If you're looking for the ultimate "treat yourself" comfort food, let me introduce you to Beef Daube. It's a rich French beef stew where tender chuck roast hangs out in a velvety red wine sauce with all the good stuff: garlic, herbs, carrots, and mushrooms. Forget fancy - this is the kind of easy, slow-braised magic that makes your kitchen smell like heaven. It's basically dinner saying, "I love you."
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If you're looking for cozy comfort food that practically makes itself, this Beef Daube is it. Think of that sentimental, homey feeling of beef stew for supper, but even better, thanks to a lush red wine sauce, sweet carrots, and earthy mushrooms all melting into ultra-tender beef. The best part? It's a make-ahead rockstar that tastes even more incredible the next day, making it perfect for a group. (Oh, and it's pronounced "dohb" (rhymes with robe), just in case you were wondering!)
Want to balance out all that richness? Our Pear Salad with Maple Vinaigrette is the crisp, fresh side you need.
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What is Beef Daube?
It's a classic Provençal beef stew made with seared chuck roast that is gently braised in red wine with garlic, onions, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, and herbs until it practically falls apart.
Why You'll Love this French Beef Stew
- Dependably tender with chuck roast, so it's hard to mess up.
- Low effort, big payoff. The oven does the heavy lifting but it tastes like you cooked all day thanks to the deep flavor from the garlic, wine and herbs.
- Make-ahead friendly and (honestly) even better tomorrow, perfect for easy entertaining.
- Serve it your way over noodles, mashed potatoes, or polenta. There are no wrong answers.
Ingredient Notes & Smart Swaps
- Beef chuck roast: Best for juicy, fall-apart results. Pre-cut stew meat also works; trim to about 2-inch pieces so everything cooks evenly.
- Garlic: Yes, it seems like a LOT of garlic, but the long, slow cook mellows it so it turns sweet and cozy rather than sharp. So good!!
- Aromatics & veg: Onions, carrots, and mushrooms add hearty texture.
- Red wine: Any dry red you enjoy (pinot noir, merlot, cabernet, Rhône-style blend).
- Tomatoes & broth: Diced tomatoes bring brightness and body; beef broth rounds it out.
- Herbs: Fresh rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf give that classic Provençal flavor. Only have dried? Start small and taste (about 1 teaspoon dried rosemary + ½ teaspoon dried thyme).
Quick Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Toast the Garlic
Heat oil over medium-low heat and cook the garlic until lightly golden. Remove with a slotted spoon.
Step 2: Sear the Beef
Increase heat, add more oil and sear half the beef until a dark crust forms on both sides. Remove from pan. Repeat with remaining beef. Deglaze the pan with wine, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom.
Step 3: Add the Veg
Return the beef and the Add the carrots, onion, mushrooms, beef broth, tomato paste, herbs, and tomatoes to the pot. Stir, cover and cook in 300°F oven for 2.5 hours. Serve over noodles, potatoes or polenta.
Hint: If you want a thicker sauce, uncover the pan and simmer on the stovetop for a few minutes to reduce.
FAQs
It's "dohb" - rhymes with robe.
Any dry red you'd drink. Think pinot noir, merlot, cabernet or a Rhône-style blend.
After braising, simmer uncovered for a few minutes to reduce. You can also mash a few of the cooked carrots/garlic cloves into the liquid for a built-in thickener with great flavor.
Yes! It gets even better on day two. Cool, cover and refrigerate until ready to reheat.
Absolutely. Cool completely and then portion into airtight containers. Freeze up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and rewarm with a splash of broth or water, if needed.
Helpful Tips We Swear By
- Dry the beef before searing. Moisture = steam. You don't want that. Patting the cubes dry helps you get that deep, savory crust that makes the sauce taste rich.
- Sear in batches. Crowding the pot drops the temperature and you'll miss out on browning. Brown half, remove from the pan and then brown the rest. You'll taste the difference.
- Toast the garlic low and slow. Starting the pot with gently cooked crushed cloves gives sweet, mellow garlic (no bitter, burnt bits) that perfumes the stew.
- Scrape every browned bit. When the wine hits the pan, scrape up the fond (those caramelized bits). That's your flavor bomb.
- Season in layers. A little salt on the beef when searing, then the rest once everything's in the pot. It builds flavor instead of tasting salty on top.
- Let the oven work. This is a set-it-and-relax recipe. The long braise does the heavy lifting; resist peeking too often so you don't lose heat.
- Adjust the finish. Want a thicker sauce? Reduce a few minutes uncovered. Want it richer? Stir in a knob of butter right before serving.
- Make it a meal. Spoon over noodles, Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes, or polenta. Add our Pear Salad with Maple Vinaigrette for something crisp and fresh, and Easy Yeast Rolls to swipe the bowl clean.
- Plan for leftovers. It reheats like a dream. Make a little extra to freeze for later. Future-you will be thrilled.
More Comfort Food Meals
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Recipe
Beef Daube (French Beef Stew)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 12 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2½ pounds beef chuck roast, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces and patted dry
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 2½ cups peeled, roughly chopped carrots
- 1½ cups chopped onion
- 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, halved (quarter if large)
- ½ cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 bay leaf
- To serve: cooked noodles (or mashed potatoes/polenta)
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300℉.
- Toast the garlic: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large dutch oven over medium low heat. Add garlic cloves and cook for about 5 minutes or until fragrant and lightly golden, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon.3 tablespoons olive oil, divided, 12 garlic cloves, crushed
- Sear the beef: Increase heat to medium high. Add 1 tablespoon of oil. Place half of beef in pan in a single layer (do not crowd) and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Let it sear undisturbed until a dark brown crust forms then flip and repeat on the other side. Remove seared beef from pan and transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining beef, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper, adding the remaining tablespoon of oil if the pot looks dry.2½ pounds beef chuck roast, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces and patted dry, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- Deglaze: Pour in wine and bring to a boil, scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom.1 cup dry red wine
- Build the stew: Return beef and garlic (plus any juices) to the pan. Stir in the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, then add carrots, onion, mushrooms, beef broth, tomato paste, rosemary, thyme, diced tomatoes and bay leaf. Bring back to a gentle boil.2½ cups peeled, roughly chopped carrots, 1½ cups chopped onion, 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, halved (quarter if large), ½ cup beef broth, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves, 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained, 1 bay leaf
- Braise: Cover and bake for 2 ½ hours or until the beef is fall-apart tender.
- Finish & Serve: Taste and adjust for seasonings. Want a thicker sauce? Simmer uncovered on the stovetop for a few minutes to reduce. Serve hot over pasta, mashed potatoes or polenta.To serve: cooked noodles (or mashed potatoes/polenta)
Notes
Ingredient tips:
- Best cut: Chuck roast gives the most tender results. Pre-cut stew meat is fine; trim to even pieces. Dry the beef before searing to get a good crust on the meat.
- Garlic: It looks like a LOT, but it mellows during the long braise and turns sweet instead of sharp. So good!
- Wine: Use a dry red you'd drink (pinot noir, merlot, cab or Rhône blend).
- Herbs: Fresh gives the brightest flavor; dried works in a pinch (start with 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary and ½ teaspoon of dried thyme).
Helpful tips we swear by:
- Sear in batches: Crowding the pot drops the temperature and you'll miss out on the browning. Brown half, then the rest. You'll taste the difference.
- Scrape every browned bit: When the wine hits the pan, scrape up the fond (those caramelized bits on the bottom). That's your flavor bomb.
- Season in layers: A little salt on the beef, then the rest once everything is in the pot. It builds flavor instead of tasting salty on top.
- Adjust the finish: Want it thicker? Reduce a few minutes uncovered. Want it richer? Stir in a knob of butter right before serving.
- Make it a meal: Spoon over noodles, Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes or polenta. Add a Pear Salad with Maple Vinaigrette for something crisp and fresh, and Easy Yeast Rolls to swipe the bowl clean.
Make-Ahead and Storage:
- Make-ahead: Even better on day two. Cool completely, cover and refrigerate.
- Storage: Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
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Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
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