Description

Sweet Potato Beef Stew is a hearty and comforting dish featuring tender beef chuck and naturally sweet sweet potatoes simmered together with aromatics, herbs, and rich beef broth. This one-pot meal offers a balanced flavor profile with savory, sweet, and earthy notes, perfect for cozy family dinners or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

1.5 lbs beef chuck, well-marbled, cut into bite-sized chunks

Vegetables

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped

Liquids & Paste

4 cups beef broth (good quality)
2 tablespoons tomato paste

Herbs & Spices

2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme (or substitute rosemary)
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Optional

2 tablespoons cooking oil (for browning beef)
Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Sour cream, for serving

Instructions

Brown the Beef: Cut the beef chuck into bite-sized chunks and pat dry. Heat cooking oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and sear the beef chunks until browned on all sides, locking in juices and building rich flavor. Remove the beef and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add chopped onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and to release their natural sweetness.
Add Tomato Paste and Herbs: Stir in tomato paste, bay leaves, and thyme. Cook for about one minute to deepen the base flavor and evenly distribute the tomato paste’s subtle acidity.
Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in beef broth to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Return the browned beef to the pot. Bring the stew to a simmer, then cover and cook gently for about 1 hour or until the beef is tender.
Incorporate Sweet Potatoes: Add peeled, cubed sweet potatoes to the stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking. This ensures they become tender but hold their shape while absorbing the stew’s flavors.
Final Seasoning and Serving: Remove bay leaves, taste the stew, and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. Let the stew rest off the heat for a few minutes before serving to meld the flavors perfectly.

Notes

Choose beef chuck or brisket for the best tenderness after slow cooking.
Don’t rush the browning step to create a deep, caramelized flavor base.
Adding tomato paste and herbs early enhances the stew’s complexity.
Keep the stew at a low simmer to avoid tough meat and overly mushy vegetables.
Allowing the stew to rest before serving helps flavors meld beautifully.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 600 mg
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 30 g
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 28 g
Cholesterol: 80 mg

Keywords: sweet potato beef stew, comfort food, one-pot meal, hearty stew, slow cooked beef, cozy dinner