Braised Beef – Simply Home Cooked

Modified: Dec 2, 2024 by Dina

This juicy Braised Beef recipe is so tender and flavorful. The beef is browned in hot olive oil, then covered in spices, garlic, sauteed onion, and braised in red wine. 

Table Of Contents

Recipe Details

I absolutely love this Braised Beef Recipe, especially for a nice dinner with friends and family in the cold weather months. Comforting and flavorful, this dish looks amazing and will warm you from the inside out.

• TASTE: The meat and onions are deliciously savory. Flavored with onions, garlic, and sweet red wine, this dish is full of great flavors.
• TEXTURE: The beef is oh so tender with a delightfully crisp outside. The sauteed onions are caramelized and soft, with everything in a light braising sauce.
• TIME: This recipe takes about 2 and a half hours to make. Most of that time is spent braising.
• EASE: This is actually a very easy dish to make and you can set it braising and walk away, making it convenient, too.

What You’ll Need

Ingredient Notes

• Beef– The cut of beef we are using is Chuck pot roast (boneless). The slow stewing process breaks down the connective tissue and tenderizes it nicely.
• Spices- We’re using Cumin, Paprika, Kosher Salt, and Black Pepper to add savory, slightly spicy flavor to this beef dish.
• Vegetables- Onion and pressed fresh Garlic add pungent, delicious flavor.
• Red wine– This is the braising liquid that will help cook the beef and add wonderful flavor.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Substitute the red wine- You can also make this recipe with some balsamic vinegar and a stout beer, like Guinness, in place of the wine.
• Add bacon fat- For more flavor in your beef, brown the meat in bacon fat.
• Make it in the slow cooker- Once you’ve browned the beef chunks and sauteed the onion, place the beef, onion, garlic, and spices into your slow cooker. Then add the red wine and water, cover, and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
• Make it in the instant pot- Place the browned beef chunks, sauteed onion, spices, pressed garlic, water, and red wine into the instant pot and cook and pressure cook on high for 40 minutes.

How to Make Braised Beef

• Cut the beef. Cut the beef into large chunks.
• Brown it. Brown the beef chunks in a skillet filled with hot olive oil. Then remove from the pot and set aside.

• Saute the onions. Cook the onions in the same skillet until they are fully cooked (or translucent).
• Layer the ingredients in the pot. In a Dutch oven pot, begin layering the ingredients in the following order: 1/2 browned beef chunks, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, then half the sautéed onion and half the pressed garlic. Repeat once more.

Pro Tip: Layering the ingredients allows for even cooking and a mixture of flavors and spices during the cooking process.

• Add liquids and cook. Add the red wine and water to the meat and place the lid on top. Place the pot onto the cooktop and bring it to a boil. Place the pot into the oven for 1 1/2 -2 hours at 360 degrees Fahrenheit and cook until the meat is cooked through and fork-tender. Garnish with thyme sprigs.

Recipe Tips

• Cut the beef into uniform sized chunks- Doing this ensures even cooking and avoids smaller pieces overcooking.
• Make sure to brown the beef- This step is important because it gives the beef a delightful crust on the outside.
• Don’t rush it- You want to take your time making this dish because braising is a slow cooking process that tenderizes the meat making it juicy and delicious.

FAQs

Serving Suggestions

Because this homemade Braised Beef is so versatile and complementary, it goes with anything. Here are some tasty ways to enjoy it.

• Salad: Start the meal off with a Cucumber Radish Salad, Spinach Salad Recipe, or Broccoli Cranberry Salad.
• Bread: Serve this Braised Beef with some Focaccia Bread, Super Soft Brioche Dinner Rolls, Cornbread Muffins, or Rustic Bread.
• Sides: Enjoy it alongside a side dish, like these Scalloped Potatoes, Sauteed Garlic Asparagus, or Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli.
• Desserts: End your meal with a cool weather favorite, such as Chocolate Creme Brulee, Tiramisu Cake (VIDEO), Pumpkin Cheesecake (VIDEO), or Homemade Apple Pie.

Make This Recipe in Advance

Make ahead: You can brown the meat and saute the onions ahead of time, storing in the fridge until you’re ready to braise them.

Storing: Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat until warmed through.

Freeze: Freeze this Braised Beef recipe in gallon-sized ziplock bags for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature. Then reheat in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop.

More Savory Main Dishes!

This post has Amazon affiliate links for tools we used to make this recipe.

This recipe was originally posted on Dec 13, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then.

Full Recipe Instructions