The Best French Onion Beef Stew with Cheesy Bread Topping

Servings: 6

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cook time: 2 to 2½ hours

Total time: about 2½ hours

Ingredients

For the stew

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into chunks

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 cup dry red wine (optional but amazing)

• 5 cups beef broth

• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)

• 2 bay leaves

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• Salt to taste

For the cheesy bread topping

• 1 baguette, sliced

• 2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened

• 1 garlic clove, smashed into a paste

Instructions

Heat a large pot over medium-high. Add olive oil and sear the beef cubes until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.

In the same pot, add butter and the sliced onions. Cook slowly (15–20 minutes) until caramelized and golden.

Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over the onions and stir.

Slowly add the red wine (if using), scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2–3 minutes.

Add beef broth, thyme, bay leaves, Worcestershire, black pepper, and the seared beef back into the pot.

Cover and simmer 1½–2 hours until the beef is extremely tender and the stew has thickened.

Mix the softened butter and garlic, spread over baguette slices, and top with Gruyère + mozzarella.

Broil until melted and bubbly.

Serve the stew in bowls and float the cheesy bread on top—just like French onion soup!