Easy Ground Beef Stew: My Go-To Comfort in a Bowl

Hey friends! Winter hit us hard this year—coughs, sniffles, the works. My family's immune systems are begging for mercy, and honestly, so is my motivation to cook. That's when I pull out this easy ground beef stew. It's my cozy hug in a pot: rich, savory beef mingling with tender potatoes and sweet carrots, all simmered to that perfect, fork-tender texture. No fancy cuts of meat, just budget-friendly ground beef that tastes like a million bucks. The aroma? Pure warmth wafting through the kitchen, garlic and paprika dancing in the air. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's my lifesaver for those "feed us now" nights.

I first made this on a lazy Sunday when I was too wiped to chop a million veggies. One pot later, my husband was scraping the bowl clean. It's like a classic beef stew but smarter—cheaper and faster. If you're loving ground beef recipes, you gotta try my Brazilian baked kibe next!

Why You'll Love This Ground Beef Stew (Recipe Highlights)

• Super budget-friendly – Ground beef swaps out pricey stew meat without skimping on flavor.
• Done in 30 minutes – One-pot magic for busy weeknights.
• Pantry-staple simple – Odds are, you've got most of this already.
• Hearty and comforting – That smoky paprika kick, umami from tomato sauce, and veggies that melt in your mouth.

Ingredients (All You Need)

• 2 tbsp olive oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced (because garlic fixes everything!)
• 1 lb (495g) lean ground beef
• 1 tbsp sweet paprika
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 400g (about 2 small) potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 150g (1 large) carrot, peeled and cubed
• 50g tomato sauce
• Boiling water, just enough to barely cover the veggies
• Fresh chopped parsley or green onions, to taste (dried works too)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Grab a medium saucepan or Dutch oven—mine's my trusty sidekick for this.

Step 1: Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Toss in the chopped onion and sauté until it's soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. That sweet onion smell? Instant cozy vibes.

Step 2: Crumble in the ground beef. Cook it down until no pink remains, breaking up those clumps with your spatula. The sizzle and rich beefy aroma will have everyone hovering.

Step 3: Stir in the minced garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, and any dried herbs you've got. Let it bloom for a sec—that paprika adds this gorgeous smoky color and subtle warmth.

Step 4: Dump in the cubed potatoes and carrots. Give it a good mix so everything gets coated in those flavors. Pro tip: I love russets here, but any potato works as long as it's bite-sized.

Step 5: Pour in boiling water—just enough to barely cover the veggies (eyeball it!). Pop on the lid, drop the heat to medium-low, and let it simmer. No constant stirring needed; the low heat does the work.

Step 6: After about 20 minutes, peek in. Veggies should be fork-tender, and most water evaporated into a thick, luscious sauce. If it's drying out too fast, splash in a bit more boiling water. Mine's always perfect at this point—the potatoes get creamy, carrots sweetly soft.

Step 7: Pierce a potato with a fork to test. Done? Turn off the heat, stir in fresh parsley or green onions, cover, and let it sit 2-3 minutes. The herbs brighten everything up with that fresh pop.

Serving Suggestions

Scoop into bowls and dig in—it's hearty enough solo, but here's my hot take: rice is non-negotiable. I'm Brazilian; potatoes are great, but rice soaks up that savory goodness like a dream. (Sorry, hubby—team rice forever!) Crusty bread for sopping, a crisp salad, or green beans on the side? All winners. The textures play so nice together—tender beef, fluffy spuds, that glossy sauce.

Storage Tips

Leftovers are gold! Pop into an airtight container and fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove or microwave—it tastes even better the next day, flavors all melded. Freezes well too, if you're meal-prepping.

There you go, my ground beef stew with carrots and potatoes—simple, soul-warming, and stupidly delicious. What's your stew ritual? Rice or nah? Drop a comment and tell me—I live for these chats! Stay cozy, friends. 💕

Quick FYI

1. If you add too much water, you’ll end up with a saucier dish. You can add more water as needed to maintain the perfect balance if you find your water is evaporating too quickly ( I never need to do that, but you might it depending on how well your sauce-pan traps steam inside, that is why I haven’t given you a precise cooking time).

2. Also, just so you know I like to serve my stew with rice so I do not add a lot of potatoes or carrots. If you are only making stew you might like to add an extra carrot and potato. Up to you. I would keep everything the same in the recipe, and perhaps adjust the salt amount if you choose to add one more carrot and one more potato

Substitutions/Variations

• Add a handful of frozen peas for extra color and nutrients.
• Another variation is to add beef broth or beef stock instead of water.
• You can swap out the tomato sauce for a little bit of tomato paste or for two chopped tomatoes.
• Can you use garlic powder/onion powder instead of fresh onions and garlic? I prefer to use fresh onions and garlic when I can, but if you are in a pinch, sure 🙂
• You can add Italian seasoning or other dried/fresh herbs that you like.

Troubleshooting/FAQ

• Water is evaporating too quickly, fresh vegetables are still raw, what should I do?

  • Add a little bit more boiling water and cover your pan again.

• You have the opposite problem, your vegetables are cooked and you have too much sauce.

  • You have two options:
    1. Open your lid so the water evaporates quickly. This might cause your veggies to be a little overcooked so that is up to you.
    2. Just eat it like that :). I am sure it will still taste fine, this is a forgiving recipe.

• If it’s lacking flavor

  • a pinch of salt might do the trick.

• Can I make this in a slow cooker?

  • I haven’t tried but I think if you, sauté the garlic and onions, brown the beef, toss everything in, and let it slow-cook to perfection, it would work. but again I have not tested it.

There you have it, a simple, budget-friendly winter stew that’ll have you forgetting all about the winter blues. Stay warm, friends!

That’s it, folks! What did you think of this easy and hearty ground beef stew? It is a great way to make ground beef, and it is one of my favorite stews. Imagine my surprise when I learned this dish is also called poor man’s stew. But, I am sure you will agree it is so tasty, that we should rename it to rich man’s stew ;). It is a family favorite around this time of year over here. If you are always looking for easy recipes or ways to use ground beef give this recipe a try and do not forget to let me know what you think. Also, check out my other recipes with ground beef (Brazilian Baked Kibbeh (Quibe) and Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf with Cheddar Cheese) and my other hearty beef stew recipes (Classic Beef Stew with Carrots and Potatoes).

Now, Help me settle an ongoing argument that I have with my husband. Is this ground beef stew recipe, or any other beef stew (with beef + veggies) a complete meal to you? or do you still need to serve it with a side dish? I say no stew is complete without rice on the side ha! My husband says, it already has potatoes, so it doesn’t need rice. But I am the right one, right!?! lol.