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Home » Dinner

Beef Stew with Cheesy Parmesan Polenta

Published: Jan 6, 2017 · Last Updated: Oct 4, 2022 by Aimee - This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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This beef stew with cheesy polenta is comfort food. The beef is so tender, and the polenta is the perfect pairing that makes this dish feel restaurant quality.

Beef Stew with Cheesy Polenta

This beef stew over cheesy parmesan polenta is warming, filling, and so very tasty. It's one of my favorite dinners to make on those cooler fall or winter nights.

Why make this recipe:

Family friendly - This beef stew and polenta is flavorful enough to please food lovers, but tame enough to please picky eaters.

Delicious - As I mentioned, this is a tasty recipe. The beef stew is seasoned with spices and the polenta is creamy and flavored with Parmesan cheese.

Customizable! - I love customizable recipes. While this beef stew includes carrots, you can always add tomatoes, celery, potatoes, etc. to include whatever vegetables you love.

What is polenta?

Polenta is an Italian dish, usually made with dried cornmeal. It's mixed with liquid to form a creamy dish that's made with love (and a lot of stirring!) It is creamy and delicious when made correctly.

Where to find polenta?

I get polenta in the bulk section of my grocery store. You can find it under the name polenta or cornmeal. You can also order it online from Amazon here. Make sure to use the dried cornmeal/polenta. The packaged instant version will not work in this recipe.

stew with parmesan polenta

Why two kinds of cheese?

This polenta uses both parmesan cheese and cheddar cheese. I love the combination of both, which is why I include both. If you would prefer, you can just use parmesan though and use ¾ a cup of parmesan cheese. Try to get freshly grated, if you can! It makes all the difference. We keep a wedge in our refrigerator and use it in a variety of dishes, including this Instant Pot Parmesan Risotto.

What if my polenta gets lumpy?

If your polenta starts to get lumpy while cooking, take a whisk and stir vigorously to get the lumps out.

How to reheat polenta:

Reheating polenta can be tricky, but here's what I found to work best- take your polenta out and put it into a pot. Add some chicken stock or water, and heat on medium-low heat. Whisk frequently to break up the polenta. Add more liquid as needed. Add a touch of butter (and a touch more cheese if you want) when it's at the consistency you want and heated through. Stir to combine, then eat.

How to make:

Prep your ingredients by dicing your carrots and onion. Cut your beef into chunks, if it isn't already.

chopping carrots

In a large skillet, heat up the olive oil, then add the onions and carrots to the pan and sauté 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.

carrots and onions cooking in a skillet

Once that is cooked, add the chunks of beef and sear all sides, stirring as needed. Add the celery salt, herbs de provence seasoning, dried sage, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine everything. Add enough beef broth to cover the meat (about 3 cups). Heat until boiling, then reduce the heat and simmer over a low heat for 2 hours. (Looking for a quicker beef stew recipe? Try our Instant Pot Beef Stew).

After 2 hours, combine the cornstarch with water to make a cornstarch slurry and then stir into the stew.

Meanwhile, about 1.5 hours into cooking the stew, start the polenta.

Heat the water and chicken stock in a large pot over high heat. Once the water is boiling, whisk in the polenta. Reduce the heat to low, and stir (almost) constantly with a wooden spoon until the polenta is thick and creamy. I like to see if a spoon will mostly stand up in the polenta without being held.

Once polenta is creamy, Turn off the heat and add the butter, cheeses, and black pepper. Stir to combine.

Serve the polenta and beef stew in the same bowl, either side by side or with the beef stew on top of the polenta. Top with dried or fresh parsley.

Beef Stew with Cheesy Polenta in a bowl
stew with parmesan polenta in a bowl

Other recipes to love:

Melting sweet potatoes with sage and thyme.
Melting Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Instant Pot Beef Stew
french fries topped with parmesan cheese and parsley.
Italian French Fries
Beef Stew with Cheesy Polenta

Beef Stew with Cheesy Parmesan Polenta

Recipe by Aimee
This beef stew with cheesy polenta is comfort food. The beef is so tender, and the polenta is the perfect pairing that makes this dish feel restaurant quality.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

Beef Stew

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • 1 white or yellow onion small
  • 1.5 lbs top round beef roast (or stew meat), trimmed and cut into chunks
  • ⅛ teaspoon celery salt
  • ½ teaspoon herbs de Provence
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoon water
  • salt
  • pepper
  • dried or fresh parsley

Cheesy Parmesan Polenta

  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese
  • pepper

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or stew pot over medium heat. Add the carrots and onion, and cook 5-7 minutes until onions are translucent, stirring frequently.
  • Add the chunks of beef and cook, until all edges are browned and no longer pink. Season with celery salt, salt, and pepper and add the herbs de provence and dried sage and stir to combine.
  • Add enough beef broth to cover the meat (about 3 cups). Heat until boiling, then reduce to a simmer (med-low heat). Cook uncovered for 2 hours. In the last 10 minutes, combine the cornstarch with the water and mix. Then add to the beef stew and stir. This will help the stew thicken slightly.
  • After 1.5 hours of the beef stew simmering, start the polenta.
  • Add the water and chicken stock to a large pot and heat until boiling.
  • Whisk in the cornmeal, then lower the heat to med-low. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon for 20-25 minutes, until polenta has thickened considerably. Remove from heat and add the butter, parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, and a healthy amount of black pepper.
  • Spoon the polenta into a bowl and top with the beef stew. Sprinkle dried parsley over the top, if desired.

If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.

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Comments

  1. Dawn

    February 09, 2021 at 10:28 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this dish for my family a few times now and it’s so darn delicious! I made the beef with my instant pot tonight because I was short on time and it turned out really fantastic.

    Reply
  2. Grey Eyes Reviews @ GreyEyes.me

    January 03, 2021 at 10:12 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! This was such a comfort this holiday season that I will certainly be making it again!

    Reply
  3. Kelsey

    January 07, 2017 at 7:41 am

    Hey! Just wanted to stop in and say hi! I just discovered your online food magazine through instagram, and I think your pictures are stunning. Aimee - I was also a super picky eater until late in life...like, until I was 25.

    It's definitely soup weather in Austin this weekend!

    Reply
    • Aimee

      January 07, 2017 at 10:45 am

      It definitely is! All the warming foods! I can't believe how cold it got this morning. Also, I'm glad we've both come around on food! It opens up a whole new world now that I'm not such a picky eater. :)

      Reply

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