourishing, slow-cooked meals that remind us of home.

Rich meat becomes tender through patient simmering, developing complex layers of flavor that meld together perfectly.

Fragrant herbs and vegetables contribute depth and character to this timeless culinary tradition.

Culinary magic happens when tough cuts of meat surrender their intensity through gentle, prolonged cooking.

Each spoonful promises a sensory journey of textures and tastes that connect us to generations of home cooking.

The ultimate beef stew offers more than just sustenance; it delivers an emotional experience that feels like a warm embrace: dive in and savor every bite.

Why Ina Garten’s Ultimate Beef Stew Is So Comforting

• Slow-Roasted Flavor Explosion: Braising the short ribs in the oven creates incredibly deep, rich flavors that melt in your mouth, transforming ordinary beef into a luxurious dining experience.
• Texture Symphony: The combination of tender short ribs, soft potatoes, sweet carrots, and crispy pancetta delivers a perfect balance of textures that keeps every bite interesting and satisfying.
• Comfort Food Masterpiece: This stew represents the ultimate cold-weather comfort dish, packed with hearty ingredients and warmth that wraps you in a culinary hug, making it ideal for family gatherings and cozy weekend meals.

Everything Needed for Ultimate Beef Stew Flavor

• Short Ribs: Rich, flavorful cut perfect for slow braising with deep, intense beef taste.
• Pancetta: Italian cured pork that adds salty, smoky flavor and crispy texture to the stew.

• Onions, Fennel: Classic aromatic base that provides sweet and subtle licorice-like depth.
• Garlic: Adds robust, pungent flavor that complements the rich meat.
• Carrots, Potatoes: Hearty root vegetables that become tender and absorb the stew's delicious broth.
• Frozen Peas: Bright green vegetable that adds fresh color and sweet pop to the finished dish.

• Beef Broth: Foundational liquid that creates rich, savory base for the stew.
• Red Wine: Adds complex depth and helps tenderize the meat during braising.
• Cognac: Provides subtle warmth and sophisticated flavor enhancement.
• Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Paste: Adds acidic brightness and helps thicken the stew.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and highlight the dish's flavors.
• Olive Oil: Used for browning meat and sautéing vegetables, adds subtle richness.

How to Stew It Just Like Ina Does

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Warm up your oven to 300°F (150°C), creating the perfect cozy environment for slow cooking.

Step 2: Crisp the Pancetta

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook pancetta until golden and crispy, about 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, setting aside for later.

Step 3: Season and Sear the Meat

• Salt
• Black pepper

Brown the meat in batches, turning every few minutes to create a rich, caramelized exterior. This process takes about 5-7 minutes per batch. Set aside each batch in a separate bowl.

Step 4: Deglaze with Flavor

• Cognac
• Red wine

Scrape up all the delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let the mixture simmer for 1 minute, releasing incredible depth of flavor.

Step 5: Sauté the Aromatics

Add onions and fennel to the pot. Cook for 7-8 minutes until softened and fragrant. Toss in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Step 6: Create the Stew Base

• Diced tomatoes
• Tomato paste
• Remaining red wine
• Beef broth
• Browned short ribs
• Salt
• Black pepper

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, blending all the rich flavors together.

Step 7: Slow Braise in the Oven

Cover the pot and slide it into the preheated oven. Let it cook for 1¼ hours, checking occasionally to maintain a gentle simmer.

Step 8: Add Hearty Vegetables

• Carrots
• Potatoes

Cover and return to the oven for another hour until the meat becomes meltingly tender and vegetables are perfectly cooked.

Step 9: Final Touch and Serve

• Frozen peas
• Reserved crispy pancetta

Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Tips for Tender Meat and Bold Stew Flavor

• Master Meat Browning: Create deep, rich flavor by searing beef in small batches without overcrowding the pan, allowing each piece to develop a beautiful golden-brown crust.
• Unlock Hidden Flavor: Deglaze the pot with Cognac and wine, scraping up those delicious caramelized bits stuck to the bottom, which transform an ordinary stew into an extraordinary meal.
• Choose Beef Wisely: Select short ribs for their incredible tenderness and rich marbling, avoiding lean cuts that can become dry and tough during slow cooking.
• Veggie Timing Matters: Add carrots and potatoes midway through cooking to maintain their perfect texture – crisp, tender, and bursting with flavor.
• Season with Confidence: Continuously taste and adjust seasonings throughout cooking, ensuring a perfectly balanced and delicious beef stew that will impress everyone at the table.

How to Store Beef Stew for Later

• Freeze Smartly: Portion the beef stew into individual serving containers before freezing. Label each container with the date and contents to track freshness. This method prevents repeated thawing and maintains optimal flavor and texture for up to 3 months.
• Refrigerate Strategically: Store the cooled stew in glass or ceramic containers with tight-fitting lids. Keep the stew at the back of the refrigerator where temperature remains most consistent. Consume within 3-4 days for best quality and food safety.
• Reheat Carefully: Transfer frozen stew to the refrigerator 24 hours before reheating. Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to distribute heat evenly. Add a splash of broth or water if the stew seems dry to restore moisture and prevent scorching.

Ways to Switch Up This Classic Stew

• Rustic Mountain Beef Casserole: Replace short ribs with chuck roast and add wild mushrooms for an earthy woodland flavor. Include rosemary sprigs for extra herbal notes that complement the rich meat.
• Mediterranean Lamb Stew: Swap beef for tender lamb shoulder and incorporate kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh oregano. Use red wine from Greece to enhance the regional authenticity.
• Spicy Southwestern Beef Pot: Substitute red wine with dark Mexican beer, add chipotle peppers, and include fire-roasted green chiles. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with warm cornbread for a zesty southwestern experience.
• Winter Root Vegetable Stew: Include additional root vegetables like parsnips, turnips, and rutabaga alongside the carrots and potatoes. Use white wine instead of red and add fresh thyme for a lighter, winter-inspired version of the classic beef stew.

Final Scoop on the Ultimate Beef Stew

Culinary masterpieces often emerge from patient craftsmanship, and Ina Garten’s beef stew exemplifies this delicious truth.

Layers of rich flavors blend seamlessly through methodical techniques that elevate humble ingredients into extraordinary dining experiences.

Sophisticated palates will appreciate complex notes of red wine, tender short ribs, and aromatic fennel dancing across taste buds.

Short ribs slowly braised create meltingly delicate meat that whispers comfort with each tender bite.

Mediterranean influences shine through carefully selected ingredients, transforming simple fare into gourmet artistry.

When plated, this stew becomes more than mere sustenance – it represents connection, warmth, and shared moments around family tables.

Culinary adventurers, ravenous readers: dive deep into this recipe, savor each spoonful, share your kitchen triumphs, and spread deliciousness across social channels with passionate enthusiasm!

Ina Garten Ultimate Beef Stew Recipe

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4.6 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s ultimate beef stew brings hearty comfort from classic French countryside cooking. Rich beef chunks slowly simmer with red wine, aromatic herbs, and tender vegetables, creating a soul-warming meal perfect for cold winter nights.

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Ingredients

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Meat:

• 3 pounds / 1.36kg boneless short ribs, cut in 1½-inch chunks (4½ pounds / 2.04kg on the bone)
• 4 ounces / 115g small-diced pancetta

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 2 cups / 300g chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
• 2 cups / 300g chopped fennel, trimmed and cored (1 large bulb)
• 2 tablespoons / 6 cloves minced garlic
• 1 pound / 450g carrots, scrubbed and cut ½-inch thick diagonally
• 1 pound / 450g Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed, 1-inch diced
• 10 ounces / 280g frozen peas
• 1 can (14.5-ounce / 411g) diced tomatoes, including the juices
• 2 tablespoons / 30g tomato paste

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 3 tablespoons / 45ml good olive oil
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt / 10g
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper / 5g
• ¼ cup / 60ml Cognac or brandy
• 1 cup / 240ml hearty red wine (e.g., Côtes du Rhône or Chianti), divided
• 2 cups / 480ml beef broth

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to a moderate temperature of 150°C / 300°F, preparing for a slow, even cooking process.
2. In a spacious Dutch oven (28-30 centimeters / 11-12 inches), gently render the pancetta in oil over medium heat until it transforms into crispy, golden morsels. Transfer the crisped bits to a paper towel-lined plate, preserving their crunch for later.
3. Season the short ribs generously with salt and pepper. Methodically sear the meat in batches, allowing each piece to develop a rich, caramelized exterior. This process takes approximately 5-7 minutes per batch, creating a deep flavor foundation.
4. Deglaze the pot with Cognac and a portion of red wine, carefully scraping the intensely flavored browned bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven. Let the liquid simmer briefly to concentrate the flavors.
5. Introduce chopped onions and fennel to the pot, sautéing until they become translucent and tender. Add minced garlic for a final minute of aromatic infusion.
6. Create the stew’s base by incorporating diced tomatoes, tomato paste, remaining red wine, and beef broth. Nestle the browned short ribs back into the liquid, ensuring they are well-coated with the robust sauce.
7. Cover the Dutch oven and transfer to the preheated oven. Allow the stew to braise slowly, developing deep, complex flavors for approximately 1¼ hours.
8. After the initial braising, carefully add chunks of carrots and potatoes. Return the pot to the oven for an additional hour, letting the vegetables become meltingly tender and absorb the rich cooking liquid.
9. In the final moments of cooking, gently fold in frozen peas and the reserved crispy pancetta. Taste and make final seasoning adjustments to ensure a perfectly balanced dish.

Notes

• Brown meat strategically to lock in rich, deep flavors that transform your entire stew’s taste profile.
• Choose short ribs with marbling for ultimate tenderness, ensuring each bite melts in your mouth with incredible richness.
• Deglaze the pan meticulously, scraping every caramelized morsel to build layers of complex, savory depth.
• Introduce vegetables midway through cooking to preserve their texture and prevent turning into mushy disappointments.
• Season gradually, tasting and adjusting throughout the process to create a perfectly balanced, mouthwatering dish.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Braising
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1 ½ cups)
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 980mg
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 35g
• Cholesterol: 90mg