Description
This Hamburger Stew recipe is a comforting and hearty dish that combines ground beef, beans, vegetables, and a rich blend of herbs and spices, simmered slowly to develop deep flavors. Perfectly served with hamburger buns and your favorite toppings, it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing meal ideal for cozy family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
For Serving
- Hamburger buns
- Your favorite hamburger toppings (shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, etc.)
Instructions
- Heat the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables have softened, which helps to build the stew’s flavor base.
- Brown the ground beef: Add ground beef to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is fully browned, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease to keep the stew from becoming too oily.
- Add the seasoning paste: Stir in tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly to toast the spices and meld the flavors.
- Add liquids and beans: Pour in the beef broth while scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze and capture all the browned bits. Add undrained diced tomatoes, rinsed and drained kidney and pinto beans, frozen corn, bay leaves, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer the stew: Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Then reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for at least 1 hour. This slow cooking allows the flavors to deepen and the ingredients to meld together beautifully.
- Final seasoning and serve: Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaves before serving. Serve the stew hot in bowls alongside hamburger buns and a selection of your favorite hamburger toppings.
Notes
- For a spicier stew, increase the cayenne pepper or add a dash of hot sauce.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
- The stew can be made a day ahead and reheated; flavors improve with time.
- Leftovers freeze well for up to 3 months.
- Serve with crusty bread if buns are not available.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Stew
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: hamburger stew, ground beef stew, beef and bean stew, easy stew recipe, comfort food, one pot meal
