35+ Best Stew Recipes For Wintry Weather (2024)

There's nothing like a good, easy stew to warm you up. Stews can cheer the coldest of days, and can be whipped up in no time at all. We love preparing ours in a slow cooker as they require minimal hands-on time but deliver maximum flavour.

From Mediterranean chicken, to speedy sausages and veggie-packed stews – this humble dish is a perfect sharing meal for the whole family.

Here are some of our all-time favourites for you to try:

1. MEDITERRANEAN FISH STEW

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A hearty Mediterranean stew - delicious with a piece of soft, chunky bread.

Full recipe here

2. SPEEDY SAUSAGE STEW

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This sausage stew recipe can be on the table in half an hour.

Full recipe here

3. SQUASH AND LENTIL STEW

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A chunky vegetable and bacon stew topped with cheesy bread - save half for freezing and enjoy again later in the month.

Full recipe here

4. SPICY MONKFISH STEW

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This spicy stew recipe is a hearty and nutritious dish.

Full recipe here

5. VEAL STEW

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Veal is no longer considered cruel if you buy higher-welfare British rose veal. Use a cut suitable for stewing such as shin or shoulder: you may have to buy larger pieces and chop it yourself.

Full recipe here

6. BEAN AND BACON STEW

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We used cannellini beans to save pennies with this hearty stew.

Full recipe here

7. LAMB AND ORZO STEW

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Shaped to resemble grains of barley, orzo is a type of pasta that adds an interesting texture to soups and increases your pasta repertoire.

Full recipe here

8. PAPRIKA BEEF STEW

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This Hungarian-inspired paprika beef stew is easy to prepare and well worth the long cooking time.

Full recipe here

9. SPEEDY LAMB STEW

A delicious stew to warm the co*ckles on an Autumn evening.

Full recipe here

10. SPANISH CHICKEN STEW

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If you aren’t keen on them, omit the olives from this smoky stew.

Full recipe here

11. LIGURIAN FISH STEW

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There are countless variations of this stew, so adapt it with your favourite fish.

Full recipe here

12. SUMMER CHICKEN STEW

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A bright and light stew. Great on its own, or serve it with fresh crusty bread.

Full recipe here

13. MEXICAN CHICKEN STEW

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The chipotle paste adds wonderful smokiness to this easy and filling stew. If you have trouble finding it, substitute with a deseeded and finely chopped green chilli.

Full recipe here

14. GUINNESS BEEF STEW

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Add a kick to this beef stew recipe by taking the cookery team's Triple-Tested advice and add a can of Guinness to the mix!

Full recipe here

15. SWEET PEPPER STEW

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This stew recipe is also known as pepperonata – a traditional dish made by cooking peppers slowly over a low heat to bring out their full sweetness.

Full recipe here

16. RICH AUBERGINE STEW

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Aubergines take a little longer to cook than you might think, so make sure they are succulently soft before serving this vegetarian dish.

Full recipe here

17. CHICKEN AND LEEK STEW

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This dish is even better made a day ahead. To make it more filling, serve with crusty bread.

Full recipe here

18. PORK AND BEAN STEW

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A great hearty casserole for Autumn, to warm you up when the days get cooler.

Full recipe here

19. ONE-POT GAMMON STEW

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A whole gammon joint braised in apple juice with a selection of veg makes a great supper on a cold night.

Full recipe here

20. SPICED CHICKEN STEW

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We've used thigh fillets, as they stay juicier than breast.

Full recipe here

20. LAMB AND ROSEMARY STEW

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This cost-conscious casserole is delicious, nutritious and works out at just under a pound per serving!

Full recipe here

21. CHICKEN AND CHORIZO STEW

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This hearty stew is ideal when you want supper ready as soon as possible.

Full recipe here

23. CHICKEN AND BARLEY STEW

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This hearty but healthy stew is low in fat but high on the satisfaction scale.

Full recipe here

24. LENTIL AND GINGER STEW

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Serve this hearty vegetarian stew with warm bread to mop up all the delicious sauce.

Full recipe here

25. BRITISH FISH STEW

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Make the most of fish caught off our home shores with this simple but sublime stew. Serve with Seaweed Soda Bread to mop up juices.

Full recipe here

26. CIDER SAUSAGE STEW

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Warming and hearty, this one-pot sausage stew will be a winner with all the family.

Full recipe here

27. MOROCCAN LAMB STEW

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Guilt-free comfort food for a cold winter’s evening.

Full recipe here

28. MUSSEL AND POTATO STEW

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This dish is speedy to cook and impressive enough to serve at a dinner party – no one will guess it's budget-friendly, too!

Full recipe here

29. LENTIL, BEAN AND BANGER STEW

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Hearty and nourishing, this stew is sure to banish any Autumn chill.

Full recipe here

30. PORK, BACON AND BEAN STEW

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The unique combination of salty pork and bacon with creamy beans makes this stew irresistible.

Full recipe here

31. QUICK HALLOUMI AND BEAN STEW

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This vegetarian recipe is a quick but delicious mid-week supper.

Full recipe here

32. FRUIT AND NUT LENTIL STEW

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Packed full of flavour, this vegetarian stew is great served with garlic bread.

Full recipe here

33. SLOW-COOKER BEEF STEW WITH DUMPLINGS

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This stew does not require you to brown the beef, which makes it ideal for a slow cooker.

Full recipe here

34. BEEF AND ALE STEW WITH DUMPLINGS

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Tender chunks of beef with cheesy dumplings... you can't go wrong with this hearty recipe.

Full recipe here

35. LIGHT FENNEL, BEAN AND CHICKEN STEW

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If you can’t find fresh tarragon, use fresh parsley or basil instead.

Full recipe here

36. SLOW-COOKER SPICED AND FRUITY CHICKEN STEW

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Chicken thigh fillets are perfect for the slow cooker.

Full recipe here

37. MOROCCAN CHICKEN, SQUASH AND CHICKPEA STEW

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This triple-tested Moroccan chicken recipe takes on authentic flavours, and as a one-pot dish it's an easy dinner idea to whip up midweek.

Full recipe here

35+ Best Stew Recipes For Wintry Weather (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 is the most tender beef for stew? ›

Next time you're shopping for stew beef, look at your options and see what cuts of meat will work best for your recipe. For example, chuck is a lean and tender cut of beef that works well in stew. However, if you would prefer a thicker and more flavorful stew, short ribs or oxtail may be better choices for you.

What temperature is safe for perpetual stew? ›

According to HowStuffWorks, as long as it is maintained at 200 degrees F (93 degrees C), which is the temperature required for a steady simmer, nothing bad can grow.

Is it better to make stew the day before? ›

There's a bit of an intro before I get to the results, so I'll give you the quick version right here: Yes, there are some minor differences in flavor with soups and stews that have been allowed to rest overnight or longer, though the differences are subtle and difficult to tease apart.

What is the secret to good stew? ›

The secret to good stew is adding umami-rich ingredients and allowing the stew to simmer long enough to create super tender beef chunks. The umami-rich ingredients in this recipe are the mushrooms, beef, and beef broth. These savory flavors are balanced by the tangy tomatoes and the rich red wine.

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.

Does meat get more tender the longer you cook it in a stew? ›

Chuck meat is your best bet for beef stew, but it's also a pretty tough cut so it needs time to break down and become tender. Rush the cooking process and the beef will be tough and chewy. Follow this tip: For really tender meat, cook the stew low and slow, for approximately two hours.

What are the best potatoes for beef stew? ›

There is no real wrong answer for your beef stew potatoes — russets or red potatoes will work fine — but Yukon Gold potatoes have the best balance of texture and flavor to complement a meaty stew.

Is the 50 year old soup safe? ›

However, while some may be worried about the cleanliness of the age-old dish, Kaweeantawong reassures that it is safe to eat. “Lots of people think we never clean the pot. But we clean it every evening. We remove the soup from the pot, then keep a little bit simmering overnight,” he explained.

Can you simmer stew too long? ›

Don't Stew the Stew Too Long Either

Your beef will be tough if you don't cook it enough and it will be tough if you cook it too much. It's just science, take it from us! We recommend doing a taste test or two throughout the cooking process to gauge the progress.

Can I leave stew in the slow cooker overnight on warm? ›

While it's perfectly ok to use your crock pot in this way, try to avoid leaving food on the warming setting for more than four hours. According to the USDA, food kept at between 40 and 140 degrees is more at risk of forming bacteria.

Do I have to brown stew meat before slow cooking? ›

If you are making a slow-cooked recipe that calls for ground beef, like chili, beef stew, or meat sauce, browning the meat beforehand makes a huge difference. Ground meat should always be browned in a skillet and drained before adding it to the slow cooker with the other ingredients.

Can I leave stew out overnight to cool after? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods.

Should you cook stew with lid on or off? ›

We generally like cooking stews with the lid on. It traps the liquid inside, promotes even heat distribution, helps the flavors meld together and keeps the meat juicy. But, if your stew is looking too watery, feel free to pop the lid off for the last hour or so.

How do you make stew meat more flavorful? ›

Sear the meat well.

Searing meat takes a long time, and it's tempting to skip it. Don't. Searing the meat until it develops a dark brown crust and a sticky “fond” starts to glaze over the bottom of the pan are both key to creating the kind of rich, caramelized flavors that make stews irresistibly good.

How to make can beef stew taste better? ›

You can add many vegetables to your beef stew to balance out the meatiness of the dish. On top of the list, of course, are potatoes, carrots, and onions. But you can also toss mushrooms, winter squash, and cauliflower into stew recipes.

What enhances the flavor of beef? ›

Beef tastes great when seasoned with oregano, rosemary, sage, garlic or a combination of these seasonings. Poultry gets an added burst of flavor with spices like paprika, lemongrass and saffron. Fish can be made more flavorful with dry mustard powder, thyme and turmeric.

How do you spice up bland stew? ›

Personally I would add as many aromatics and flavor enhancing substances that I like. If the stew is already finished, then you can sauté onions, garlic peppers, celery and carrots then add them to the stew. I would also add some herbs and finally salt and pepper to taste.

References

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