A butcher shares the best meat cuts for rich, tender homemade stew. Mistakes to AvoidEven the best recipe can’t make up for the wrong cut of meat. Beef Chuck6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1eIf you’re looking for a dependable all-purpose cut, beef chuck is the classic choice. “It has fat, flavor and enough structure for a long cook.” Beef ShinFor an even richer stew, beef shin is worth the extra cooking time.