Paula Deen Beef Stew Recipe

Nothing can beat a homemade stew, which is so comforting and indulgent. It can turn any bad day into a good one. So, I present to you the queen of all stews: Paula Deen Beef Stew, which is hands down the best.

A perfect beef stew is a piece of art, and I say so because it is more than “stirring in the pot.” To bring out the flavors and achieve the right consistency, you need to be precise with your culinary skills.

Even though I am not the best when it comes to making stews, this Southern Paula Deen Beef Stew is so simple to make that I had to give it a try, and the rest is history. Thanks to her, it has now become one of my favorite recipes of all time.

Keeping the taste aside, I love making this stew. It can be made in a pan, slow cooker, or pressure cooker, giving you the flexibility to choose your favorite cooking medium.

Trust me, you would not want to miss out on the tender beef and flavorful sauce, which make for impressive main courses or side dishes.

What's In The Post

Equipment Required

Pan: I like to use a large pan to make this recipe.
Spatula: I used a wooden spatula while making this recipe.
Bowl: It’s easier to assemble all the ingredients in the bowl and then continue cooking.
Knife: I use a sharp knife to chop off all the veggies.

Paula Deen Beef Stew Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: The ingredients in this recipe can serve up to ten people. You can increase or decrease the quantities as required.

2 Lbs Stew Beef: I prefer using chuck beef for this recipe, but you can also use gravy or brisket beef for this recipe.
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil: You can also use olive or canola oil.
2 Cups Water: Chicken broth can also be used to make the stew more flavorful.
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce: A good replacement for it would be soy sauce combined with a little vinegar or lemon juice.
1 Clove Peeled Garlic
1 Or 2 Bay Leaves
1 Medium Sliced Onion
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Sugar
½ Teaspoon Pepper
½ Teaspoon Paprika: In case I can’t find this around the corner I go with a good old chili or cayenne pepper powder.
1 Dash Or Ground Cloves Allspice: Nutmeg or cinnamon can also be used.
3 Large Sliced Carrots
4 Quartered Red Potatoes
3 Ribs Chopped Celery
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Total Hours
15 Minutes	2 Hours	2 Hours 15 Minutes

How To Make Paula Deen Beef Stew At Home

Step 1

Heat oil in the saucepan and cook beef in it.

Step 2

Cook until brown for ten minutes on both sides and water to the pan.

Step 3

Add garlic and onions to the pan.

Step 4

Follow it up with Worcestershire sauce, garlic clove, bay leaves, and allspice powder.

Step 5

Let it boil, and add pepper, salt, and paprika next.

Step 6

While the stew is boiling, add the nicely diced potatoes, celery, and carrots to the pan. Cover and cook for one and a half hours.

Step 7

Time to add in sugar to balance the flavors of the stew.

Step 8

After this, add cornstarch and water to a bowl and make a nice slurry without lumps. Then, add this to the pan.

Step 9

Once done, serve it hot to enjoy the aromatic and visual flavors of this iconic Paula Deen Beef Stew.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

Since this recipe involves beef, I like to cook it properly to avoid any rawness in the dish. I brown the beef well until I do not see any pink areas on the meat.
Deglazing is a must for me when cooking non-vegetarian items, and the same goes for beef stew. After sautéing the items, I like to add some water and scrape off the bottom portion of the stew because this portion is filled with flavors.
This recipe calls for too many ingredients, so I always do a taste test in between and make changes as necessary. Always taste and adjust before taking in the big leap.
I avoid adding my cornstarch directly to the stew at all costs since this can cause the stew to separate, which is quite unappetizing. Instead, I take a different bowl and mix the cornstarch with water to create a nice slurry, which I then add to the stew.
When reheating this Paula Deen southern beef stew, I always like to do it at low heat since high heat can disrupt the taste and break down the texture of the stew, making it quite unappealing.

FAQs About Paula Deen Beef Stew

How to thicken Paula Deen beef stew?

To thicken Paula Deen’s beef stew, you can add a slurry of cornstarch mixed with water. Mix it well to avoid lumps, and stir it slowly. Let it simmer and boil down to the desired thick consistency, and enjoy your beef stew.

How do I know if the beef in my Paula Deen beef stew is tender?

To determine if the beef is tender, use your fork and make a cut in between. If it is, it will break apart nicely.

Why is my Paula Deen beef stew so dry?

Paula Deen’s southern beef stew can be dry due to overcooking. When you overcook the stew, the meat loses its elasticity and becomes tough and dry. Overcooking also leads to overboiling the gravy, which eventually drains off the broth, leaving it dry with no liquid.

Can I make my Paula Deen beef stew in a pressure cooker?

Yes, you can very easily make Paula Deen’s southern beef stew in a pressure cooker. This is one of the best ways to cook Paula Deen’s Southern beef stew since the cooker fastens the cooking process, and you can enjoy your Paula Deen Southern beef stew quickly.

Why is my Paula Deen beef stew so greasy?

Paula Deen beef stew can become greasy if you do not trim the fat off the beef. Trim it down beforehand, as after cooking, this can make the stew greasy and heavy. Cut the grain and trim the fat to have a delectable stew that is cooked nicely and tender.

What should I do if my stew is too salty?

If your soup has turned out to be extremely salty, add a little bit of water or lime to tone down the saltiness. You can also add a little bit of vinegar or no-salt broth to reduce the salty flavors while keeping the flavors of the beef stew intact.

Can I add other vegetables or proteins to this stew?

Yes, you can follow the same recipe and add vegetables like carrots, chard, onion, lettuce, or spinach to the pan. You can add meat, mutton or even turkey to this stew to add more protein.

How can I make my stew spicier or milder?

If you want to turn up the heat of your beef stew, try adding some smoked paprika and chili powder to the pan. On the other hand, if you want to make this milder, you can add a little bit of cream to cut down the spiciness.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Although Paula Deen Beef Stew is packed with nutrients, it is not healthy to have daily because it is high in calories and sodium. This can lead to many heart-borne diseases and risks and cause other ailments as well.

To give you a full idea, here is a nutritional table on paula deen southern beef stew.

Calories	609 kcal
Total Fat	34.7 g
Saturated Fat	9.4 g
Cholesterol	30 mg
Sodium	4415 mg
Total Carbohydrate	67.4 g
Dietary Fiber	9.7 g
Total Sugars	17.2 g
Protein	11 g
Calcium	165 mg
Iron	8 mg
Potassium	722 mg

One of the bonuses about this recipe is that it is naturally diary free and keto. Hence people following these diets can enjoy this.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Gluten-Free: This dish could have been naturally gluten-free if you used gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. I like to double-check the ingredients to ensure that the Worcestershire I use is gluten-free.
Low-Sodium: For a low-sodium Beef Stew, I use low-sodium beef broth, skip added salt, and rely on fresh herbs and spices like thyme, rosemary, garlic, and black pepper to enhance the flavor. You can also make your own broth to control the salt content and avoid pre-packaged seasoning mixes that are high in sodium.

Storing And Reheating This Recipe

Storing

Refrigerate: I like to prepare my Paula Deen Beef Stew in large quantities so that I can enjoy the leftovers later. Therefore, I add the leftovers to an airtight container and place them in the fridge for about three days.
Freeze: When I plan to store this for even longer, I place it in an airtight, freezer-friendly bag and freeze it for about 3 months. This freezes quite well, and the texture remains unaffected during this time period.

Reheating

Microwave: Reheating this stew in the microwave is the most ideal method. To do this, I like to place it in a microwave-friendly dish and reheat it at low heat for 2-3 minutes. The duration of the heat depends on the quantity of the leftovers, so it is very important to stir it at regular intervals to prevent it from overheating, which can make it dry.
Oven: To reheat this in the oven, I like to preheat my oven to 350 degrees F. Then, I place the leftovers in a dish, put them in the oven, and bake them for about 30-45 minutes. You can also add a little bit of water to ensure that the Paula Deen southern beef stew does not get burned.
Stovetop: Stovetop is one of the ideal ways I prefer to preheat Paula Deen’s southern beef stew. To do this, I like to add the leftovers and stir them well until they are nice and hot and warm. I also add a dash of water to prevent it from getting extremely dry.

What To Serve With This Recipe

The richness of Paula Deen’s Beef Stew can be complemented with a bowl of warm Rice. If rice is not your thing, you can also enjoy this with Mashed Potatoes on the side. The creaminess of the stew and the chunkiness of the mashed potatoes are quite epic.

If you have some extra time on hand, I would also recommend you try this out with Roasted Veggies to enjoy the crunch and hearty stew together.

Printable Version

More Paula Deen Recipes That You Can Try

Paula Deen Chicken Salad Recipe — Paula Deen Chicken Salad

Lasagna In White Plate — Paula Deen Chicken Salad

Conclusion

The ultimate comfort food is here. Chunks of beef with onions and carrots glazed with Worcestershire sauce add depth and dimension to your stew. This scrumptious Paula Deen Southern Beef Stew has the perfect flavor and lovely color right from the start.

It’s time to give your ordinary stews a break and try out this Paula Deen Beef Stew, which is a soul-satisfying dish for elders and children, too. I am sure this recipe intrigued you, so why not give it a try this weekend?