Beef Carbonnade | Slow Cooked Beef and Beer

Beef Carbonnade is a classic Belgian stew featuring succulent beef slow-cooked in dark beer with caramelized onions and a rich, flavorful gravy. Serve it with crusty bread or buttery mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort meal!


Ingredients

For the Beef Carbonnade:

2 lbs beef chuck (cut into 2-inch cubes)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
3 large onions (thinly sliced)
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cups dark Belgian beer (or any dark ale/lager)
1 cup beef broth
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
2 bay leaves
Salt and black pepper (to taste)

For Serving:

Crusty bread or mashed potatoes
Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)


Instructions

1. Sear the Beef

  1. Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  2. Season the beef cubes with salt and black pepper, then sear them in batches until browned on all sides. Transfer to a plate.

2. Caramelize the Onions

  1. In the same pan, add sliced onions and cook over medium-low heat until soft and caramelized (about 15 minutes).
  2. Stir in brown sugar and cook for another 2 minutes.

3. Build the Flavor

  1. Sprinkle flour over the onions, stir well, and cook for 1 minute.
  2. Slowly pour in the dark beer, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
  3. Add the beef broth, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, thyme, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.

4. Slow Cook to Perfection

  • For Slow Cooker: Transfer everything to a slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until the beef is tender.
  • For Stovetop: Cover and simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.

5. Serve & Enjoy!

  1. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs.
  2. Serve hot with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or buttered noodles.
  3. Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy your rich Beef Carbonnade! 🍽️

Serving Ideas

🥖 Serve with warm French bread to soak up the sauce.
🥔 Pair with buttery mashed potatoes or egg noodles for a comforting meal.
🍺 Enjoy with a Belgian beer for an authentic touch!


Pro Tips

Use a high-quality dark beer like Chimay, Guinness, or Leffe Brune for deep flavor.
For extra richness, add a small piece of dark chocolate during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Make it ahead! This stew tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld.


This Beef Carbonnade is a slow-cooked masterpiece that’s perfect for a cozy dinner! 🥩🍺

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