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Poor Mans Beef Stew: Easy 30-Minute Hearty Dinner

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A quick, hearty, and budget-friendly beef stew with root vegetables that is ready in under 30 minutes of active prep. This comforting dish features tender beef, sweet carrots, and potatoes in a rich, savory broth.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs Beef Chuck Roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3–4 Carrots, peeled and chopped into rounds
  • 2 Potatoes (Yukon Gold or Russet), diced
  • 1 Yellow Onion, diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 2 cups Beef Broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp Fresh or dried Thyme
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 tbsp All-purpose Flour (optional, for thickening)
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Pat beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Sear beef in batches until browned on all sides (about 3-4 minutes per batch). Remove beef and set aside.
  3. In the same pot, sauté diced onion until soft (about 3 minutes). Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. If using flour, sprinkle it over the veggies and stir to coat.
  5. Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  6. Return beef to the pot. Add thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  7. Stir in carrots and potatoes. If liquid doesn’t cover veggies, add a splash more broth or water. Cover and simmer for another 10-15 minutes until veggies are tender.
  8. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. For thicker stew, mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 tsp water and stir in; simmer uncovered for 2 minutes.
  9. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when searing beef to ensure proper browning. Deglaze the pot with broth to capture flavor. Root veggies should be fork-tender. Stew tastes better the next day and can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef stew, poor mans beef stew, easy dinner, comfort food, root vegetables, quick meals, weeknight dinner, hearty stew

Find it online: https://clunkcook.com/poor-mans-beef-stew-easy-30-minute-hearty-dinner/