Quick Dinner Ideas You'll Love: Gourmet Beef Stew

As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter (I'm sorry 5pm is too early for sunset!!), it’s officially time to bring out the quick dinner, comfort foods—and there’s nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of hearty beef stew. This recipe is a favorite in our house, especially with my husband, who starts requesting it the moment the weather turns cool.

This isn’t your typical beef stew. I’ve added a couple ingredients that will sound odd but I swear they make a world of difference: a touch of Dijon mustard and a Parmesan rind. These additions bring a rich, layered flavor to the broth without making the recipe complicated. I also use butter, which gives the stew a silky texture and lets the flavors of the beef and vegetables shine through.

With tender chunks of beef, red potatoes, and carrots this stew is everything you want in a fall dinner. The Dijon mustard adds a hint of sharpness, perfectly balanced by the savory depth of the Parmesan rind simmering in the broth. When you remove the rind before serving, you’re left with a broth that’s rich, full-bodied, and absolutely satisfying.

Quick Dinner Tips

• Like all my recipes on Birdie’s Musings, this stew is designed for flavor and simplicity. After browning the beef and prepping the ingredients, it all comes together in one pot. Just let it simmer away while you go about your evening, and soon enough, you’ll have a warm, hearty meal ready to serve.

• You can also throw all the ingredients in a CrockPot and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 4 hours. Skip browning the meat for an even quicker meal!

• Instant Pot? I have made this many times in mine! Use the sauté setting to brown the meat and sauté the carrots, onions, garlic, then throw everything in and set to manual for 60 mins.

How to Serve

Serve this beef stew with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and a side of crusty bread to soak up every last drop. It’s the perfect cozy meal to enjoy on a chilly night, whether you’re sharing it with family or making it ahead for easy dinners throughout the week.

Give this gourmet twist on beef stew a try and let me know—do you have a favorite ingredient that you like to add to make it your own?

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Quick Dinner Ideas You'll Love: Gourmet Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 3 TBSP Butter

• 1 large onion, diced

• 4-5 medium carrots, sliced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1.5 tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1.5 tbsp tomato paste

• 4 cups beef broth (preferably low-sodium)

• 2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce

• 1 Parmesan rind

• 3 cups red potatoes, quartered

• Herb Bouquet (4 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 spring rosemary, 3 sage leaves)

• Celery leaves, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 250°f.

2. Brown the Beef: Season the beef with salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, add the butter until melted over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches, searing until browned on all sides. Remove the beef and set aside.

3. Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add the onion, carrots and garlic, sautéing until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.

4. Add Dijon and Tomato Paste: Stir in the Dijon mustard and tomato paste, cooking for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavors.

5. Deglaze: (I used broth but you can add red wine for depth, if you want - you do you!) Pour in 1 cup of broth/red wine to deglaze, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom. Let it simmer for about 2-3 minutes until slightly reduced.

6. Combine Everything: Return the beef to the pot. Add the remaining beef broth, Parmesan rind, red potatoes, thyme, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.

7. Simmer and Cook: Bring to a simmer, for 20 minutes. Cover and put in pre-heated oven for 1 hour, 15 minutes or until the beef is tender.

8. Final Touches: Remove the Parmesan rind and herb bouquet. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.

9. Serve: Ladle into bowls, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve warm with crusty bread.