What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (2024)

  • Beef Stews
  • Winter
  • Beef Chuck

Try this carbonnade beef and beer stew (carbonnade flamande) next time you make a beef stew recipe. Made with Belgian ale, beef, onions, bay leaf, and thyme, it’s a hearty recipe with wonderful flavor notes. Add your favorite vegetables or a classic side of mashed potatoes!

By

Elise Bauer

What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated January 26, 2022

What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (2)

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What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (3)

In This Recipe

  • What Is Carbonnade Beef?

  • Why Use Belgian Ale?

  • Belgian Ale Suggestions

  • Side Dishes

  • Storing and Freezing

When the days are cold, dark, and damp, all we really want to do is to curl up with a nice big pot of stew, right?

What Is Carbonnade Beef Stew?

Known as "Carbonnade a la Flamande", this Belgian beef stew is made with hearty Belgian ale and plenty of onions.

The flavor is a little sweet and sour, the sweet from the onions and either a little added sugar or tomato paste and the sour from a touch of mustard or vinegar.

What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (4)

Since I first posted this recipe I've made a few adjustments to the recipe itself, and we've received several recommendations for which ale to use (check the comments).

Why Use Belgian Ale?

The general view is that you should try to use a Belgian ale for this stew. If you can't find a Belgian ale or a Belgian-style ale, you can try Newcastle Brown Ale or Anchor Steam (the last two recommended by Cooks Illustrated for their carbonnade).

We found a couple of American ales made in the Belgian style at our local Whole Foods and for our most recent batch of stew used a bottle of Ommegang Abbey Ale.

Apparently, it is also traditional to include some beef liver with the stew. We passed on this, but if a stew exists that could hold up to the strong flavors of liver, this one would be it. Wonderfully hearty, flavorful, and filling.

What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (5)

Belgian Ale for Carbonnade Beef Stew

Belgium produces great ales, and for this recipe, a Belgian dubbel — one that's dark with a malty sweetness — works really well. It's the style typically used in a carbonnade. Try one of these Belgian-style ales (or a similar beer) that you can usually find at a local store.

  • Ommegang Abbey Ale
  • Chimay Blue
  • Leffe Brune
  • New Castle Brown Ale
  • Sam Smith's Brown Ale
  • Anchor Steam

Or, support your local craft brewer. Ask them what they have that's close to a Belgian dubbel.

What To Pair With Carbonnade Flamande

Potatoes are the most traditional pairing with this beef stew. Try mashed potatoes or French fries. Buttered noodles pair well, too. If you want to add some vegetables to round out the meal, try one of these simple veggie sides.

  • Quick and Easy Asparagus
  • Roasted Parsnips
  • French Green Beans With Butter and Herbs
  • Classic Glazed Carrots
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Storing and Freezing

Like most stews, carbonnade is even better the second day as the flavors meld together as it sits in the fridge. Go ahead and make and refrigerate the entire stew a day ahead or refrigerate or freeze the leftovers with confidence.

  • Refrigerate, tightly covered, for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through and the beef reaches 145°F.
  • Freeze in a freezer safe zipper bag or container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through and the beef reaches 145°F.

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Carbonnade Beef and Beer Stew

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time3 hrs 30 mins

Total Time3 hrs 45 mins

Servings6 servings

You are trying to achieve a sweet and sour flavor with this stew. You can swap out the sugar for tomato paste and you can use cider vinegar instead of mustard if you want.

You can brown the meat in vegetable oil instead of butter, though it will be more flavorful with the butter. You can also use a couple slices of bread, instead of adding flour, to thicken the stew.

Whatever ale you have used in the cooking makes for a great drink accompaniment to the stew.

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 pounds chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided

  • 3 medium yellow onions, sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 8 cups)

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 cups chicken or beef broth

  • 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) Belgian beer

  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Method

  1. Brown the beef:

    Pat the beef dry with paper towels, then season well with salt and pepper. On the stovetop, heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

    Working in batches, brown the meat, without stirring, about 3 minutes on each side (do not stir, give the meat an opportunity to brown well).

    What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (6)

    What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (7)

    Transfer the browned beef to a separate bowl.

  2. Cook the onions:

    Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the Dutch oven; reduce heat to medium. Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon of salt; cook until the onions are browned, about 15 minutes.

  3. Add the flour:

    Add the flour and stir until onions are evenly coated and flour is lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

    What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (8)

  4. Add the liquids, seasonings, and beef, then simmer:

    Stir in the broth and scrape the bottom of the Dutch oven to loosen any browned bits. Stir in the beer, thyme, bay leaf, browned beef with any of the accumulated juices, and salt and pepper to taste. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a full simmer. Reduce heat to low, partially cover, let cook for 2 to 3 hours until beef is fork tender. (Alternatively, you can cook in the oven at 300°F.)

    What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (9)

    Stir occasionally, scraping up anything that is sticking to the bottom of the pan.

    About 30 minutes before it finishes cooking, add the mustard and brown sugar. Adjust seasonings to taste.

  5. Serve:

    Discard thyme and bay leaf. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to taste and serve. Can serve plain, with potatoes, over noodles, or over French fries.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
776Calories
49g Fat
13g Carbs
68g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories776
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 49g63%
Saturated Fat 22g109%
Cholesterol 241mg80%
Sodium 401mg17%
Total Carbohydrate 13g5%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 68g
Vitamin C 3mg17%
Calcium 70mg5%
Iron 6mg36%
Potassium 968mg21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

What’s Better Than Beef Stew? This Carbonnade Beef Stew Recipe With Belgian Beer, Beef, and Onions (2024)

FAQs

What gives beef stew a rich 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 kind of beer do you use for carbonnade? ›

The classic choice of beer for Carbonnade is a Flanders Brown ale such as Liefmans Goudenband or Vander Ghinste Oud Bruin.

What to add to beef stew to make it amazing? ›

I almost always add some beef bouillon crystals to my stew, it helps oomph (yes, a technical term) the beefiness of the stock. Sometimes also use a few shots of worcestershire sauce or soy sauce - both will also add some oomph to the flavor.

What makes stew taste better? ›

If so here are some tips for making your stews tasty and have your family begging you for more!
  1. Choose your ingredients wisely. ...
  2. Start off with a good flavour base. ...
  3. Add vegetables. ...
  4. Add flavourings to taste. ...
  5. Add Herbs and/or Spices. ...
  6. Spices: (Optional) ...
  7. Add stock or wine/beer. ...
  8. Add thickeners.

What not to put in a stew? ›

But the liquid itself should not be thick in the same way that gravy is thick. So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.

What ingredient and taste that you would add to enhance the flavor of a bland stew without adding more salt? ›

Things like cinnamon, turmeric, curry powders, fresh ground peppercorns, sage, tarragon and dill can all pick up where you left the salt out. Allow yourself some discovery. Without the added sodium, herbs and spices can offer a different depth of flavor especially if you grind them up yourself.

What kind of beer do you use for stew? ›

Soups and Stews

When making stews or soups, make sure to replace the stock with stout or ale. If you're making a seafood soup or chicken soup, you can use wheat beer instead.

What do you eat with carbonnade? ›

What To Pair With Carbonnade Flamande. Potatoes are the most traditional pairing with this beef stew. Try mashed potatoes or French fries. Buttered noodles pair well, too.

What is carbonnade in English? ›

a dish of beef (= meat from a cow) and onions cooked slowly in beer at a low heat: Beer-braised beef carbonnade was the highlight of the meal.

How do you make stew taste richer? ›

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.

What is the tastiest beef for stew? ›

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

What is the most flavorful meat for stew? ›

The best cuts of stew meat are lean with a high concentration of collagen-rich connective tissues—such as chuck or shoulder cuts—that also have some fat marbling for flavor. Lean cuts of meat come from parts of the animal that have lots of muscle, like the legs.

Why does my beef stew have no flavor? ›

Not browning the beef enough would be the first possible problem. That adds a lot of flavour to the finished stew. You can toss the beef in seasoned flour before browning it which will also help thicken the stew. Not adding enough seasoning would be the second potential issue.

Does cooking stew longer make it taste better? ›

Don't Rush the Stewing of the Stew

Your beef stew needs at least two hours, sometimes three, on a low burner, so the meat is tender, and the flavors mingle. This isn't a dish to rush; it's a dish to make on a lazy weekend so you can enjoy the smell as it stews.

Why add milk to stew? ›

People add milk to soups for several reasons: To add creaminess: Milk can add a creamy texture to soups, making them feel more luxurious and comforting. To balance flavors: Milk can help to tone down the acidity in soups, making them more palatable.

What can you add to stew to give it more flavor? ›

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.

How do you get the depth of flavour in beef stew? ›

Use non-tomato things to bring out more beefy and umami flavours, including:
  1. Properly caramelised onions. This can take up to an hour to do properly.
  2. Worcestershire sauce.
  3. Soy sauce.
  4. A very small amount of star anise. ...
  5. Red wine or something with a small amount of acidity to brighten up the flavours.
Nov 28, 2023

How do you increase the flavor of beef? ›

Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking. Add a flavorful liquid: Add a small amount of beef broth, tomato sauce, or red wine to the ground beef while it cooks to add extra flavor.

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