Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (2024)

There's just something about good soup recipes that can lift your spirit and comfort your soul, and these are our highest-rated soup recipes ever. Our best soup recipes are filled with good-for-you veggies, fresh fish, hearty beef, and more. Load them up with ingredients you have on hand, or try out some of our favorite creative soups with delicious ingredients like red miso or smoky Cajun-seasoning. And don't stress if you're short on time—we have plenty of quick soup recipes that will help you get dinner on the table fast.

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Baked Potato Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (1)

As one of our go-to orders when dining out, we love that we can whip up this creamy potato soup at home whenever the craving strikes. Plus, we can make it as "loaded" as we want with our favorite toppings, such as more cheese, bacon, sour cream, and/or green onion.

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Tuscan Tortellini Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (2)

Simmer the broth and veggies low and slow, then add the tortellini, kale, and a splash of cream before serving. This Italian-inspired soup tastes way more complicated than it is to prepare. The best news: You can enjoy a big bowl of this hearty soup for less than 300 calories.

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Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (3)

It's hard to beat a classic. And our chicken noodle soup recipe is as classic as can be. Put leftover chicken (or turkey) to delicious use as a shortcut ingredient in this home cooked soup recipe that you'll make again and again. Or follow our directions for cooking the chicken to create the most flavorful broth.

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Egg Drop Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (4)

This healthy version of a take-out classic uses low-sodium chicken (or vegetable) broth as its base. Just two eggs provide the perfect amount of texture and protein for this easy egg drop soup recipe, which comes together in just 25 minutes. Fried wonton strips are optional.

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Minestrone

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (5)

This tasty minestrone is a warm dinner for a chilly winter night. It has garbanzo beans, fresh spinach, bell peppers, and rigatoni pasta. Swap the garbanzo beans out with browned Italian sausage or shredded chicken for a heartier option.

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Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (6)

This healthy gumbo recipe may not have any shrimp or andouille sausage, but it does have a ton of flavor. Silky black beans and tender okra bulk up this nourishing stew while it simmers with Cajun-spiced peppers and fire-roasted tomatoes. Add the ingredients to a slow cooker for a fuss-free meal, and serve it alongside a steaming scoop of brown rice.

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Spring Lamb and Fava Bean Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (7)

Low in fat yet full of flavor, this Mediterranean soup stands out from the slow cooker competition with unique ingredient additions like lamb, fava beans, barley, and piles of fresh herbs. We offer instructions for making your own beef broth, but store-bought would also work well here.

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Tuscan Bean Soup

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Not all quick soup recipes are as satisfying as this bowl. Baby carrots, onions, beans, and baby spinach add heartiness to a soup that takes just 20 minutes to make. Freeze a batch of this bean soup to enjoy all season long.

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Chicken Tortilla Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (9)

The crisp bite of tortillas atop spicy chicken soup has made this one of our favorite soup recipes. It also doesn't hurt that there are only five ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time involved in this chicken tortilla soup. Top the bowls with a bit of shredded cheese or some authentic grated queso cotija.

Fast Pho

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (10)

You'll be blown away by how complex this Vietnamese soup tastes after just 30 minutes of total prep and cook time. The keys to our fast pho recipe? Starting with cooked chicken, pork, or shrimp and loading the broth with flavor-boosters like ginger, star anise, and fresh herbs.

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Easy Taco Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (11)

All the flavors of your favorite taco recipes are found in this one-pot soup. Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker, set the timer for six hours, and sit back as this taco soup takes form. Top with shredded cheese or a dollop of crema Mexicana. Taco night has never been so simple.

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Mediterranean Kale and Cannellini Stew with Farro

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (12)

This whole-grain veggie soup eats like a meal, even without any meat. A can of beans and a cup of farro crank up the satisfaction factor so you can add this to your list of favorite hearty soup recipes.

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Miso Soup with Pork and Edamame

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (13)

Red miso is the secret powerhouse behind this 30-minute miso soup recipe. Fresh ginger and garlic add a bold boost of flavor to the complex broth while tenderizing the pork to perfection. The result is a healthy, chunky soup with bursts of umami that will brighten even the dreariest day.

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Sausage and White Bean Stew with Kale

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This sausage-bean stew is a meal prepper's dream. It tastes incredible after just 45 minutes of cooking time. Still, it gets even better reheated after spending up to two days in the refrigerator. Mix up a big batch of this easy stew recipe on Sunday to enjoy for dinner early in the week.

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Chunky Vegetable-Lentil Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (15)

This light and satisfying lentil soup has a mix of hearty winter vegetables, such as mushrooms, carrots, celery, and napa cabbage. Dry green lentils add texture and protein to the veggie-based broth. Unlike some broth-based dishes, this healthy soup recipe is low in sodium.

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Butternut Squash Soup with Ravioli

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (16)

This quick soup recipe is almost too gorgeous to eat. This pretty dish is fast and easy to make—it requires only six ingredients and is ready and on the table in 30 minutes.

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Tomato-Tortellini Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (17)

There are only four ingredients in this creamy soup recipe, and this entire meal can be on the table in less than 15 minutes from opening the first can. Simply bring the broth to a boil, add the tortellini, and lower the heat to a simmer while whisking in the cream cheese and canned tomato soup.

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Pork and Black Bean Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (18)

Who needs a spoon when you can scoop up soup with tortilla chips instead? That's our preferred way to eat this pork and bean slow cooker soup. Let this hearty soup recipe transport you south of the border via salsa, cumin, and cilantro.

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Broccoli-Cheese Soup

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When it comes to broccoli soup recipes, broccoli cheese soup is always the winner. The simple combination of broccoli and smooth, melty American cheese creates an irresistible and easy soup recipe. Bread bowls are optional but add a fun touch to a cozy meal.

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Curry Pumpkin Soup

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Using canned pumpkin makes this soup quick to prepare. Pumpkin pie spice and a hint of curry give the dish bright seasonal flavor. You can make this healthy soup recipe even more delicious with an orange-cranberry topper. Start sprinkling!

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Beefy French Onion Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (21)

Make French onion soup into a meal by adding slices of sirloin steak, plenty of meaty mushrooms, and a handful of egg noodles. A tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and (optional) dry white wine bring out the cooked onions and tender beef flavors. This caramelized onion soup is still topped with a cheesy toast for a traditional touch.

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Spicy Chicken-Corn Chowder

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (22)

This yummy soup recipe might take an hour to prepare, but it's well worth the wait. Bacon, chicken, potatoes, peppers, and onion combine in this creamy chowder recipe. Add a dash of cayenne pepper or leave a few seeds in your chopped jalapeño for an extra kick.

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Pumpkin, Barley, and Sage Soup

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Pumpkin soup recipes make some of our favorite autumn dinners. Especially this filling version made with canned pumpkin. Simmer andouille sausage in a broth flavored with pumpkin, maple syrup, and apple cider for a quick, flavorful dinner.

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Green Chile Pork Stew

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Soup or stew recipes can warm even the coldest of cold nights. This hearty stew, featuring pork tenderloin, yellow carrots, spinach, and white beans, makes a warming dinner no matter the temp.

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French Chicken Stew

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This twist on a traditional French stew comes together in a slow cooker with less than 30 minutes of prep time. Save time by using canned tomatoes and jarred tomato pasta sauce, but don't skimp on the fresh green beans, mushrooms, carrots, and onions. The vegetables add an essential layer to this aromatic and easy chicken stew recipe.

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Pork and Sweet Potato Stew

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (26)

Our favorite easy stew recipes come together quickly but taste like they've been simmering all day. Nutmeg, sage, and apple-cranberry juice flavor this hearty, good-for-you stew recipe. Serve it on a chilly night to warm you up.

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Chicken-Butternut Squash Soup

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Golden butternut squash roasted with onions and curry powder transports your taste buds to the wild side of chili. It gives an upgrade to ordinary chicken soup recipes. Chickpeas, dried apricots, and nutmeg-spiced walnuts add texture. Just before serving, stir in chunks of tender rotisserie chicken.

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Sweet Potato and Hominy Stew

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Inspired by the traditional Mexican soup posole, this zesty meal is an easy stew recipe to make during the week. Refrigerated shredded barbecue pork cuts down on prep time, so it's ready in less than an hour.

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Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup

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Wondering what to do with the season's fresh butternut squash? First, peel and dice it, then add it to this squash-and-carrot pureed soup. Then add toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) to this quick soup recipe as a crunchy finish.

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Skillet Beef Stew

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If comfort food is what you're craving, you can't go wrong with beef stew. Chase the chill away with this down-home favorite—beef and vegetables served over simple-to-make mashed potatoes.

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Thai-Inspired Butternut Squash Soup with Gremolata

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (31)

Slow cooker soup recipes are our favorites for chilly days. We combine coconut milk, fish sauce, fresh butternut squash, onions, brown sugar, and Asian chili sauce for this recipe and let the flavors develop over time. A Thai-inspired topping of fresh basil, peanuts, and lime peel adds crunch to this creamy butternut squash soup.

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Cabbage Roll Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (32)

Inspired by Hungarian cabbage rolls, this beef, rice, and vegetable soup is a meal in a bowl. A dash of allspice seasons the entire pot of cabbage soup with the classic flavors of fall. Set your slow cooker to low in the morning, add the ingredients, and look forward to coming home to a cozy meal come suppertime.

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Sage Chicken Dumpling Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (33)

Turned into a thick chicken soup recipe with olives and mushrooms, this fall favorite is a bit more modern than Grandma's dumpling recipe. Sage adds a modern touch to this updated version of classic chicken and dumplings. Our savory stove-top biscuits keep it classic.

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Matzo Ball Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (34)

Matzo balls are the ultimate soup dumplings, and our recipe takes them to the next level. Sweet caramelized onions stir right into the matzo mix for flavorful dumplings everyone will love. A bit of club soda makes the texture light—a nice contrast to the savory, rib-sticking shredded chicken pieces in this matzo ball soup recipe.

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Classic Oyster Stew

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The ideal oyster stew has a slightly thick broth and complex flavors from plump, tender oysters and simple seasonings. This easy stew recipe also offers a fast prep—it's done in just 25 minutes.

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Curried Butternut Squash Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (36)

Winter soups and stews are all about toasty warm bowls and celebrating in-season squash, and this recipe is no different. Curry powder, ginger, and fresh cilantro make this creamy squash soup delicious and flavorful.

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Seafood Stew

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Shrimp and whitefish add the seafood, while potatoes and cream add the comfort. Simply toss everything into a Dutch oven in phases—depending on how long the ingredient needs to cook—and your one-pot dinner will be ready before you know it.

Buy It: Lodge Dutch Oven ($70, Target)

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Split Pea Soup

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Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (38)

The name doesn't do this split pea soup justice. Our version of this simple soup is loaded with toothsome carrots, satisfying chunks of ham, chopped celery and onions, and tons of dried spices. This soup freezes well, so we'd recommend making a double batch to enjoy some now and freeze some for later.

Our 38 Top-Rated Recipes for Stews and Soups to Warm Your Belly (2024)

FAQs

What gives beef stew the best flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

What makes a good stew? ›

Onions, carrots and celery (mirepoix vegetables) are classic for a reason, but don't be afraid to stray and get creative. Try using roasted garlic instead of regular garlic, or caramelize your onions before moving on to the next step. You can also add an incredible depth of flavor by adding dried mushrooms to the mix.

What pairs well with beef stew? ›

22 Sides To Serve With Beef Stew
  • 01 of 22. Cloverleaf Rolls. ...
  • 02 of 22. Apple-Cranberry Salad. ...
  • 03 of 22. Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • 04 of 22. Southern Skillet Cornbread. ...
  • 05 of 22. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 06 of 22. Caesar Salad with Garlicky Croutons. ...
  • 07 of 22. Garlic Bread. ...
  • 08 of 22. Tennessee Onions.
Feb 19, 2024

What foods are good for stew? ›

Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, beans, onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc., and frequently with meat, especially tougher meats suitable for moist, slow cooking, such as beef chuck or round. Poultry, pork, lamb or mutton, sausages, and seafood are also used.

What to add to stew to make it taste better? ›

If so here are some tips for making your stews tasty and have your family begging you for more!
  1. Choose your ingredients wisely. ...
  2. Start off with a good flavour base. ...
  3. Add vegetables. ...
  4. Add flavourings to taste. ...
  5. Add Herbs and/or Spices. ...
  6. Spices: (Optional) ...
  7. Add stock or wine/beer. ...
  8. Add thickeners.

How do you deepen the flavor of stew? ›

Add the wine and tomato paste to the onions and other aromatics in a pan before slow cooking. Plus, this helps to really deglaze any fond that's left. This ingredient is one that your mum and nan would probably use in their stews. It adds a bit of tang, sweetness and savoury spices that give an extra punch of flavour.

What is the best meat to use for stews? ›

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

When should you add potatoes to a stew? ›

Cut the potatoes into bite-sized chunks and add to the already cooking stew about 30 minutes before you stop cooking and plate the stew for serving (If the potatoes cook too long, they'll just get mushy or even fall apart and add nothing but a thickening starch to the sew.

Is stew better in crockpot or stove? ›

Slow Cooker vs.

While high heat may cook the potatoes and meat quickly, only low, slow cooking can create the tender morsels of meat and flavorful broth that we seek. The stove (hob) will create a thicker broth/gravy for the stew because more liquid will escape during cooking in the form of steam.

What stock is best for stew? ›

Chicken broth.

If you have homemade beef stock, use it! However, most commercially produced beef broths taste rather fake; chicken broths are much richer and complex. Bay leaves and thyme – Aromatics for more flavor! Carrots, potatoes and peas are the staple of a traditional stew.

What potatoes are best with stew? ›

Russets are often the suggested potato for stew because their starch can help thicken the broth, but they also break down too easily, whereas Yukons have some thickening power of their own while still retaining a hearty, solid bite.

Should you stir a stew? ›

Generally, when stewing food, you should stir as you add new ingredients, but that's about it.

What are two dishes that are traditionally stewed? ›

There is of course basic classic beef stew plus a French spin like Beef Bourguinon, Belgiums famous stew-Carbonnade Flamande, and Irish stew and Italian stew. There are local classics stews like pollo guisado, menudo, calderita and kedjenou.

What veggies are good in a stew? ›

Let's hear it for the vegetables that are like the last hurrah in this hearty crowd-pleasing dish. Although I added carrots, little red potatoes, rutabaga and cremini mushrooms, you have plenty of options. Parsnip, turnip, pearl onions, squash and fennel will also work.

What are five food that can be stewed? ›

  • Fast chicken tagine.
  • Chicken, bacon and mushroom stew.
  • Pumpkin & lentil stew (vegetarian)
  • Beef and pear tagine.
  • Irish stew.
  • Chickpea and chorizo stew.
  • Lamb tagine.
  • Chorizo and bean stew.

How to flavor bland beef stew? ›

Rosemary

It can be added at the beginning of cooking, but it's often added near the end of cooking — anywhere from one to two hours before completion — because of its strong taste. Fresh is best and you can leave the sprig of rosemary intact when you throw it in your pot of beef stew, but don't eat the stem.

What can I add to tasteless beef stew? ›

The best way to enhance the flavor of a finished bland beef stew is by adding beef bouillon or bouillon cubes. Not only will it give it more beefy flavor it will also add salt that most dishes are missing. You can also experiment with adding worstcheire sauce or a splash of balsamic vinegar.

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

What are the best spices for beef? ›

Spices Inc., an organization devoted to promoting the use and sale of spices, has a broad list of its favorite flavorings for beef: basil, bay, black pepper, cayenne, cumin, curry powder, dry mustard powder, garlic, onion, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

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