10 Best Stew Recipes In America

Hearty and comforting stews have been eaten since ancient times, and stew recipes can be found in one of the earliest French cookbooks, Le Viandier, by the French chef Taillevent. However, they have since found their way to American households, and today are a staple in kitchens around the country.

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You can throw virtually anything into a stew, but most consist of meat, vegetables, and a stock to cook the ingredients in. And because stews are so versatile, they're a great way to utilize leftover ingredients from the night before.

Different from a soup, a stew takes longer to cook over a lower heat and is usually much thicker. The best meats to use in a stew are tougher meats, which break down and soften due to the slow cooking method.

No matter what ingredients you choose to put in your stew, you can be sure you'll end up with a hearty and comforting dish that is perfect for the colder months of the year. And so, we've rounded up our list of the 10 best stews in the country.