Description
This Amish Beef Stew recipe is a hearty and comforting dish that brings classic home-style flavor to your dinner table. Slow-cooked chunks of tender beef, rustic vegetables, and savory broth combine to create a rich and nourishing stew perfect for chilly evenings. This traditional Amish recipe is simple, wholesome, and filled with old-fashioned goodness, making it an instant family favorite.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Stew
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 onions, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For Thickening
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cold water
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add beef stew meat in batches, searing until browned on all sides. Transfer browned beef to a plate and set aside.
- Saute the Aromatics: In the same pot, add onions, celery, and carrots. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften. Add garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: Return browned beef to the pot. Stir in potatoes, canned tomatoes (with juice), tomato paste, thyme, parsley, and bay leaves. Pour in the beef broth and season generously with salt and pepper. Stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer the Stew: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2-2.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef and vegetables are tender and flavors have melded.
- Thicken the Stew: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and cold water to form a slurry. Remove the bay leaves from the stew. Stir the flour slurry into the stew and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring, until the stew thickens.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Ladle into bowls and serve hot, ideally with crusty bread on the side.
Notes
- For the most tender beef, allow the stew to simmer slowly for a full 2.5 hours.
- Feel free to add other root vegetables, such as parsnips or turnips, for extra flavor.
- This stew tastes even better the next day—reheat gently to enjoy leftovers.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute cornstarch for flour in the thickening step.
- Pair with Amish white bread for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
