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Cranberry Cider Braised Beef Stew with Rosemary Polenta. Slow cooked beef stew with cider, wine, fresh herbs, and sweet cranberries. If there’s one cozy autumn meal you need to be making, it’s this beef stew. It’s such a simple dinner to throw together, even kind of festive, and totally delicious. Serve this stew over a bed of creamy rosemary polenta and you’ll have the perfect dinner for a cold night in with family and friends.
Is anyone else in a bit of disbelief that we are already six days into November? It’s weird because on one hand, it feels like November, the temperatures are cold, the leaves have fallen, and Thanksgiving is my current focus (well, and the new cookbook, of course). On the other hand, it feels like it should still be September. Where did October go? How are we entering into the final days of 2019? Soon it’s going to be onto Christmas, my mind is just in complete shock.
I know that everyone says this, but how is time flying by so quickly? I’m currently on a plane headed to LA, but by the time this post goes live on Wednesday I’ll be finishing up my LA trip and already be heading back that night on a plane home – wow!
It is supposed to be a nice eighty-ish degrees in LA. I’m sure the next few days will be a little confusing to me weather-wise. Especially since I’m in full-on cozy fall mode…as you can tell from pretty much every recipe I’ll be sharing this month…but I’ll take it!
So what’s my point in all this crazy airplane rambling? Well, it’s November, and with November comes the arrival of fresh cranberries.
Most of the time we all only think to use cranberries in our Thanksgiving cranberry sauce. Maybe sometimes we’ll incorporate them into a cocktail, but rarely do we think to use cranberries in other ways.
Thankfully that’s why I’m here. I love using cranberries in savory ways throughout the months of November and December. Not only are cranberries festive and pretty…they can also be a sweet yet tart addition to savory recipes when used correctly. Enter this beef stew. It’s classic beef stew, but with a twist. And it’s just as delicious as you can imagine.
Start with the beef. The wonderful thing about beef stew is that you can use a cheaper cut of meat, but make it taste incredible. Cooking the beef low and slow helps to tenderize it and rid the beef of any toughness.
No time for low and slow? No worries, I also tested this recipe out in the instant pot. I was pleasantly surprised with just how mouth-wateringly good the beef turned out.
As with most meat-based recipes, I like to brown the beef before adding any kind of liquid. I know it’s an additional step, but I find it makes for an even more flavorful stew.
Brown the beef, then simply add in sweet cider, a touch of red wine, plenty of carrots, shallots, herbs, and all the other delicious workings of a great beef stew. The key to this stew is the use of fresh apple cider and tart cranberries. The cider spices up the sauce and balances out the tartness from the cranberries. And I know cranberries may seem odd, but trust me, beef and cranberries are such a delicious combination.
If you tried last year’s cranberry braised short ribs, you’ll love this beef stew.
Of course, if you’re truly not a fan, you can easily omit the cranberries from the recipe.
Just before you’re ready to eat, you should start making the polenta. You could also do something like mashed potatoes or egg noodles, but I’ve found that rosemary polenta is particularly delicious.
To give the polenta a really delicious flavor, I started off by frying the rosemary in a little olive with a few cloves of garlic. This infuses the oil but doesn’t leave you with an overpowering rosemary flavor. Once the rosemary is crisp just add water, then stir in the instant polenta.
If you’re new to instant polenta, it only takes five minutes to make but leaves you with the creamiest, butteriest polenta. This is one of my go-to (and gluten free) side dishes throughout the colder days of the year. It’s healthy, easy to make, and so delicious.
Once the beef is tender and the stew sauce has thickened into a loose gravy, spoon the beef over plates of steaming polenta.
Then top with that crisped rosemary and enjoy with a side of crusty bread…and maybe a glass of wine too.
I know it’s only Wednesday, but I don’t see why we can’t make it just as special as a Saturday. Right?
So let’s do it!
PS. How amazing would it be if I actually came home to this cooking away tonight? Unfortunately, I don’t get in until later, and then have to make the hour and a half trek home…ugh. Not my favorite.
BUT that leaves me with a thought. If you know someone who needs a little cheering up. Or you’d just like to do something nice for someone you love…make this beef.
It’s sure to be a win!
If you make this cranberry cider braised beef stew with rosemary polenta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
One of the best things I’ve ever made and eaten! We have a slightly larger group this year for Christmas. Could we use a larger chuck roast (or two?). I worry about doubling all the other ingredients since I wouldn’t want to cover and then just boil the meat. How many pounds do you think this would accommodate?
Hi Molly! You could definitely use a larger chuck roast and maybe just add a little bit more liquid? I would be a little hesitant to cook two in the same pot though! xT
We made this for Christmas dinner last year and were blown away. I recommend it all the time, especially to people looking for something really special but easily made DF/GF.
We have a slightly larger group this year. Could we use a larger chuck roast (or two?). I worry about doubling all the other ingredients since I wouldn’t want to cover and then just boil the meat. How many pounds do you think this would accommodate?
So good! I used what I had and forgot to cube the beef until the end so it was more like a roast but I made substitutions based off what I had and loved it! It was still tasty even using (1) pinot (2) apple – grape cider (3) Trader Joe’s Giotto balsamic glaze (4) I added rosemary and used sea along salt and a Georgian spice blend and it was so great- didn’t even use fresh herbs because .. inflation .. lol . I loved the festive feel and sweetness . And I had homemade mashed potatoes instead of polenta
Thanks sooo much! Love to hear that this recipe was a success! xT
This recipe is delicious!! I use the oven to cook my meat and I braise it as well, which makes it come out so juicy and tender. Keeping the lid on seals in the moisture and flavor. I also realized after cooking more and more within the last 10 years that low baking time is your friend. A 325° oven is better for meat flavor and tenderness. I did use the ACV the first I made this as I didn’t have the cider and upon making it again I realized how much better it is when made according to the instructions- LOL!!
So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for giving it a try! 🙂 xT
We love this recipe and have made it several times. I cook it in the crock pot. Both the stew and the polenta are absolutely delicious. Thanks so much!!
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe! 🙂 xT
This recipe was absolutely fantastic. I know anything from HBH will be good but this recipe was even better than I expected. The sweetness from the apple cider and the tartness from the cranberries worked so well together.
We followed the recipe for the Oven version which I would recommend as you get the best browning on the beef.
I will be making this again for sure.
Just a tip, I always throw a couple bags of cranberries in the freezer in November since they aren’t available year round.
Thank you so so much Kelly! So glad you enjoyed this recipe! xT