Savory French Onion Beef Stew – Deeply Rich, Cozy, and Slow-Simmered
A rich, slow-simmered stew that combines tender beef, deeply caramelized onions, and a savory red wine broth — optionally topped with melty gruyère toast for a French twist.
Ingredients
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2 lbs beef chuck, cut into cubes
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4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
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3 garlic cloves, minced
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1/4 cup all-purpose flour
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1 cup dry red wine
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4 cups beef broth
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2 tbsp olive oil
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1 tbsp butter
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2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
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2 bay leaves
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2–3 sprigs fresh thyme
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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Optional: Baguette slices + grated Gruyère for topping
Instructions
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Caramelize onions in butter and olive oil over medium heat (35–45 minutes). Add garlic near the end.
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Toss beef with flour, salt, and pepper. Sear in batches until browned.
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Add wine to deglaze, then stir in beef broth, Worcestershire, bay leaves, and thyme.
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Simmer covered for 2–2.5 hours until beef is tender.
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Optional: Toast bread with cheese under broiler.
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Remove bay leaves and thyme. Adjust seasoning. Serve hot with or without toast.
Notes
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Reheats and freezes well.
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Add mushrooms or carrots for variation.
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For slow cooker: Cook on LOW 8 hrs after browning.