Beef Stew with Cocoa Powder Recipe (Old-Fashioned, Slow Cooker & Chocolate Beef Stew)

I wanted to have something warm and rich. So last weekend I made a beef stew with cocoa powder recipe — sometimes called chocolate beef stew.

This simple addition turned this regular stew into something different. It didn’t taste like chocolate, and it wasn’t sweet at all.

But cocoa powder added a rich, deep, almost earthy flavor.

So in this post, I will give you my full Beef Stew with Cocoa Powder Recipe.

Plus, I will give you both options, like how you can make it on a stove top and in a slow cooker, so that you can make it in your own way.

 

Why Add Cocoa Powder to Beef Stew?

First, talk about why you have to add cocoa powder to beef stew

Because when somebody hears, for the first time, about adding cocoa powder to beef stew, they might say no.

Here is what cocoa powder will do to the beef recipe:

• Bitterness: It will balance the sweetness of onions and carrots.
• Depth that will make your beef taste like it’s been simmering longer than it has
• Earthiness that just works with beef and tomato-based gravies
• And warmth — the same way red wine or Worcestershire deepens the flavor, cocoa also does the same. I have never had wine in my life, so if you avoid it too, cocoa would be the right thing for you.

So don’t skip cocoa powder. Just try it once, and I’m sure you will like it — especially if you want an easy beef stew with cocoa powder that tastes like an old-fashioned stew but with a unique twist.

 

Ingredients for Cocoa Beef Stew / Chocolate Beef Stew (Classic & Slow Cooker)

This beef recipe is old-school at heart, but I’ve included a few ingredient tips to level it up.

1. Beef Chuck or Stew Meat

You want something with fat and connective tissue. 

• Beef chuck roast, 
• Cut them into 1½-inch cubes; it will work best. 

The longer you cook it, the more it will break down and become spoon-tender.

Amount: 2 lbs (900g), trimmed and cubed

2. Onion + Garlic

These two are the base of everything warm. And you should use yellow onions and fresh garlic.

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

3. Carrots & Celery

You want this for a classic stew vibe. They will also add sweetness, color, and texture.

• 2 to 3 carrots, chopped into chunks
• 2 stalks of celery, sliced

4. Potatoes

Old-fashioned stew needs chunky potatoes. I recommend you use Yukon Golds (If you can find them) because they can hold shape and soak up flavor very well.

• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

5. Tomato Paste

It will add umami and deepen the sauce. So, it is very important.

• 2 tablespoons

6. Cocoa Powder

You should use unsweetened, Dutch-processed cocoa powder. You just need one spoon.

• 1 tablespoon
• Brands I like: Valrhona, Ghirardelli, and also Hershey’s Special Dark, especially when you’re right on budget

If you’re a like cocoa in savory or sweet dishes, check out my easy chili with cocoa powder and cinnamon recipe for a spicy twist or this 3-ingredient chocolate mousse without eggs for dessert.

7. Red Wine (or Beef Broth)

I haven’t tried, but if you’re okay with it, you can include it for richness. Besides this, you can use all beef broth if needed.

• ½ cup dry red wine (like Merlot, Cab, or Pinot)
• 3 cups beef broth (low sodium)

8. Worcestershire Sauce

It’s an Old-school secret; it will give saltiness, tang, and umami.

• 1 tablespoon

9. Herbs

I recommend bay leaf, thyme, and rosemary — classic stew flavor.

• 1–2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary (or ½ tsp dried)

10. Olive Oil + Flour

You wanna use it to sear the beef and thicken the gravy.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

You can also add salt, black pepper, and optional crushed red chili flakes for a little kick (I like it).

 

Classic Stovetop Method (Old-Fashioned Way)

This method of cooking beef stew with cocoa powder will give you a full, simmer-all-day flavor. Here’s how to do it right.

Step 1: Sear the Beef

• Firstly, you wanna pat the beef cubes and dry them with paper towels (it’s very important!)
• Then, season with salt and pepper.
• Toss lightly in flour.

Now, heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. 

Sear beef in batches, so they can turn brown and don’t steam. 

Remove and set aside.

Don’t skip searing: It’s very important to make flavorful browned bits that will make your stew better than average.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatics

In the same pot, you can add a little more oil if needed, then:

• Sauté onions until they become golden and soft, which will take about 5 to 6 mins.
• Now, add garlic and stir it for 30 seconds.
• Then stir in tomato paste and cocoa powder, you wanna cook it down for a minute so it can be deep and dark.

After this process, you will start to smell a warm, earthy aroma, so that would be your flavor base.

Step 3: Deglaze with Wine

Pour in the red wine. 

You will have to scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. 

And then let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to reduce it a little.

Step 4: Build the Stew

Now add:

• Beef broth
• Worcestershire
• Bay leaves, thyme, rosemary
• Carrots, celery, potatoes
• The seared beef

Stir it all together and bring to a simmer.

Step 5: Simmer Low & Slow

Cover it, reduce heat to low, and let it cook 2 to 2½ hours, but you should keep stirring it in between.

This beef should be fork-tender, and the gravy thickened.

If the gravy feels thin, you can uncover the pot for the last 20 minutes and let it reduce.

If it’s too thick, you can add a little broth or hot water.

At this point, you can taste and adjust salt, pepper, or chili flakes.

Remove bay leaves before serving. 

Here is your beef stew with cocoa powder ready:

 

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Cocoa Powder (Easy Crockpot Chocolate Beef Stew)

Now, if you want to dump, go, and come back to dinner ready, then you should try the Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Cocoa Powder recipe. Here is how:

Step 1: Sear the Beef (Optional, but Best)

If you want the deepest flavor, you have to sear the beef in the pan I have mentioned above.

If not, then you can just toss the raw beef in the slow cooker with flour and seasoning.

Step 2: Mix Sauce Base

You wanna take a bowl, mix:

• Tomato paste
• Cocoa powder
• Wine
• Worcestershire
• Herbs
• Garlic + onion

Then pour that over the beef in your slow cooker.

Step 3: Add Veggies + Broth

Add:

• Carrots, celery, potatoes
• 3 cups beef broth

Stir slowly. Cover and cook:

• Low for 7 to 8 hours
• High for 4 to 5 hours

The beef should become tender, and the gravy should become thick.

If you want a thicker stew, in the last 30 mins, you can stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water).

Taste, adjust seasoning. And then you can serve it warm.

 

Optional Add-Ins & Substitutes

This beef stew with cocoa powder recipe is flexible, and works for variations like Mexican chocolate beef stew or even Filipino-style beef stew with chocolate. Here are add-ins you can try:

• Parsnips or turnips instead of potatoes
• Peas (add in last 10 mins) for a pop of sweetness
• Mushrooms for umami
• Smoked paprika for warmth
• Balsamic vinegar splash at the end for tang

If you’re not adding wine, you can use extra broth + 1 tsp balsamic or red wine vinegar.

Wants for chocolate sides? My rice flour brownies with cocoa powder recipe is a great option to pair as dessert.

 

Serving Ideas: What to Eat With This Beef Stew

I I haven’t eaten chocolate stew or beef stew with cocoa powder on its own. I always have something with them. 

So, here are some options that I recommend you pair your beef stew with.

• Rustic Bread: They are crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, so it is perfect for soaking the chocolate stew. For a homemade chocolate treat afterward, try my crumbl semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies recipe.
• Mashed Potatoes: You can pour stew over a pile for ultimate comfort. If you want something sweet after, try this old-fashioned chocolate pudding pie with cocoa powder.
• Buttered Egg Noodles: a little unexpected, but works very well 
• Rice or Quinoa: Both are good for a wholesome, hearty meal. (You can try with rice). For easy sweets, this no-bake chocolate banana pudding pie recipe is also good with this beef recipe.
• Roasted Brussels or Green Beans on the side

I have tried both rice and bread and like both.

 

Storing & Reheating

If you can’t finish the beef stew with cocoa powder at one time (which you may not) because nobody cooked it for you, like a specific time, especially people like me, so you can store the leftover for the next time, here is how.

• Fridge: Up to 4 to 5 days
• Freezer: Up to 3 months (freeze in portioned containers)
• Reheat: On the stove or in the microwave. Plus, you will have to add a splash of broth to loosen it if needed.

By the way, this beef stew with cocoa powder tastes better the next day. Because cocoa and spices settle deeper, and everything gets richer.

 

Texture & Taste Notes

After eating this beef stew with coconut powder recipe, here is what I think about its texture and taste.

• Cocoa doesn’t make this beef stew taste too chocolatey — it will make it taste older, richer
• The gravy is silky, not too thick, not soupy, and its balance is perfect
• The beef melts, which isn’t chewy, not dry, just soft.
• The wine, Worcestershire, and cocoa together will make the magic.

 

Conclusion

So this was the old-fashioned beef stew with cocoa powder recipe (also known as chocolate beef stew).

It is a kind of meal that you can make when you want comfort food. 

It’s deep, rich, tender, and full of flavor. Plus, it has a twist because of cocoa powder.

You can make this beef recipe in a pot, which is a classic way. Or, you can also use a slow cooker if you want to let it do its thing when you are busy.

This beef stew with cocoa powder is highly customizable, so you can make it spicier or smokier.

After making it, you can eat it with bread, mashed potatoes, or rice.

 

FAQs

Here are a few questions and their answer about this are beef stew cocoa powder recipes:

Can I make this beef stew without wine?

Yes, you can make this beef stew with cocoa powder recipe without wine.

You will have to replace wine with more beef broth, and if you want extra depth, then you can add a teaspoon of balsamic or red wine vinegar. 

This way you’ll still get the same rich, hearty flavor without wine (I didn’t use to and never did in the past as well, not just for this beef recipe, but also not for any other.

How do you make beef stew with cocoa powder?

To make beef stew with cocoa powder, you need to sear beef chunks, sauté onions and garlic. 

After that, stir in tomato paste and cocoa powder, then add broth, vegetables, and herbs. 

Finally, you can simmer it slowly on the stove or even cook it in a slow cooker until the beef becomes tender and flavorful.

Does cocoa powder make beef stew taste like chocolate?

No — adding unsweetened cocoa powder to beef stew won’t make your beef sweet or chocolatey. 

Instead of that. It will add earthy depth, balance the vegetables’ sweetness, and create a rich, old-fashioned flavor that tastes like you have simmered it longer than it really has.

Can I make beef stew with cocoa powder in a crockpot?

Yes, you can make crockpot beef stew with cocoa powder; in fact, it’s easier to cook a beef recipe in a Crockpot.

Because you will need to sear beef, add broth, vegetables, tomato paste, cocoa, and herbs in a slow cooker at the same time. 

After that, you can cook it on low for 7 to 8 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours until the beef becomes tender and rich.

What do you serve with chocolate beef stew?

There are too many things you can serve with chocolate beef stew, such as rustic bread, dipping, creamy mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles and rice. 

Besides this, you can also serve with roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or green beans. 

They will balance the richness and make it a complete, hearty comfort meal.

Can I skip the cocoa powder or replace it with chocolate?

Yes, you can do that. If you skip cocoa powder and use chocolate, it will still be good.

However, you will miss the earthy undertone, which makes this beef recipe stand out.

Also, I recommend that you shouldn’t use a regular chocolate or sweetened cocoa mix.

Because they have sugar and milk solids, which will mess up the flavor, I don’t recommend that.

You should go with unsweetened cocoa powder, like the Dutch processed.

What cut of beef is best for stew?

I recommend you use Beef chuck roast. It has the perfect amount of fat and connective tissue that will melt very well into tenderness as it cooks. 

Besides this, pre-cut stew meat can work too, but sometimes it’s a mix of cuts and can get chewy. 

Can I freeze this beef stew?

Yes, you can freeze this cocoa powder beef stew. However, you should first cool it and then store it in airtight containers (portion-sized is best) and freeze for up to 3 months. 

When you want to eat again, you will have to keep it in the fridge overnight and reheat it on the stovetop with some broth to bring it back to life. 

However, I personally never keep my recipe for months, especially when it’s about a full meal; they are good when they’re fresh, or just a few days old.