Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (2024)

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Author: Jessica Formicola

Published: 01/21/2014

Updated: 07/12/2023

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Have you ever been to a fabulous restaurant and had a bowl of French Onion Soup that knocked your socks off?

Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (1)

How do they do this? Good stock. The base of any superb and memorable soup or gravy is a rich stock.

The Best Beef Stock recipe made with herbs and vegetables. Freezer friendly and full of flavor, you’ll never buy store bought again!

If there is nothing else you take from this post, take this: not all stock is created equal. Store bought stock, the kind you get in a cardboard box, will never have the same robust flavor as homemade.

Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (2)

I get it, it takes a lot of time to create a flavorful stock, it is so much easier to pick up a box and add a little Kitchen Bouquet to “beef” it up.

If only once, try making your own. You will forever respect the process. Another key to this process is the quality of ingredients.

Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (3)

The more meat and bones, the better the flavor. Depending on the meat used, you may not achieve the same dark brown color you would get out of bullion or store bought stock, but have no fear, those generally have color added to produce the finished product.

After you apply your beef stock to the intended recipe, you will never notice the difference in color because you will be blown away by the intense flavor. The texture will also be thicker, even gelatinous when cooled.

Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (4)
Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (5)

Another pro? Stock freezes really well. Take one lazy Sunday and make a triple batch to freeze for later.

If you do decide to freeze, allow space at the top of your container to allow it to expand. You will need a stock pot or large enamel Dutch oven to prepare your stock.

But before you get started, make sure to read my How To Make Stock to ensure yours is the BEST it can be!

Recipe that use beef stock:

  • Apple French Onion Soup
  • Short Rib Soup
  • Beef Stroganoff
  • Crock Pot Beef and Noodles
Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (6)

The BEST Beef Stock Recipe

4.38 from 29 votes

The Best Beef Stock recipe made with herbs and vegetables. Freezer friendly and full of flavor, you’ll never buy store bought again!

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 hours hrs

Total Time: 8 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 cups

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Ingredients

  • 3-4 pounds beef bones *
  • 2 large yellow onions , peeled and quartered
  • 1 cup carrots , roughly chopped
  • 3 celery ribs , cut into 4 segments
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 1 pound beef stew meat * , or scraps left over from other meals using beef cuts
  • 1 celery base , the bulb at the end
  • 4 cloves garlic , smashed and pealed
  • 1 turnip , diced into 1-inch cubes
  • 1/2 bunch parsley
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt or Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper , coarsely ground
  • 1 fresh thyme sprig
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss beef bones, onion, carrot and celery in olive oil. Roast for 1 hour, turning half way.

  • Meanwhile, place the stew meat, celery base, garlic, turnip, parsley, bay leaves, salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary in a large stock pot. Add the roasted vegetables and beef bones to the pot, although with any remaining liquid. Pour the red wine into the hot roasting pan to deglaze, loosening all the browned bits. Pour the wine and browned bits into the stock pot.

  • Add enough water to cover ingredients, plus two inches.

  • Simmer on low heat for 4-7 hours, the longer the better. About 2 hours after cooking, pull out the bones and using a potato nail or the end of a meat thermometer, scoop the marrow out and return to the stock along with the bones. The mixture might not be the deep brown color you are used to, after the mixture sits and fats separate from the broth, it will be less cloudy and more brown.

  • The liquid will have reduced by half, if not more. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out all solid ingredients. Line a colander or large sieve with a triple layer of cheesecloth and place over a large bowl, Dutch oven or casserole dish. Strain liquid through the cheese cloth. Discard solids. Cover and place liquid into the refrigerator.

  • After liquid has chilled, all of the fat will rise to the top and solidify. Now it can easily be spooned off the top leaving only deep, rich and flavorful beef stock. Now use your beef stock for something fabulous!

  • If you've tried this recipe come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.

Notes

*My grocer sells beef bones frozen in large hunks. Apparently not a lot of people in my area make their own stock. The problem is that frozen bones rarely have a lot of meat on them, so I compensate by adding extra stew meat. If your bones are super meaty you can omit the stew meat.

Nutrition

Calories: 296 kcal, Carbohydrates: 8 g, Protein: 13 g, Fat: 19 g, Saturated Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 53 mg, Sodium: 1237 mg, Potassium: 364 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 2 g, Vitamin A: 3605 IU, Vitamin C: 4.8 mg, Calcium: 40 mg, Iron: 1.7 mg

Author: Jessica Formicola

Calories: 296

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: beef broth, beef stock

Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is beef broth the same as beef stock? ›

Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh. In both cases, they are often supported with aromatic vegetables, but in the case of stock, left unseasoned for maximum flexibility in recipes, whereas broth will usually contain at least salt and pepper.

How do you make beef stock more flavorful? ›

Add the bay leaf, parsley, thyme, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Skim off any foamy scum from the top. Reduce the heat to a simmer, partially cover, and simmer for 4 to 6 hours, or until the flavors become rich and concentrated.

How do you make stock from scratch? ›

To make homemade chicken stock, place chicken bones, vegetables, herbs and spices into a large pot. Cover with cold water then simmer for about 3 hours. Let it cool, then skim the fat. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

What makes the best beef broth? ›

With beef stock, it helps to include some beef scraps or stew meat, as well as aromatic vegetables and herbs. Also, a few veal bones will help provide gelatin to the stock.

What can I use as a substitute for beef stock? ›

Like beef broth, chicken broth is a kitchen staple and makes a good substitute if you are all out of the meaty broth. This savory, salty liquid has a milder flavor than beef broth but is a good one-to-one replacement. Chicken broth also has a similar nutrition profile to beef broth, low in calories and high in sodium.

Is it better to cook with beef broth or stock? ›

Stock has a richer, deeper flavor and mouthfeel, making it better at adding body to a dish, whereas broth might be a better choice when you want to let other flavors to shine.

Why do you put vinegar in beef stock? ›

Then add apple cider vinegar, which is added primarily because the acidity breaks down the collagen and makes it more abundant in the broth.

Why add tomato paste to beef stock? ›

Tomato paste – We are all about that rich, beefy flavor. Thanks to the umami in tomatoes, tomato paste helps us achieve it. We roast our beef bones, rubbed in tomato paste, for 30 minutes before making the stock.

Can you simmer beef stock too long? ›

There's a limit to how much flavor a given ingredient will impart—past that, extra time just turns everything to mush. Big beef or lamb bones can be cooked for up to eight hours, or overnight. Chicken bones are more like four to six. Veggies give up all their flavor in about an hour.

What are the four 4 ingredients of a stock? ›

Answer: Stocks contain four essential parts: a major flavoring ingredient, liquid, aromatics, and mirepoix: The major flavoring ingredient consists of bones and trimmings for meat and fish stocks and vegetables for vegetable stock.

What are the 4 steps to making a stock? ›

How to make stock
  1. Place chicken carcasses/bones into large pan and top with cold water. Heat to a gentle simmer and skim off any protein scum which rises up. ...
  2. Add vegetables and bouquet garni. ...
  3. Strain the stock, pour into a clean pan and boil fiercely to reduce the stock and intensify the flavour.

What are the 5 steps to making a stock? ›

How to Make Stock or Broth
  1. Step 1: Meat Trimmings. Butcher a chicken to obtain bone and meat remains. ...
  2. Step 2: Cover in Water. Cover the meat and bones in cold water. ...
  3. Step 3: Heat the Water. ...
  4. Step 4: Skim. ...
  5. Step 5: Simmer. ...
  6. Step 6: Cut Vegetables. ...
  7. Step 7: Add Vegetables and Herbs. ...
  8. Step 8: Simmer Down.

How to make a beef broth fast? ›

You may do a 12-16 hour fast 8pm-12pm predominantly while sleeping and in morning only having water, coffee, or tea. Then at noon or so, have 12-16oz bone broth and 1 Tbsp fat to break the fast and sip on another 8-16oz broth another time through the day as a snack.

What beef stock do chefs use? ›

Made exactly like chefs would do in their kitchen, CHEF All Natural Beef stock is a great base for sauces. View the full range of CHEF stocks here. This product is supplied as 1 x 10 litres. 10 litres equivalent to 100 servings.

What is the best cut of meat for stock? ›

Beef stock is typically made from beef bones and meaty cuts, such as neck bones, shanks, and oxtails. These cuts are known for their high collagen content, which provides the rich, full-bodied flavor and thick, gelatinous texture that are characteristic of a good beef stock.

Can I substitute beef broth for beef stock? ›

You can use broth for beef stock, but the results may not be optimal. Stock is better suited for recipes that require and fat and depth of taste. Broth is better served as ingredients for delicious tasting soups, pasta dishes and seasoned dishes like pho or ramen.

Can I replace beef stock with broth? ›

The difference between a broth and stock is that stock is made primarily from bones while broth is made with more meat. This means that stocks usually have a richer, more intense flavour than broths. The easiest way to substitute broth for stock is to reduce the broth which will concentrate the flavour.

Can you use beef broth in place of stock? ›

You can always substitute equal parts broth for stock. Since stock is generally thicker and more flavorful, you might find your favorite recipes get more of a flavor boost by using stock.

What happens if I use beef stock instead of beef broth? ›

If you are looking for a substitute that is similar in flavor, beef stock is a great option! It is made by simmering beef bones, water, and vegetables. To use beef stock as a substitute, you can use equal amounts of stock as beef broth called for in your recipe.

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