This sweet and spicy pumpkin beef stew is a hearty one-pot meal made with tender stew meat, bone broth, pumpkin, and vegetables. Perfect for cozy fall dinners on busy days!
This sweet and spicy pumpkin beef stew is a hearty one-pot meal made with tender stew meat, bone broth, pumpkin, and vegetables. Perfect for cozy fall dinners on busy days!
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An Easy Meal for Busy Moms!
One thing I’ve learned over the past few years of cooking with kids, is that I love a meal that I can throw together quickly, leave the house, and come home to eat. This lets me go have fun with the kids without the stress of cooking something quickly when we get home (and everyone is starving!)
This beef stew hits all my marks for a good meal. It’s a one pot meal, it can be made ahead of time (even a few days ahead of time, or longer and kept in the freezer), it has tons of nutritious ingredients, and everyone loves it!
In my latest youtube video I talk about how I’ve been loving actually writing down which meals I will prep for each day of the week (lunch and dinner). This beef stew is one that just keeps making the list.
I hope you and your family enjoy this pumpkin beef stew as much as mine does!
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Why We Love This Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Beef Stew
Perfect for Busy Days
This pumpkin beef stew is easy to throw all in one pot, and let it simmer on the stove all afternoon. The smell will fill the house, and dinner will be ready whenever you are!
Nourishing & Filling
Packed with protein, healthy carbs, and a nourishing homemade bone broth, this is the kind of meal that I am confident feeding to my whole family.
Fridge or Freezer Friendly for Make-Ahead Options!
This beef stew actually gets better with time. You can definitely make this and store in the fridge 3-4 days before you’re going to serve it, or even keep it in the freezer and thaw it out later. It reheats very easily!
Find a full list of our favorite freezer meals here!
Tips for Making Homemade Beef Stew
Brown the beef first for the best flavor—those caramelized bits on the bottom of the pot add richness to the broth.
My mom always used to tell me, “low and slow” if you want the most tender meat. That rule for sure applies to this pumpkin beef stew!
If you like a sweeter soup, add more carrots or even a pinch of brown sugar. For a bit more spice, try adding red chili flakes, or more chili powder.
More Soup Recipes from the Homestead
Homestyle Corn Chowder with Bacon
Want More Fall Recipes?
You can fill your home with the cozy flavors of fall using simple, from-scratch recipes the whole family will love.
Keep all your favorite autumn breads, soups, desserts, and warm-and-hearty meals in one place!
Download and print this NEW fall from-scratch recipe ebook and keep it on your counter for easy, everyday cooking all season long.
Pumpkin Beef Stew Ingredient Spotlight
Beef Stew Meat
A great way to use up that quarter cow, if you have one. Otherwise, store-bought beef stew chunks work perfectly! Remember to cook low and slow for the most tender meat.
Bone Broth
We love using homemade bone broth in our house. We simmer bones with onion, garlic, and leftover veggie scraps, which gives it a deep flavor and makes the stew more nourishing.
Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin makes the broth velvety and slightly sweet while adding fiber and vitamin A. It also thickens the stew naturally without needing flour or starch.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes add body, natural sweetness, and a boost of nutrients. They hold up well during simmering and make the stew extra hearty.
Tools Needed
Large stovetop pot or Dutch oven
Medium size bowl
Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Beef Stew Ingredients
1 tbsp bacon fat or olive oil
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
1/2 cup flour (for coating the beef. We like whole grain or einkorn flour for this) + 2 tsp salt or seasoning of choice
1/2 large white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1-2 sweet potatoes , cut into 1 inch cubes (you can also use russet)
1 tbsp tomato paste
6-8 cups bone broth
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt (or more, to taste)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup red wine
Shredded cheese (optional – for topping)
How to Make Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Beef Stew
Heat a large stovetop pot on medium heat. Add bacon fat or olive oil.
In a medium size bowl, add the meat, flour, and seasoning of choice. Toss the meat in the flour and salt or seasoning until well coated.
Then add the meat to the pot and sauté until browned, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once browned, remove the meat and set aside.
Next sauté the onion, celery, carrots, and potatoes in the same pot for 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the garlic and sauté another 2-3 minutes.
Next add the meat back into the pot, along with all the other ingredients.
Cover and simmer on medium-low for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. You know it’s done when the meat is falling apart when picked up with a fork.
Serve with a sprinkle of shredded cheese on top and enjoy!
FAQs
Can I make pumpkin beef stew in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the beef first, then add everything to the slow cooker and cook on low for 7–8 hours or high for 4–5 hours.
Does pumpkin make the stew taste sweet?
Not overly. It adds a mild sweetness that balances the spices and savory beef without turning the stew into a sweet dish. Carrots do add sweetness though, so you can adjust that ingredients to your liking!
What cut of beef works best for stew?
Chuck roast, stew meat, or any well-marbled, tougher cut works best because it becomes tender during long cooking.
Can I make this stew less spicy for kids?
Yes, you can reduce the chili powder for a less spicy soup. However, I find that just a little bit chili powder (no chili flakes, cumin, etc) passes the test for my kids!
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More Cozy Recipes from the Homestead
From-Scratch Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Fall-Apart Pork Shoulder Roast
Spiced Butternut Squash and Beef Tacos
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Beef Stew
This sweet and spicy pumpkin beef stew is a hearty one-pot meal made with tender stew meat, bone broth, pumpkin, and vegetables. Perfect for cozy fall dinners!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp bacon fat or olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
- 1/2 cup flour (for coating the beef. We like whole grain or einkorn flour for this) + 2 tsp salt or seasoning of choice
- 1/2 large white onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 1-2 sweet potatoes , cut into 1 inch cubes (you can also use russet)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 6-8 cups bone broth
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp salt (or more, to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup red wine
- Shredded cheese (optional - for topping)
Instructions
- Heat a large stovetop pot on medium heat. Add bacon fat or olive oil.
- In a medium size bowl, add the meat, flour, and seasoning of choice. Toss the meat in the flour and salt or seasoning until well coated.
- Then add the meat to the pot and sauté until browned, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once browned, remove the meat and set aside.
- Next sauté the onion, celery, carrots, and potatoes in the same pot for 5 to 7 minutes. Then add the garlic and sauté another 2-3 minutes.
- Next add the meat back into the pot, along with all the other ingredients.
- Cover and simmer on medium-low for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. You know it’s done when the meat is falling apart when picked up with a fork.
- Serve with a sprinkle of shredded cheese on top and enjoy!
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