What to Serve With Beef Stew

Beef stew is the ultimate winter classic comfort food. With tender beef, savory sauce, and rich flavors, it’s no wonder this hearty dish is a seasonal staple in so many households.

But while the stew itself is undeniably delicious, pairing it with the right sides can take your beef stew dinner to the next level. Whether you’re cooking in a large Dutch oven, a slow cooker, or a large pot, here are some excellent choices to round out your meal.

Save these ideas so you can pick different sides each time to make each beef stew a special meal. Clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen to save the idea list.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why we love it
• 🥖 Bread
• 🍚 Rice and Pasta
• 🥔 Potato
• 🥦 Vegetables
• 🥗 Salads
• 🍫 Desserts
• 💭 Things to know
• 📣 Related Articles

❤️ Why we love it

Beef stew is a warm, comforting meal that is easy to make in your slow cooker.

• Perfect for cool nights or cold days.
• A versatile recipe to swap out your favorite beans or veggies.
• Can easily be adapted for your stove top.
• Leftovers are even better the second day.

Beef stew is the perfect weeknight dinner that you can throw together in the morning in your slow cooker and by the evening have a delicious mouthwatering meal.

No longer do you need to wonder what to serve with beef stew. Here are 101 ideas of sides to complement and make your beef stew a full meal.

🥖 Bread

When I think of what to serve with beef stew, bread is a welcome addition. Ripping off a piece of bread and dipping it into the rich brown gravy is so tasty.

Crusty Bread: Slices of bread, drizzled with olive oil and perhaps a touch of garlic, are perfect for soaking up every last bit of that delicious, savory stew from the bottom of the pot. It's a classic side for a reason.

Garlic Bread: Take your crusty bread to the next level by making this easy Air Fryer Garlic Bread. The aromatic garlic adds an extra layer of flavor that enhances the entire meal.

• Fluffy Dinner rolls
• Cornbread
• Southern buttermilk biscuits
• Pita bread
• Sweet Bread
• Crusty french bread
• Overnight Focaccia bread
• Hawaiin rolls
• Corn fritters
• Crescent rolls
• Sourdough bread
• Popovers

🍚 Rice and Pasta

A simple yet satisfying side. While white rice is a classic choice, brown rice adds a nutty flavor and extra fiber. For something a little different, consider rice pilaf and some of these simple pasta dishes.

• Lebanese rice
• Turmeric yellow rice
• Instant pot Basmati rice
• Tagliolini pasta
• Roasted rice
• Egg noodles
• Mediterranean rice
• Risotto
• Vegetarian orzo
• Quinoa
• Freekah rice pilaf

🥔 Potato

If you’re looking for a side with a creamy texture to complement your hearty beef stew, you can’t go wrong with creamy polenta or creamy mashed potatoes. An excellent choice to provide a smooth, comforting base that pairs beautifully with the tender meat and savory stew. For an extra layer of flavor, stir in a bit of Parmesan cheese or sour cream.

• Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
• Hash browns
• Tater tots
• Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Smashed Potatoes with Parmesan
• Colcannon with bacon
• Mashed sweet potatoes
• Instant pot baked potatoes
• Hassleback potatoes
• Baked sweet potatoes with cinnamon butter
• Vegetarian lasagna
• Ricotta stuffed shells
• Smashed potatoes
• Baked sweet potato slices
• Vegetarian Bolognese

🥦 Vegetables

Most beef stews may already have veggies in the stew, but no one ever said you could have too many vegetables and I happen to agree. Here are some that go well with beef stew.

• Mediterranean Green beans
• Sugar snap peas
• Steamed Brussels sprouts
• Roasted broccoli
• Braised red cabbage
• Air Fryer Frozen broccoli
• Sauté mushrooms
• Oven roasted butternut squash
• Oven roasted Brussels sprouts
• Green beans almondine
• Air Fryer Frozen Okra
• Roasted acorn squash
• Sweet butternut squash casserole
• Sautéed beets
• Eggplant in garlic sauce
• Green bean casserole
• Mediterranean roasted veggies
• Roasted butternut squash with asparagus
• Moroccan Taktouta
• Smoked Asparagus

🥗 Salads

potatoes or polenta. Both options provide a smooth, comforting base that pairs beautifully with the tender meat and savory stew. For an extra layer of flavor, stir in a bit of Parmesan cheese or sour cream.

• Caesar salad
• Pasta salad
• Simple green salad
• Greek Salad with Feta
• Pearl couscous salad
• Cucumber and tomato salad
• Arugula and red onion salad
• Quinoa salad
• Beet and carrot salad
• Fruit salad
• Edamame salad
• Mediterranean chickpea salad
• Eggplant salad
• Pea salad
• Potato salad
• Greek coleslaw (no mayo)

🍫 Desserts

When wondering what to serve with beef stew, desserts are always on my mind. Desserts are the perfect happy ending after enjoying beef stew dinner. These family favorites are light but incredibly tasty.

• Baked apple slices
• Healthier carrot cake
• Apple crisp
• Bread pudding
• Apple cream cheese bundt cake
• Mini pecan pies in phyllo dough
• Butterscotch pudding
• No bake double layer pumpkin pie
• Sugar cookies
• Chocolate chess pie
• Milk Pudding
• Southern coconut pie
• Chocolate and White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Penguin OREO Cookies

💭 Things to know

These tips will help you make the best beef stew recipe.

• Use homemade beef bone broth if possible for the most amazing flavor.
• Always check that there is enough liquid in the slow cooker or pot so the meat doesn't dry out.
• Browning the meat before adding to the crock pot adds tremendous flavor to the overall dish.
• The cut of meat makes a difference. Chuck roast is a favorite here.
• Trim any excess fat and then cut into chunks for your best beef stew recipe.

Taking time to make these easy sides is well worth the effort, especially because they bring out the power and wonderful array of flavors of beef stew. Make it as simple or complicated as you want, and choose one, two, or three sides to complement your dish.

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