Cider Braised Beef with Apples and Onions
This Cider Braised Beef with Apples and Onions is a hearty, cozy, and flavorful dish perfect for fall and winter. Tender beef simmers in apple cider with sweet apples and caramelized onions, creating a rustic yet elegant comfort meal that’s perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
- Beef chuck roast or stew beef cut into chunks
- Apples Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, sliced
- Onions sliced
- Apple cider not vinegar
- Beef broth
- Garlic cloves minced
- Olive oil or butter
- Fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs
- Bay leaf
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil or butter in a Dutch oven and brown beef on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- Add sliced onions and minced garlic to the pot. Cook until softened.
- Stir in sliced apples and allow them to lightly caramelize.
- Return beef to the pot. Add apple cider, beef broth, fresh herbs, and bay leaf.
- Bring to a simmer, then cover and braise gently in the oven (or stovetop) for 2–2½ hours, until beef is fork-tender.
- Remove herbs and bay leaf. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
Notes
- Great served over mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread.
- For added depth, use hard cider or stir in Dijon mustard at the end.
- Add carrots or parsnips for extra vegetables and flavor.
- To thicken the sauce, simmer uncovered or use a cornstarch slurry.
- Freezes well up to 3 months and tastes even better the next day.