Homemade Beef Stock Recipe (2024)

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

4.36 from 28 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

What is the ratio of bones to water for beef stock? ›

The basic ratio for a good stock is 100% water, 50% bones and 10% mirepoix. To make it a rich stock you need to roast the bones and I like to bump the bones up to about 60% and the mirpoix to 15%. As in all brown stocks you would add a bit of tomato product too.

What is the ratio for stock ingredients? ›

Basics: The basic ratio I use for making stock is 4:1 1/2:1/2:1/2. That's 4 pounds of bones and meat, 1 1/2 pounds of onions, and 1/2 pounds each of carrots and celery. This ratio works for beef, chicken, turkey, ham/pork, veal, whatever the meat is and makes about 2 quarts of stock.

How to 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.

Can you overcook bones for stock? ›

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.

How many beef stock cubes for 2 cups of water? ›

One bouillon cube or a teaspoon of bouillon powder can be dissolved in one cup of boiling water to make one cup of broth. You can also melt bouillon cubes or powder directly into soups, stews, sauces and curries to enhance their flavour and create a thicker consistency.

What are the 3 basic ingredients in making good stocks? ›

Stocks are prepared with a few basic ingredients including bones, mirepoix, herbs and spices, and sometimes tomatoes or wine. They are often prepared using leftover ingredients as a cost-effective measure for the kitchen.

What is the best ratio for a stock? ›

Price-to-earnings, or P/E, ratio

The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is quite possibly the most heavily used stock ratio. The P/E ratio—also called the "multiple"—tells you how much investors are willing to pay for a stock relative to its per-share earnings.

What are the four 4 ingredients of a stock? ›

What are the four essential parts of a stock and the proper ingredients for each? Major flavoring ingredients, A liquid, most often water, Mirepoix, and aromatics. Mirepoix contains onion carrots and celery. Aromatics is Banquet Garni or Sachet d'epices.

How to do stocks for beginners? ›

How to start investing in stocks: 9 tips for beginners
  1. Buy the right investment.
  2. Avoid individual stocks if you're a beginner.
  3. Create a diversified portfolio.
  4. Be prepared for a downturn.
  5. Try a simulator before investing real money.
  6. Stay committed to your long-term portfolio.
  7. Start now.
  8. Avoid short-term trading.
Apr 16, 2024

What is the difference between beef broth and beef stock? ›

Although both stock and broth involve simmering in water, broth uses meat while stock uses bones. As a result, broth contains very little protein, a key ingredient in building flavor. Additionally, broth often does not contain vegetables or herbs, thereby requiring higher sodium levels to impart flavor.

What is the easiest stock to prepare? ›

Among the different types of stock, which one is the easiest to prepare? The vegetable stock is the easiest to prepare. This stock is made from white meat or bones. The preparation for this stock usually takes five to six hours for meat and eight to ten hours for bones.

What are the 5 steps to making a stock? ›

The 5 Steps in Stock Production

Selecting a cold liquid, natural clarification, skimming, simmering, and straining. Cold liquid is necessary for stock production as cold water will release more flavor, also, as the bones and collective tissue breakdown they will release albumin.

What are the 7 steps of stock making? ›

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

What makes the best stock? ›

The company's revenue growth, profitability, debt levels, return on equity, position within its industry and the health of its industry are all metrics you should consider prior to making an investment, Sahagian says.

How much water per pound of bones? ›

Then I add bones and water at a ratio of about 1 pound bones to 1 quart water.

Is 2 cups of bone broth too much? ›

Thankfully, the collagen and amino acids in bone broth are incredibly beneficial for joint aches and pains. While everyone is different, we've seen customers rave about joint pain disappearing with regular bone broth consumption. To see benefits for joints and cartilage, we suggest drinking 2-4 cups of broth per day.

How much water to add to beef stock? ›

How to make beef stock. Place beef bones in a very large stock pot, at least 7 litres / quarts; Add the herbs and vegetables, and 3 litres of water to just cover the bones. Pack the bones and vegetables down so you minimise the amount of water required.

How much bone do you need for stock? ›

Tips for Making Bone Broth

This recipe calls for 2 pounds of mixed beef bones such as oxtail, marrow bones, and even short ribs. Bone broth should be cooked for a minimum of 12 hours. Although a richer, thicker stock is achieved with 24 to 48 hours.

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