Joanna Gaines Beef Stew Recipe

There’s something magical about a pot of hearty beef stew simmering on the stove, filling your home with irresistible aromas. This Joanna Gaines beef stew recipe captures that Magnolia Table charm-tender beef chunks, earthy vegetables, and rich, savory broth that warms you from the inside out.

Inspired by Joanna’s farmhouse cooking style, this copycat Joanna Gaines beef stew recipe brings restaurant-quality comfort food straight to your dinner table.

Whether you’re feeding hungry family members on a chilly autumn evening or meal-prepping for the week ahead, this easy autumn beef stew dinner recipe delivers every single time.

What is Joanna Gaines Beef Stew and How Does It Taste?

This Joanna Gaines Magnolia Table beef stew is a rustic, one-pot wonder that showcases simple ingredients transformed into something extraordinary. The Joanna Gaines style hearty beef stew features melt-in-your-mouth beef tri-tip simmered low and slow in a deeply flavored broth enriched with red wine, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.

Each spoonful delivers tender beef chunks, creamy baby potatoes, sweet peas, golden mushrooms, and aromatic vegetables in a silky, umami-packed gravy.

The taste is rich yet balanced-slightly sweet from caramelized vegetables, earthy from mushrooms, with subtle smokiness from paprika and a sophisticated depth from the wine reduction. It’s pure comfort food beef stew that tastes like it took all day but comes together with straightforward techniques.

Ingredients and Kitchen Utensils

Ingredients

The beef and browning:

• 2 pounds beef tri-tip (or beef roast/chuck), cut into large 1½-inch chunks
• Salt (generous amount for seasoning, plus about 1½ tablespoons for the pot)
• Oil (for browning and sautéing)
• ½ cup water (for deglazing)

The mirepoix and garlic:

• 3 medium carrots, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 medium celery sticks, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

For the mushrooms:

• 10 mushrooms (about 8–10 oz), thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt (for seasoning)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

For the broth and seasoning:

• 1 cup red wine (or substitute with extra beef broth)
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2–3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ tablespoon sugar
• 2½ teaspoons Italian herbs
• Cracked black pepper (generous amount)
• 4 cups beef broth

Later additions:

• 2 cups baby potatoes (whole or halved)
• 1 cup frozen sweet peas

To finish:

• Freshly chopped parsley

Kitchen Utensils

1. Large frying pan or skillet
2. Large heavy-bottomed pot with lid (Dutch oven works perfectly)
3. Sharp knife and cutting board
4. Wooden spoon or spatula
5. Measuring cups and spoons
6. Ladle for serving

Preparation and Cooking Time

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Servings: 6-8 hearty portions

Copycat Joanna Gaines Beef Stew Recipe

Step 1: Prep the Beef

Cut the 2 pounds of beef into large 1½-inch chunks for this one pot beef stew recipe with tender beef chunks. Preheat a large frying pan over medium-high heat and add a little oil. Once the pan is very hot, add the beef chunks and season generously with salt. Brown the meat for 7–10 minutes, turning to sear it well on all sides until nicely caramelized. This crucial step locks in flavor and creates the foundation for your best beef stew recipe for cold nights.

Step 2: Transfer and Deglaze

Transfer the browned beef to a large pot. Add about ½ cup water to the hot frying pan and scrape up all the browned bits (fond) from the bottom-this is pure flavor gold! Pour this flavorful liquid into the pot with the beef.

Step 3: Sauté the Mirepoix

Add a little more oil to the same pan. Add the diced carrots, diced onion, and diced celery (the classic mirepoix base). Sauté for 4–6 minutes until the onions soften, become translucent, and the vegetables start to caramelize lightly. Add the 4 minced garlic cloves, stir, and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant. Transfer everything to the large pot with the beef.

Step 4: Cook the Mushrooms

In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons butter and let it melt. Add the thinly sliced mushrooms and brown them for 4–5 minutes until golden. Season with a little salt. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons flour, toss to coat the mushrooms, and cook for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste. This technique helps thicken your slow simmer beef stew recipe with red wine beautifully. Transfer the mushrooms to the pot.

Step 5: Add Liquids and Seasonings

To the large pot (now with beef, mirepoix, and mushrooms), add the red wine, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, sugar, Italian herbs, about 1½ tablespoons salt, generous cracked black pepper, and 4 cups beef broth. Stir everything well to combine all these layers of flavor.

Step 6: Simmer the Stew

Cover the pot with a lid. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat. Simmer gently for 1 to 1½ hours for this classic beef stew like Joanna Gaines. The longer it simmers, the more tender the beef becomes. Stir occasionally and check tenderness-this is where the magic happens in your ultimate beef stew recipe.

Step 7: Add Potatoes and Peas

After the initial simmer (when the beef is tender), add 2 cups baby potatoes and 1 cup frozen sweet peas to create that signature comfort food beef stew recipe with peas and carrots look. Stir, cover, and continue simmering for another 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.

Step 8: Finish and Serve

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed (more salt/pepper). Garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve hot-let it cool slightly as it’s piping hot! This healthy homemade beef stew dinner is ready to enjoy.

Customization and Pairing Ideas for Serving

1. Bread Bowl Presentation

Serve your Joanna Gaines style hearty beef stew in hollowed-out sourdough bread bowls for an impressive presentation that guests can eat. The crusty bread soaks up the rich gravy, making every bite satisfying. This works wonderfully for dinner parties or special family friendly beef stew recipe occasions.

2. Root Vegetable Variations

Customize this easy beef stew recipe by adding parsnips, turnips, or sweet potatoes alongside the regular potatoes. These additions bring natural sweetness and create a more complex flavor profile while boosting the nutritional value of your healthy homemade beef stew dinner.

3. Herb-Loaded Version

Elevate your best homemade beef stew by adding fresh thyme sprigs, rosemary, and bay leaves during the simmering process. Remove them before serving. Fresh herbs add aromatic complexity that makes this copycat Joanna Gaines beef stew recipe taste even more restaurant-quality.

4. Wine Pairing Perfection

Since this is a slow simmer beef stew recipe with red wine, pair it with the same variety you cooked with-a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot complements the rich beef flavors beautifully. For non-alcoholic options, serve with sparkling apple cider or rich grape juice.

5. Grain-Based Companions

While delicious on its own as a one pot beef stew recipe, serve it over creamy mashed potatoes, buttery egg noodles, or fluffy white rice to stretch servings. Polenta or cheesy grits also make excellent Southern-inspired bases that soak up the savory gravy.

6. Garden Salad Balance

Balance the richness of this comfort food beef stew with a crisp, refreshing side salad. Try arugula with lemon vinaigrette, classic Caesar salad, or a simple mixed green salad with balsamic dressing to cut through the hearty flavors.

7. Seasonal Garnish Options

Beyond parsley, top your Joanna Gaines Magnolia Table beef stew with crispy fried onions, grated Parmesan cheese, a dollop of sour cream, or fresh chives. Each garnish adds texture and flavor dimensions that make this easy autumn beef stew dinner recipe uniquely yours.

Essential Tips for Perfect Beef Stew

1. Choose the Right Cut

For the best beef stew recipe for cold nights, select well-marbled beef chuck, tri-tip, or beef roast. These cuts contain connective tissue that breaks down during long simmering, creating fork-tender chunks. Avoid lean cuts like sirloin-they’ll become tough and dry in this slow simmer beef stew recipe with red wine.

2. Don’t Skip the Searing

Browning the beef properly is non-negotiable for authentic Joanna Gaines beef stew flavor. Make sure your pan is screaming hot before adding meat, and don’t overcrowd-work in batches if necessary. Those caramelized bits create the deep, complex flavors that define the ultimate beef stew recipe.

3. Deglaze for Maximum Flavor

When you deglaze the pan with water (or wine), you’re capturing all those browned bits stuck to the bottom. This technique, essential in the copycat Joanna Gaines beef stew recipe, adds tremendous depth to your broth and shouldn’t be skipped.

4. Low and Slow Wins the Race

Resist the urge to rush your one pot beef stew recipe with tender beef chunks. Gentle simmering on low heat allows collagen to break down gradually, transforming tough meat into melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. High heat will toughen the beef and produce inferior results.

5. Season in Layers

Build flavor complexity in this family friendly beef stew recipe by seasoning at multiple stages-salt the beef before searing, season the vegetables while sautéing, and adjust final seasoning at the end. This technique creates balanced, well-rounded taste throughout.

6. Flour the Mushrooms

Coating mushrooms with flour before adding liquid is a clever thickening trick in this best homemade beef stew. The flour dissolves into the broth, creating natural body without clumpy roux. This keeps the gravy silky and restaurant-quality.

7. Add Vegetables Strategically

Following the classic beef stew like Joanna Gaines method, add hardy root vegetables later in cooking to prevent mushiness. Potatoes and peas go in during the final 20 minutes, ensuring they’re perfectly tender but not falling apart. This timing creates the ideal texture contrast in your healthy homemade beef stew dinner.

Storage and Reheating Guidance

Store leftover Joanna Gaines beef stew in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth if needed. For freezing, cool completely and freeze for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.