Savory Oven-Baked Hearty Beef Stew
This scrumptious beef stew is a flavor-packed delight, featuring succulent beef cubes perfectly browned in mouth-watering bacon grease, creating a tantalizing depth of flavor. Slow-baked with an abundance of fresh vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms, this stew is enhanced with a robust tomato-based sauce. The addition of dry tapioca ensures a wonderfully thick and rich consistency, while Worcestershire sauce and a hint of sugar add a balanced savory-sweet nuance. Perfect for serving with crusty bread or over noodles, this stew is comfort food at its finest, effortlessly warming your soul on a cold day.
6-8 servings
Servings
387
Calories
18
Ingredients
Ingredients
bacon grease or oil
4 tablespoons (for browning)
beef stew meat
2 lbs (cubed)
seasoned salt
1 teaspoon (mixed with spices)
fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon (mixed with spices; plus more to taste)
garlic powder
2 teaspoons (mixed with spices)
diced tomatoes
14.5 ounces (undrained)
crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon (optional, to taste)
low sodium beef broth
1 cup (can use water if needed)
dry tapioca
3 tablespoons (for thickening)
beef bouillon powder
1 tablespoon (for flavor enhancement)
Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons (for flavor enhancement)
sugar
2 teaspoons (for balanced sweetness)
carrots
3 large (peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces)
celery
1 large stalk (sliced into 3/4-inch pieces, optional)
potatoes
3 (peeled and cubed)
onion
1 large (coarsely chopped)
button mushrooms
10-15 small (cleaned)
bread
1 slice (broken into small pieces)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2
Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or an oval casserole dish to prevent sticking.
3
In a small bowl, combine the seasoning salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to form a seasoning mix.
4
Place the beef stew meat in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning mix generously over the beef.
5
Using clean hands, toss the beef until all cubes are evenly coated with the spices.
6
Heat bacon grease or oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
7
Brown the seasoned beef in batches, making sure each piece is well-seared on all sides.
8
Remove the browned beef from the skillet and place it in a large bowl.
9
To the skillet, add undrained tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, beef broth, tapioca, beef bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined.
10
Add the browned beef back into the mixture, followed by the carrots, celery, potatoes, mushrooms, and small pieces of bread. Stir until everything is evenly mixed and coated in the sauce.
11
Transfer the beef and vegetable mixture to the prepared baking dish.
12
Season to taste with additional black pepper, if desired.
13
Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil or a lid.
14
Bake in the preheated oven for about 2 hours, or until the beef and vegetables are tender.
15
Carefully remove from the oven, and let sit for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Nutrition Information
20g
Fat
25g
Carbs
24g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main protein in Savory Oven-Baked Hearty Beef Stew?
The main protein is 2 lbs of cubed beef stew meat.
At what temperature should I preheat the oven?
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
How long does this beef stew need to bake?
The stew should bake for approximately 2 hours or until the beef and vegetables are tender.
What is used as a thickening agent in this recipe?
The recipe uses 3 tablespoons of dry tapioca and 1 slice of bread broken into pieces to thicken the sauce.
What size baking dish is required?
You should use a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or an oval casserole dish.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes 6-8 servings.
Can I substitute the bacon grease?
Yes, you can use any cooking oil if bacon grease is unavailable.
Is it okay to use water instead of beef broth?
Yes, the recipe notes that water can be used as a substitute for low sodium beef broth if needed.
What vegetables are included in this stew?
The stew includes carrots, celery, potatoes, onion, and button mushrooms.
Should the potatoes be peeled?
Yes, the recipe specifies using 3 peeled and cubed potatoes.
Why is the beef browned before it goes into the oven?
Browning the beef in batches creates a succulent depth of flavor and sears the meat.
Is this beef stew spicy?
It can be; the recipe includes 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes, which is optional and can be adjusted to taste.
What is the calorie count per serving?
Each serving contains approximately 387 calories.
What is the purpose of adding sugar to the stew?
Two teaspoons of sugar are added to provide a balanced savory-sweet nuance to the flavor profile.
Do I need to drain the canned tomatoes?
No, you should add 14.5 ounces of undrained diced tomatoes to the skillet.
How is the meat seasoned?
The meat is tossed in a mixture of seasoned salt, black pepper, and garlic powder before browning.
Is celery a mandatory ingredient?
The celery is listed as optional in the ingredients list.
How should the carrots be prepared?
The carrots should be peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces.
What role does the bread play in the recipe?
One slice of bread is broken into small pieces and stirred into the mixture to help thicken the sauce.
What is the protein content per serving?
There are 24 grams of protein per serving.
Can I use beef bouillon?
Yes, the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of beef bouillon powder for flavor enhancement.
What are the recommended side dishes?
This stew is perfect for serving with crusty bread or over noodles.
Should the dish be covered while baking?
Yes, you must cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil or a lid during the 2-hour baking process.
How many grams of fat are in one serving?
There are 20 grams of fat per serving.
How many carbohydrates are in a serving?
There are 25 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
What type of mushrooms should be used?
The recipe suggests using 10-15 small cleaned button mushrooms.
How much Worcestershire sauce is needed?
The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.
How much garlic powder is used?
The recipe uses 2 teaspoons of garlic powder in the beef seasoning mix.
Should I let the stew rest after taking it out of the oven?
Yes, let it sit for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
How should the onion be cut?
One large onion should be coarsely chopped.