64 Classic Stew Recipes Just Like Grandma Used to Make

From the Recipe Creator: My husband and I love dumplings, and this mild-tasting, homey dish has flavorful ones floating on a tasty turkey and vegetable stew. It hits the spot on chilly fall and winter days. —Rita Taylor, St. Cloud, Minnesota

From the Recipe Creator: In our family, boeuf bourguignon has been a staple for generations. I wanted a meatless alternative. All this dish needs is a French baguette. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

From the Recipe Creator: My version of beef stew is comfort food with a healthy twist. I use lentils and red quinoa rather than potatoes. If leftover stew seems too thick, add more beef stock when reheating. —Margaret Roscoe, Keystone Heights, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: My Grandma Inky grew up in India and passed down this recipe to my mother, who then passed it down to me. The recipe brings back fond memories of the family gathered around the table, enjoying this delicious meal and catching up on one another's day. I tweaked the ingredients a bit to fit my toddler's taste buds, but it's just as scrumptious as Grandma's own. —Teresa Flowers, Sacramento, California

From the Recipe Creator: If you like ham and bean soup but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this tasty, quick version will leave you with a satisfied smile. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen

From the Recipe Creator: Talk about your heirloom recipes! My grandmother made this Hungarian goulash recipe for my mother when she was a child, and then Mom made it for us to enjoy. Paprika and caraway add wonderful flavor, and sour cream gives it a creamy richness. It’s simply scrumptious! —Marcia Doyle, Pompano, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: A rich sauce coats this hearty combination of potatoes, carrots and bratwurst chunks. I adapted a baked stew recipe that appeared in a newspaper. This is so comforting on cold winter evenings. —Susan Holmes, Germantown, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: French cassoulet is traditionally cooked for hours. This version of the rustic dish offers the same homey taste in less time. It’s easy on the wallet too. —Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: This zesty ground beef and vegetable soup is flavorful and fast to fix. It makes a complete meal when served with warm cornbread, sourdough bread or French bread if you enjoy a supper with a side. —Lynnette Davis, Tullahoma, Tennessee

From the Recipe Creator: We created a satisfying stew that’s nutritious, loaded with flavor and family-friendly. Slowly simmer chicken thighs with stewed tomatoes, butternut squash, green peppers and onion for meal-in-one convenience. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen

From the Recipe Creator: Anyone living in or visiting the Southwest knows green chiles are a staple. I grew up on this delicacy and thought everyone must know how delicious it is. It seems to be even more popular now in this area. —Carrie Burton, Sierra Vista, Arizona

From the Recipe Creator: This is a delicious, nourishing and economical dish. The flavor improves if you make the stew the day before you serve it. —Margery Richmond, Fort Collins, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: I was missing my Russian grandma's barley porridge and beef stroganoff, so I combined the two dishes. Cook the barley using the risotto method to keep the grains whole and irresistibly chewy. —Tatiana Kireeva, New York, New York

From the Recipe Creator: My chicken stew makes the house smell wonderful as it gently bubbles in the slow cooker. One whiff and my family heads to the kitchen to see if it's ready. —Marge Drake, Juniata, Nebraska

From the Recipe Creator: When there's a chill in the air, nothing beats this beef stew. Seasoned with thyme and dry mustard, the hearty slow-cooker beef stew is chock-full of tender carrots, potatoes and meat. —Earnestine Wilson, Waco, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: Tender cubes of beef are braised in a wine sauce with savory vegetables. I made this slow-cooker beef burgundy often when I worked full time. It’s good over noodles or mashed potatoes. —Sherri Mott, New Carlisle, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: Beef broth and herbs complement the potatoes' subtle sweetness in this hearty stew that's perfect for fall. — Helen Vail, Glenside, Pennsylvania

From the Recipe Creator: Oyster stew is quite popular along the coast of Ireland, where oysters are served to celebrate many festivals. Immigrants brought the recipe with them to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S. —Christa Scott, Santa Fe, New Mexico

From the Recipe Creator: Traditionally made with game meat, this updated Brunswick stew, using spicy sausage, is a modern mom’s best friend. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts

From the Recipe Creator: Ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning give extra special flavor to my hearty chili. Folks will come back for seconds. —Julie Neuhalfen, Glenwood, Iowa

From the Recipe Creator: Homemade chicken and dumplings from scratch hearken back to my childhood and chilly days when we devoured those cute little balls of dough swimming in hot, rich broth. It's one of those types of soup you'll want to eat again and again. —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona

From the Recipe Creator: My mother-in-law shared this recipe with me about 25 years ago. Ever since then, it's been a go-to whenever I need good food without a lot of fussing. —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona

From the Recipe Creator: I fell in love with the spicy aromas in this sweet potato lentil stew. Add whatever ingredients you have on hand, like zucchini, spinach, kale and corn. —Heather Gray, Little Rock, Arkansas

From the Recipe Creator: I have fond memories of growing up in an Irish-Italian family and learning to cook from my grandparents. Beefy stew reminds me of their precious contributions. —Renee Murphy, Smithtown, New York

From the Recipe Creator: It's been 20 years now since I adapted this from a recipe for beef stew. We like it so much that, in all that time, I have never changed any ingredients or amounts - unless it was to double them! Our home's on a river, and my husband, our three boys and I enjoy camping and boating. — Valerie Jordan, Kingmont, West Virginia

From the Recipe Creator: I have happy memories of my mother's tomato-y beef stew, so I combined her recipe with a bunch of fall veggies I needed to use. The result was a fun, fill-you-up dinner. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York

From the Recipe Creator: This thick and creamy pork tenderloin stew is one that my family requests often. It does an especially good job of warming us up on cold winter days. —Janet Allen, Belleville, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: Beef stew capped with flaky puff pastry adds comfort to the weeknight menu—my family is always glad to see this meal. Make a salad and call your crowd to the table. —Daniel Anderson, Kenosha, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: When my children requested more vegetarian dishes, this chunky stew became a favorite. Red wine vinegar perks up the flavor and carrots add color. We like to ladle helpings over cooked rice. —Alice McEachern of Surrey, British Columbia

From the Recipe Creator: This is my go-to pepper stew. When my garden yields green peppers, I dice and freeze them for those cold, blustery days to come.—Debbie Johnson, Centertown, Missouri

From the Recipe Creator: When we married four decades ago, I found this bourguignon recipe in a French cookbook. My husband and I still serve it for very special occasions. —Lyn Robitaille, East Hartland, Connecticut

From the Recipe Creator: To me, the definition of “cozy” is a pot of tender beef simmering with sweet potatoes and parsnips. It doesn't get better than that. —Beth Rossos, Estacada, Oregon

From the Recipe Creator: This is the ultimate comfort food, an earth-and-turf combo that smells delicious while cooking and tastes like home. The mushrooms taste so meaty, you can decrease the amount of beef and add more portabellos if you like. —Susan Asanovic, Wilton, Connecticut

From the Recipe Creator: I learned to make this dish while we were living in Chile for a few months. We grow extra butternut squash in our garden just for this recipe. —Louise Schmid, Marshall, Minnesota

From the Recipe Creator: When I was young, my favorite food to order in a restaurant was beef stew. My mother and I decided to create our own and experimented with different ingredients until we came up with this recipe. Everyone liked this slow cooker version so much that now it's a tradition every time the whole family is together. —Chelsey Larsen, Sparks, Nevada

From the Recipe Creator: This stew is loaded with ingredients. It's sure to fill up the kids before they head out trick-or-treating, and the family enjoys it all season long! —Shirley Smith, Yorba Linda, California

From the Recipe Creator: Back when I was in college, my mom made an addicting sweet potato and peanut stew. I shared it with friends, and now all of us serve it to our own kids. They all love it, of course. —Alexis Scatchell, Niles, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: I love anything with Cajun spices, so I came up with this slow-cooker jambalaya that’s just as good as that served in restaurants. If you can’t find Andouille sausage, hot links, smoked sausage or chorizo will also work. I like to serve it with warm cornbread and garnished with sliced green onions. —Jennifer Fulk, Moreno Valley, California

From the Recipe Creator: Pork slowly stews with jalapenos, onion, green enchilada sauce and spices in this flavor-packed Mexican dish. It's wonderful on its own or stuffed in a warm tortilla with sour cream, grated cheese or olives on the side. —Kimberly Burke, Chico, California

From the Recipe Creator: The recipe for this special stew was given to me by a dear friend before she moved to another state. She served it with dumplings, but my husband prefers noodles. —Janell Schmidt, Athelstane, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: Brunswick stew dates back to the 1860s, when it was served as a complete meal. We now use it as an accompaniment to barbecues. It is delicious picnic fare when served with country ribs, coleslaw or potato salad. When I make this stew, I double the recipe and freeze small portions so we can enjoy it at several meals. —Alyce Ray, Forest Park, Georgia

From the Recipe Creator: Hearty and easy to fix, this thick stew has a comforting, chili-like flavor. It's my best barley recipe. I'm sure you'll agree that it's a tasty dish. —Lisa Kolenich, Regina, Saskatchewan

From the Recipe Creator: Come home to warm comfort food! This vegetable beef stew is based on my mom’s wonderful recipe, but I adjusted it for the slow cooker. Add a sprinkle of Parmesan to each bowl for a nice finishing touch. —Marcella West, Washburn, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: This chunky stew makes a hearty supper, especially in the fall and winter. It'salso a great way to use extra turkey during the holidays. —Lori Schlecht, Wimbledon, North Dakota

From the Recipe Creator: I got this hamburger stew recipe from a woman at our church, Lois Henry, when I needed a way to use up our bounty of home-canned tomatoes. My husband loves it, and I like that it's easy to warm up for a carefree dinner in the winter months. —Marcia Clay, Truman, Minnesota

From the Recipe Creator: This thick and hearty stew with great northern beans is sure to chase the winter chills away. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: Every spring, my family heads out to our timber acreage to collect morel mushrooms, and then we cook up this stew. We use morels, of course, but baby portobellos or button mushrooms or will work, too. —Amy Wertheim, Atlanta, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: During the cooler months of the year, this soup makes regular appearances on our dinner table. It is approved by all, including my picky 6-year-old. —Kalyn Gensic, Ardmore, Oklahoma

From the Recipe Creator: Take a trip to Morocco with this rich, exotic dish. A tagine is a North African slow-cooked stew named after the pot it’s cooked in.—Taste Recipes Test Kitchen

From the Recipe Creator: This hearty and healthy stew will warm your family right down to their toes! Serve with cornbread or rolls to soak up every last morsel. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: Smoked turkey sausage and red pepper flakes add zip to this saucy, slow-cooked version of Louisiana red beans and rice. For extra heat, add red pepper sauce at the table. —Julia Bushree, Georgetown, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: Shh! Don’t tell anyone! This recipe is so simple, but you’d never know it. My husband, who normally doesn’t like chicken, asks for this dish regularly. —Mary Watkins, Little Elm, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: This beef stew is so hearty and tastes even better the next day—if there are leftovers! It goes great with cornbread or any crusty loaf. —Abbey Mueller, Enid, Oklahoma

From the Recipe Creator: Thai cuisine features flavors that are hot and sour, salty and sweet. This one-dish pork satay balances all of them using ginger and red pepper flakes, rice vinegar, garlic, lime juice and creamy peanut butter. —Nicole Werner, Ann Arbor, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: I love to have my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren over for this supper. They make me so happy with their compliments or just by going to fill up their bowls again. It's a good-for-you hit. —Pam Corder, Monroe, Louisiana

From the Recipe Creator: My family lived in New Zealand many years ago. Every Sunday my mother made a lamb stew—it was Dad's favorite! I changed the recipe to suit my family's more modern palates, but it still seems just as exotic and delicious. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

From the Recipe Creator: This comfort dish gets fabulous flavor when I add chicken, sweet red peppers, coconut milk and the all-important seasoning—curry powder. —Roxana Lambeth, Moreno Valley, California

From the Recipe Creator: This dish is perfect on cold winter days, especially after we have been out cutting wood or white-tail hunting. If you are lucky enough to have venison, try it here for melt-in-your-mouth goodness. —Brenda Ryan, Marshall, Missouri

From the Recipe Creator: My family enjoys this delicious recipe—it's like a spicy meatball stew with dumplings!—Sarah Yoder, Middlebury, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: This easy beef stew recipe is my favorite. The rich beef gravy helps the hearty flavor of the potatoes and carrots to come through. It's the perfect homemade dish for a blustery winter day. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

From the Recipe Creator: My husband and I enjoy visiting the apple orchards in nearby Nebraska City. We always make sure to buy extra cider to use in this sensational slow-cooked stew. —Carol Mathias, Lincoln, Nebraska

From the Recipe Creator: Rely on the convenience of your slow cooker for a meal that boasts all the hearty, stick-to-your-ribs goodness your family craves. These tender cubes of beef—loaded with a fantastic mushroom flavor and draped in a rich, burgundy sauce—are sure to have your guests asking for seconds of this potluck pleaser! —Melissa Galinat, Lakeland, Florida