Description
French Onion Beef Stew with Cheesy Bread Topping is a cozy, comforting mashup of rich French onion soup and slow-cooked beef stew. Tender beef, sweet caramelized onions, and a savory broth are topped with toasted cheesy bread for a hearty, indulgent cold-weather meal.
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs boneless beef chuck, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 cup dry red wine (optional)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 6 slices crusty bread (baguette or sourdough)
- 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook slowly, stirring often, for about 30 minutes until deeply golden and caramelized.
- Meanwhile, season beef with salt and pepper. In a separate skillet or the same pot (after removing onions), sear beef in batches until browned on all sides. Set aside.
- Add garlic to the onions and stir for 1 minute. Sprinkle in flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes to thicken.
- Deglaze with red wine, scraping up any brown bits. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaf, and the seared beef. Bring to a simmer.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 2–3 hours until beef is tender and broth is rich.
- Just before serving, toast bread slices under the broiler until crisp. Top with cheese and broil again until melted and bubbly.
- Ladle hot stew into bowls and place a slice of cheesy toast on top or serve on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Add mushrooms for a more earthy flavor.
- Swap beef for shredded chicken and use chicken broth for a lighter version.
- White wine works if you prefer a milder base.
- Replace Gruyère with mozzarella or provolone in a pinch.
- Toast fresh cheesy bread when serving leftovers to keep the topping crisp.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
