The Best Hearty Red Wine Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes

This isn’t just beef stew. It’s the beef stew recipe you’ll make for decades.

Hearty Red Wine Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes is the definition of a comforting, one-pot meal. Tender chunks of beef are slow-cooked in a rich, velvety sauce infused with red wine, paprika, and herbs, alongside sweet carrots and hearty potatoes. It’s the kind of dish that fills your kitchen with an incredible aroma and leaves everyone at the table completely satisfied. Perfect for a cosy night in or a weekend gathering.

Hearty beef stew with tender chunks of beef, carrots and potatoes in rich gravy, served in white bowls on a rustic white timber table with crusty bread and simple props in natural light.

Every family needs a go-to stew recipe, and this is ours. It’s the one I make when the weather turns, when someone needs a pick-me-up, or when I just want the house to smell incredible for hours. It’s evolved from my early cooking days – where I learned the importance of browning the beef properly – to now, where it’s my most requested dish for casual dinner parties. There’s something about the combination of red wine, paprika, and slow-cooked beef that feels both special and deeply familiar. It’s the recipe my friends ask for, and the one I know will always deliver.

Why You’ll Love This Stew

This recipe earns its place as a forever favourite for a few very good reasons:

Deep, Complex Flavour: The combination of red wine, paprika, tomato paste, and herbs creates a rich, velvety sauce with layers of savoury depth.
Foolproof Tenderness: Slow-cooking chuck steak transforms it into melt-in-your-mouth bites that are impossible to overcook.
A Complete Meal in One Pot: With beef, carrots, and potatoes all cooking together, it’s the ultimate easy, hearty dinner with minimal cleanup.
The Aroma is Half the Experience: As it bubbles away in the oven, it fills your home with the most inviting, cozy smell imaginable.
Even Better as Leftovers: The flavours deepen overnight, making it a brilliant make-ahead meal for busy weeks.

How To Make The Red Wine Beef Stew

The process is simple and rewards patience. You’ll start by browning flour-dusted beef in batches to build a deep, savoury foundation. In the same pot, cook bacon, onions, and carrots until they soften and sweeten. A generous pour of red wine deglazes the pan, lifting all the tasty browned bits. Everything goes back into the pot with beef stock and herbs, then into a low oven to slow-cook for a few hours until the beef is fork-tender. Add baby potatoes in the last hour, and let the whole thing rest before serving – the sauce will thicken into pure comfort.

Hearty beef stew with chunks of beef, carrots and potatoes in rich gravy, served in white bowls on a rustic white timber table with crusty bread and herbs in natural light.

My Tips for Stew Success

Here are the key tips from the post to make sure your stew turns out perfectly:

The Right Beef: Use chuck steak (from the shoulder) or gravy beef. It’s designed for slow cooking, becoming tender and full of flavour.
Brown it Well: Take time to brown the beef properly on all sides. This builds the deep flavour for the whole dish.
Don’t Fear the Anchovies: They melt down and add a fantastic umami depth. No one will know they’re there! If you really can’t, use a dash of Worcestershire sauce instead.
Choose Your Wine: A cabernet sauvignon or merlot will add the best complexity and richness to the sauce.
A Touch of Sugar: A little sugar helps balance and round out all the flavours. You can omit it, but it makes a difference.
Potatoes Last: Add the baby potatoes in the last hour of cooking so they stay intact and don’t become mushy.

What to Serve With Your Red Wine Beef Stew

This stew is a hearty meal on its own, but serving it with plenty of fresh, crusty bread or sourdough is non-negotiable for mopping up all those fabulous juices. For a simple, classic dinner, add a side of steamed green beans. If you’re feeding a crowd around the campfire or want to make it extra special, you could also offer a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes or buttery noodles on the side. It’s the perfect comfort food for a cozy family dinner or a chilly evening with friends.

Storage & Freezing

Fridge: Allow the casserole to cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator and use within 4 days.

Freezer: This stew freezes well. Cool completely, then transfer to airtight containers. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Note: Potatoes can become slightly softer after freezing due to their high water content, but are still fine to eat.

Reheating: Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat gently in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave at 50% power until piping hot.

Hearty beef stew with chunks of beef, carrots and baby potatoes in a rich dark gravy, garnished with chives and green beans, served in a white bowl on a rustic white timber table with pieces of crusty bread on the side.

FAQ’s

What cut of beef is best?

Chuck steak is ideal. It comes from the shoulder, has great marbling and collagen, and becomes incredibly tender and flavourful when slow-cooked. Gravy beef (shin) or brisket also work well.

Can I omit the anchovies?

Yes. They add a great umami depth and melt away, but you can leave them out. A dash of Worcestershire sauce is a good substitute.

What kind of red wine should I use?

A cabernet sauvignon or merlot will give you the best, richest flavour.

Do I have to add the sugar?

The small amount of sugar helps balance and round out the overall flavour, but you can omit it if you prefer.

This truly is comfort food at its very best – a firm family favourite that’s perfect for a cozy night in or a gathering around the campfire. I hope this Hearty Red Wine Beef Stew becomes a cherished recipe in your home for years to come. Give it a try this weekend and let me know how it goes in the comments!

red wine beef stew

More Recipes You May Enjoy:

Hearty Red Wine Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes

This Hearty Red Wine Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes is the ultimate one-pot comfort food. Tender chuck steak is slow-cooked in a rich, velvety sauce of red wine, paprika, and herbs with sweet carrots and hearty potatoes. It’s a foolproof, satisfying meal that makes the whole house smell amazing.

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Prep Time:30

Cook Time:2 30

Total Time:3

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: French, Western

Keyword: beef stew recipe, hearty beef casserole, one pot beef dinner, red wine beef stew, Slow cooked beef

Servings: 4

Author: Kate Brodhurst

Equipment

Large Dutch oven or flame-proof casserole dish

Ingredients

1.2kg beef chuck steak, cut into 3cm cubes
¼ cup plain flour
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon each salt and pepper
¼ cup olive oil, divided
3 rashers bacon, roughly diced
6 eschalots, peeled
1 leek, white part only, halved and sliced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
2-3 anchovy fillets in oil, roughly chopped
3 large carrots, cut into chunks
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons tomato paste
500ml (2 cups) red wine
1L (4 cups) beef stock
2 bay leaves
4-5 sprigs oregano or thyme
2 teaspoons caster sugar
500g baby chat potatoes (left whole if small or halved if on the larger side)

TO SERVE

Fresh crunchy bread or sourdough
Steamed green beans
Chopped fresh herbs
Cracked black pepper

Instructions

brown the beef

Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Toss beef cubes in seasoned flour/paprika. Brown well in batches in a Dutch oven with oil. Set aside.

cook aromatics

In the same pot, cook diced bacon until crisp. Add eschalots (or onion), garlic, anchovies (if using), leek, and carrots. Cook for 5-7 mins until softening.

build the sauce

Stir in tomato paste and the reserved seasoned flour. Cook for 1 minute. Pour in balsamic vinegar, red wine, and beef stock, scraping up any browned bits. Return beef and any juices to the pot. Add bay leaves, herbs, and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil.

slow cook

Cover and transfer to the oven. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes.

add potatoes

Remove pot, add whole baby potatoes, and return to oven uncovered for 1 final hour, or until beef and potatoes are tender.

rest & serve

Remove pot, add whole baby potatoes, and return to oven uncovered for 1 final hour, or until beef and potatoes are tender.

Notes

COOKS NOTES:
Oven Temps: Oven temperatures are for conventional, if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C.
Measurements: We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon = 5 ml, 1 tablespoon = 20 ml & 1 cup = 250 ml.
Herbs: All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed.
Vegetables: All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified.
Eggs: We use extra-large size and eggs are 55-60 g each, unless specified.
Beef:
Chuck steak is perfect for slow cooking. Gravy beef or brisket are also good choices.
Anchovies:
They melt in and add incredible umami depth.(YOU WILL NOT TASTE THEM – I PROMISE) If omitting, a dash of Worcestershire sauce is a good substitute.
Wine:
Use a dry red like cabernet sauvignon or merlot for the best flavour.
Make Ahead & Freeze:
This stew tastes even better the next day. Cool completely and store in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Eschalots:
I love the sweet & pungent flavour of eschalots and their size is perfect for leaving whole (most of the time – if you get large ones, just slice them in half). .