Description
This Fall Apple Cider Beef Stew served over creamy cheddar mashed potatoes is the ultimate cozy dinner. Tender beef is slow-simmered in apple cider, broth, and herbs until melt-in-your-mouth delicious, then ladled over buttery, cheesy mashed potatoes for a rustic yet elegant seasonal meal. Perfect for weeknights, Sundays, or holiday tables!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Apple Cider Beef Stew:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30 mL)
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes (900 g)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 large onion, sliced (150 g)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (15 g)
- 2 tablespoons flour (16 g)
- 2 cups apple cider (480 mL), not vinegar
- 1 cup beef broth (240 mL)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (15 mL)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (15 mL)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 carrots, chopped (150 g)
- 1 celery stalk, chopped (75 g)
- 1 bay leaf
For the Cheddar Mashed Potatoes:
- 2 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes (900 g), peeled and chopped
- ½ cup milk (120 mL)
- ¼ cup butter (60 g)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (115 g)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sear the Beef: Season stew meat with salt and pepper. Heat oil in Dutch oven, sear beef in batches until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add onions to pot, cook until caramelized (8–10 min). Stir in garlic and tomato paste, cook 1–2 minutes.
- Build the Stew: Stir in flour for 1 min. Slowly add cider and broth, scraping pan. Stir in Worcestershire, mustard, thyme, carrots, celery, and bay leaf.
- Simmer: Return beef. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, until beef is fork-tender.
- Make Mashed Potatoes: While stew cooks, boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (15–20 min). Drain, mash with butter, milk, and cheddar. Season to taste.
- Serve: Spoon mashed potatoes into bowls, ladle stew over top, and garnish with herbs or extra cheese.
Notes
- Use apple cider (not vinegar) for the best flavor.
- Sear beef before simmering for richer taste.
- Simmer low and slow for tender meat.
- Warm milk and butter before adding to potatoes for extra creaminess.
- Stew tastes even better the next day after flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Apple Cider Beef Stew, Fall Beef Stew, Stew with Mashed Potatoes, Comfort Food Recipes, Autumn Dinner