This delicious beef stew by Alton Brown is a hearty, comforting meal that’s perfect for cozy dinners. It’s an easy, slow-cooked dish with tender, melt-in-your-mouth short ribs and flavorful veggies. You can whip it up with simple, everyday ingredients, and it features a rich, savory broth that makes every bite irresistible. Ideal for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays!
Recipe Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried herbs, any combination of thyme, oregano, and rosemary
- 3 pounds English-cut short ribs
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 pound red potatoes, unpeeled and sliced
- Pinch freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
How To Make Good Eats Beef Stew?
- Make the Marinade: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and dried herbs until well combined. Set aside.
- Season and Sear the Beef: Season the short ribs with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Heat a large griddle over medium-high heat. When a drop of water bounces off, sear the meat until browned on all sides. Transfer the meat to the bowl with the marinade and toss to coat.
- Prepare for Slow Cooking: Wrap the marinated short ribs tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the package in a metal pan and put it into a cold oven on the middle rack. Set the oven to 120°C / 250°F and cook for 4 hours.
- Collect and Chill the Liquid: Carefully drain the liquid from the foil pack into a heatproof container. Refrigerate until the fat separates, about 1 hour. Then transfer the container to the freezer until the fat cap solidifies, approximately 1 hour.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the liquid is cooling, cut the meat away from the bone, discarding any connective tissue. Allow the meat to sit at room temperature.
- Cook the Onions and Potatoes: In a large saucier, heat 1 tablespoon of the reserved fat over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir to separate the onion rings and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the sliced potatoes, a pinch of black pepper, and the reserved liquid. Cover and reduce the heat to low, cooking until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 30 minutes.
- Combine and Finish: Add the prepared meat to the pot, cover, and cook for an additional 10 minutes until heated through.
- Serve: Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot. Enjoy this comforting beef stew with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes!

Recipe Tips:
- Sear the Meat Well: Make sure to brown the short ribs on all sides. This step adds deep, rich flavor to the stew and creates a tasty base for the broth.
- Seal the Foil Tightly: When wrapping the short ribs in foil, ensure there are no gaps. This helps lock in moisture, making the meat tender and juicy.
- Use Heavy-Duty Foil: Regular foil might tear during cooking. Heavy-duty foil is stronger and prevents leaks, keeping all the flavors inside.
- Let the Liquid Chill Fully: When separating the fat from the cooking liquid, allow enough time for it to cool completely. A solid fat cap makes it easy to remove excess fat and keeps the stew from being too greasy.
- Cook Potatoes on Low Heat: When cooking the potatoes, keep the heat low and the lid on tight. This ensures they become soft and absorb all the delicious flavors of the stew.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: First, let the leftover beef stew cool to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Allow the beef stew to cool completely before placing it in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Place the beef stew in a microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely with a microwave-safe lid, and heat on medium power in 1-2 minute intervals, stirring in between until thoroughly heated.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 401
- Total Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 79mg
- Sodium: 436mg
- Potassium: 748mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 25g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugars: 3g
- Protein: 27g
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Alton Brown Good Eats Beef Stew
Description
This delicious beef stew by Alton Brown is a hearty, comforting meal that’s perfect for cozy dinners. It’s an easy, slow-cooked dish with tender, melt-in-your-mouth short ribs and flavorful veggies. You can whip it up with simple, everyday ingredients, and it features a rich, savory broth that makes every bite irresistible. Ideal for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make the Marinade: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and dried herbs until well combined. Set aside.
- Season and Sear the Beef: Season the short ribs with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Heat a large griddle over medium-high heat. When a drop of water bounces off, sear the meat until browned on all sides. Transfer the meat to the bowl with the marinade and toss to coat.
- Prepare for Slow Cooking: Wrap the marinated short ribs tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the package in a metal pan and put it into a cold oven on the middle rack. Set the oven to 120°C / 250°F and cook for 4 hours
- Collect and Chill the Liquid: Carefully drain the liquid from the foil pack into a heatproof container. Refrigerate until the fat separates, about 1 hour. Then transfer the container to the freezer until the fat cap solidifies, approximately 1 hour.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the liquid is cooling, cut the meat away from the bone, discarding any connective tissue. Allow the meat to sit at room temperature.
- Cook the Onions and Potatoes: In a large saucier, heat 1 tablespoon of the reserved fat over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir to separate the onion rings and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the sliced potatoes, a pinch of black pepper, and the reserved liquid. Cover and reduce the heat to low, cooking until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 30 minutes.
- Combine and Finish: Add the prepared meat to the pot, cover, and cook for an additional 10 minutes until heated through.
- Serve: Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot. Enjoy this comforting beef stew with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes!
Notes
- Sear the Meat Well: Make sure to brown the short ribs on all sides. This step adds deep, rich flavor to the stew and creates a tasty base for the broth.
- Seal the Foil Tightly: When wrapping the short ribs in foil, ensure there are no gaps. This helps lock in moisture, making the meat tender and juicy.
- Use Heavy-Duty Foil: Regular foil might tear during cooking. Heavy-duty foil is stronger and prevents leaks, keeping all the flavors inside.
- Let the Liquid Chill Fully: When separating the fat from the cooking liquid, allow enough time for it to cool completely. A solid fat cap makes it easy to remove excess fat and keeps the stew from being too greasy.
- Cook Potatoes on Low Heat: When cooking the potatoes, keep the heat low and the lid on tight. This ensures they become soft and absorb all the delicious flavors of the stew.