10 Slow-Cooked Stews for Chilly September Evenings

This collection of 10 Slow-Cooked Stews for Chilly September Evenings is perfect for the first cold nights of autumn. Most of them cook for a couple of hours, but very little of that time is hands on. There are beef, lamb and bean stews in here, and several taste even better the next day. The longest one is at number 10, so keep that for the weekend. Save this list for the colder months ahead.

Etli Taze Fasulye - Green Bean Stew with Meat

A bowl of green bean stew with meat, served with bread and a side salad. — Ayla Clulee

Fresh green beans and diced lamb or beef are cooked in a simple tomato sauce until soft. It takes about 70 minutes, and most of that is gentle simmering. Serve it with crusty bread to mop up the sauce.

To learn more: Etli Taze Fasulye - Green Bean Stew with Meat

Tas Kebabi - Turkish Beef Stew

Tas kebabi served over rice on a blue plate, topped with fried potatoes and peppers. — Ayla Clulee

Diced beef is cooked slowly with onion, garlic and tomato paste until it falls apart. It goes over rice with fried potatoes and peppers on top, and it takes just under two hours. There's another beef stew with potatoes and peas at number 6.

Get the full recipe: Tas Kebabi - Turkish Beef Stew

Lamb Goulash, Stove, Oven or Slow Cooker

Lamb goulash on a plate with mashed potatoes. — Ayla Clulee

Chunks of lamb shoulder cook for nearly two hours in a paprika, tomato and red wine sauce. You can make it on the hob, in the oven or in a slow cooker. Serve it with mashed potatoes and a spoon of soured cream on top.

Find the recipe here: Lamb Goulash

Kuru Fasulye, Soak the Beans the Night Before

A bowl of kuru fasulye, Turkish white bean and lamb stew. — Ayla Clulee

Kuru Fasulye is a Turkish white bean and lamb stew made with pantry basics. The beans need soaking overnight, then the stew takes about 80 minutes. Number 8 is another Turkish stew, made with peas.

See the recipe: Kuru Fasulye

Ghormeh Sabzi - Persian Herb Stew

Close-up of ghormeh sabzi with lamb, kidney beans and herbs. — Ayla Clulee

Lamb and kidney beans are slow-cooked with dried limes and plenty of fried herbs, such as spinach, parsley and coriander. It takes about two and a half hours. Serve it over rice, with crispy tahdig if you have time to make it.

Full recipe: Ghormeh Sabzi - Persian Herb Stew

Orman Kebabi, Beef With Potatoes and Peas

Orman kebabi with beef, carrots, potatoes and peas in a white bowl. — Ayla Clulee

Orman Kebabi is a one-pot Turkish stew of beef, potatoes, carrots and peas. It cooks for almost two hours and tastes even better reheated the next day. If you have a whole afternoon free, skip ahead to number 10.

To learn more: Orman Kebabi

Lamb Tagine, With Apricots and Squash

This Moroccan lamb stew has dried apricots, butternut squash and warm spices like cinnamon and cumin. The lamb cooks slowly for about two hours until it falls apart. It freezes well, so you can make a double batch.

Get the recipe: Lamb Tagine

Etli Bezelye - Turkish Green Pea Stew

Turkish pea stew with lamb, carrots and potatoes in a clay dish. — Ayla Clulee

Diced lamb, peas, carrots and potatoes are cooked together in a light tomato sauce. It's an easy one-pot family meal, ready in about an hour and 40 minutes. Frozen peas work fine when fresh ones are out of season.

Read the full recipe: Etli Bezelye - Turkish Green Pea Stew

Kuzu Güveç, Baked in the Oven

Kuzu güveç with lamb, button onions and aubergine in a blue bowl. — Ayla Clulee

Kuzu Güveç is a Turkish lamb casserole with aubergine, green beans, button onions and red pepper paste. It bakes slowly in a clay pot or a Dutch oven for about two hours. The last stew on this list takes four hours.

Make it at home: Kuzu Güveç

Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon Recipe

Beef bourguignon with mushrooms and carrots in a red casserole dish. — Ayla Clulee

Beef, bacon, mushrooms and button onions are cooked slowly in red wine until the meat is very tender. The beef spends about three hours in the oven, but almost none of that is hands on. It's even better made a day ahead, so it's a good one for having people over.

Step-by-step recipe: Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon Recipe