Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (2024)

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This easy beef stew casserole is comfort food at it’s finest!! Packed with tender meat, a thick sauce and lots of vegetables you and your kids are sure to have seconds! Use stew meat or ground beef to make this simple casserole that may become your new family favorite meal.

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (1)

If you’re a busy mom like me you love a good casserole recipe! My favorite is this easy beef stew casserole recipe we make regularly! It’s on the top of our list of quick and easy casseroles! Adjust as you wish according to the vegetables you love but potatoes, celery, onions, and carrots are a must in our beef stew. (originally published 2/17, affiliate links present)

Beef Stew Casserole

A close second is this easy Swedish meatball casserole made earlier this year. They both have the same idea where you saute the meat until no longer pink, make the sauce and add noodles. I like adding diced vegetables, usually frozen, but that is up to you and of course optional. And you can go from there….

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  • After the meatballs, I made this one after thinking about our other favorite meals. Top of the list, it had to be our beef stew.
  • It only makes it better adding noodles and fried onions though!

That is right, French’s fried aren’t just for on top of green beans at Thanksgiving y’all. They add a ton of flavor to any meal and a texture on top when you have an overall soft dish overall.

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (2)

Quick Beef Casserole in Oven

Ok so we make a lot of stew meat recipes around here. If you grew up in the 80s I bet your mom did quite a few too. Why?? Um because that cut is kinda’ the leftovers so it is sold super cheap. We buy half a cow each year so we get quite a few packages of it that needs to be used up. I hate wasting food so that isn’t an option.

Here are the instructions as well as a video below showing you how to make beef stew casserole at home. You want to dice your vegetables up like you see here, the thicker the carrots the more turgid they’ll be.

Next I cut the beef stew meat into very small bite size pieces (the smaller the more tender they will get, you can substitute with ground beef too if you prefer). I like lean meat, or trim fat off while I’m dicing the meat.

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (3)

Beef Stew with Noodles

Then pre-cook (boil) the egg noodles just so they’re slightly al dente (they will cook more in the oven). You could certainly cook it all and just serve it right out of the pot as is. It won’t thicken quite as much but would save time if you skipped the whole oven timing all together.

  1. Add beef pieces with olive oil, brown outsides, and simmer all ingredients together in a large pot on medium high heat.
  2. Then whisk a bit of beef broth in a small bowl with a packet of beef stew seasoning until it’s smooth.
  3. Then I add my egg noodles, stir, and pour it all in a 9×13 or so baking dish.
    1. You could probably use a dutch oven instead of a casserole dish too.
  4. After 30 minutes of baking I take the foil off and sprinkle with crunchy fried onions and put back in for 5 min. to get crispy. (yes the ones you put on green beans, so good)
  5. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, serve and enjoy!

Now on to the detailed directions below so you can make this easy beef stew casserole yourself!

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (4)

Easy beef stew casserole

I use a 9×13 glass pan for this one. You could use a bit larger or a casserole dish around that size too if that is what you have.

  1. Stew meat
    1. or dice up any type of beef or steak
    2. you could even use ground beef if you’d rather
  2. Egg noodles
  3. Celery
  4. Carrots
  5. Potatoes
  6. Onion
  7. Flour
  8. Packet of beef stew seasoning
  9. Beef broth
  10. French’s canned onions

If I do have time I will make our own crispy fried onions. That isn’t always the case so I always have a container or two of the other handy.

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (5)

Easy Stew Meat Casserole

If you love carrots but not fond of celery, then just add more of those. If you like them really soft then make sure to slice your carrots thinner, or thicker.

  • The larger the vegetables are the firmer they will be once this is done. The ones you see here turned out soft but not mushy which is how I prefer them.

Same goes with your potatoes. I dice those pieces so they are nice and soft when this beef stew casserole is one, and topped with some green onions or chives it’s just an amazing comfort food I am sure your whole family will love.

Looking for more casserole recipes?

  • Beef stroganoff casserole can be made as well. A creamier version with sour cream and all the classic flavors you love in one dish.
  • We love this Instant Pot hamburger casserole. It’s warm and creamy using cream of chicken or mushroom soup and lots of cheese and rice.
  • You can make a similar version of this following our Instant Pot beef stew casserole instructions.

Slow cooker stew is another method of cooking.

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (6)

What is the difference between a casserole and a stew?

I feel like you can call anything whatever you want really but the distinction between the two is the cooking process. A stew or chicken stew is where heat is applied to the bottom of the pot, over a fire or on a stove, versus a casserole that is generally baked in the oven.

  • They are both one pot meals where you can throw in ingredients you have on hand and love it.
  • Keep in mind that the smaller the pieces of meat and veggies are the more tender they will become.

Thus I make beef pieces small, and vegetables larger so they don’t fall apart.

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Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (7)

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (8)

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4.58 from 7 votes

Easy Beef Stew Casserole

This easy beef stew casserole is comfort food at it’s finest!! Packed with tender meat, a thick sauce and lots of vegetables you and your kids are sure to have seconds! Use stew meat or ground beef to make this simple casserole that may become your new family favorite meal.

Course Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword beef, casserole, easy, ground beef, stew

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 8

Calories 286kcal

Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

  • 1 lb stew meat or ground beef if you prefer
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 3 carrots
  • 1 med. potato
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1/4 c flour
  • 4 c egg noodles uncooked measurement
  • 1 packet beef stew seasoning mix 1 oz
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 c beef broth
  • 1 c fried onions

Instructions

  • Cut up your carrots and celery. Skin all or half the skins off your potato and dice into small pieces. Dice your onion.

  • Cut your beef stew meat pieces into smaller pieces (in half or 3 pieces each)so they get nice and tender when cooking.

  • Toss beef stew meat in flour using a baggie so outside is coated.

  • Add olive oil to a pot and add your stew meat.

  • Brown the outsides, then add your beef broth.

  • Keep on medium heat so it begins to boil.

  • Add all of your vegetables and stir.

  • In another bowl add your beef stew seasoning mix and scoop some of your warm beef broth into that bowl. Whisk together well.

  • Pour this mixture into your pot and stir. Allow to boil for about 5 minutes.

  • In a separate pot on the stove add your 4 c. of uncooked egg noodles and cook until al dente.

  • Drain and add noodles to beef stew pot, stir.

  • Pour beef stew / noodle mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish and cover with foil.

  • Put into the oven at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle crispy fried onions on top.

  • Bake uncovered for 5 minutes.

  • Serve!

Video

Nutrition Facts

Easy Beef Stew Casserole

Amount Per Serving (6 oz)

Calories 286Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 60mg20%

Sodium 441mg19%

Potassium 330mg9%

Carbohydrates 22g7%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 19g38%

Vitamin A 3880IU78%

Vitamin C 2.1mg3%

Calcium 29mg3%

Iron 2.1mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How to add more flavour to beef casserole? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

What is the secret to good stew? ›

For most types of stew, it takes time to develop great flavor. Stew uses collagen-rich, tough cuts of meat, which need at least two hours to break down. If you try to rush it and boil the stew, the muscle fibers will shrink and become tough. So give yourself a few hours to let it do its thing.

Should you brown meat before making stew? ›

Very simply put, browning equals flavor. As beef sears, the outside caramelizes, adding extra flavor to the beef, not to mention creating these tasty little browned bits that form on the bottom of the pot. Without browning, the finished stew just won't taste as good and the sauce won't be as dark.

How do you deepen beef stew flavor? ›

Getting a more beefy beef stew
  1. Mushrooms (Crimini, sh*take, Lions Mane, etc.), browned beforehand.
  2. Dried mushrooms.
  3. Caramelized onions.
  4. Roasted garlic.
  5. Deglaze your pan (since you don't use wine, deglaze with broth)
Oct 23, 2023

How do you add depth of flavour to stew? ›

Dried mushrooms in a stew can add lots of depth of flavour. I soak them first and add the liquid too. 11. Whole spices like cinnamon, star anise or cloves are great added to a stew if you want your dish to have a warm, spicy flavour in a middle eastern style.

What not to put in a stew? ›

But the liquid itself should not be thick in the same way that gravy is thick. So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.

Does beef get more tender the longer you stew it? ›

It is a tough muscular meat. Longer cooking time at a lower temperature, especially in liquid can make it tender. Longer cooking time + low heat = tender meat. Pat the meat dry and brown it in the kettle you'll be using before adding the other ingredients to start the slow cooking.

How do I make my beef stew thicker? ›

Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil. This will cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell.

What happens if you forget tomato paste in beef stew? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Is stew better in the oven or slow cooker? ›

You can make a good stew in either a slow cooker or on the stove. The big advantage of a slow cooker is that you can safely put your ingredients in before you leave for work then after work your dinner is done.

Can I use red wine vinegar instead of red wine in beef stew? ›

The Best Substitute for Red Wine

Alcohol-free red wine. Beef broth. Chicken broth. Red wine vinegar (use ½ vinegar and ½ water for similar flavor results)

Why do you coat beef in flour for stew? ›

As for why it's such a prevalent method at all, the two main reasons people will supply are that it helps create a more flavorful sear on the meat and that it thickens up the sauce or broth of the final product.

Do you cook stew meat before you put it in the stew? ›

You should never throw your raw cubes of beef into the stew pot. You must sear the cubes first in a pan to brown them and begin building that rich flavor. It's important not to brown them too lightly—sear them until there's a dark crust on each side of the meat cubes.

What happens if you don't brown meat for stew? ›

It's not gonna really affect the taste per say. But browning the meat 1st, creates a crust on the meat that will inturn seal in flavors of the meat, especially when it's being stewed. It makes it extra delicious. You'll have greyish tender meat in your stew that is lacking in flavor.

How do you add flavour to a casserole? ›

Leave quicker-dissolving fine sea salt or table salt for times when you want it to meld into the finished dish. Salt-forward pantry staples are another way to go and can add other dimensions of umami-rich flavour. Contenders include soy sauce, fish sauce, parmesan cheese and worcestershire sauce.

What to add to a bland casserole? ›

How to Add Flavor to a Bland Recipe
  1. Seasoning.
  2. Mustard.
  3. Citrus.
  4. Spice.
  5. Herbs.
  6. Acidic flavoring.
  7. Sauces.
  8. Alcohol.

Which herb might you use to give extra flavour to a casserole or stew? ›

You'll also want to add bay or a bouquet garni; alternatively, “sage is really lovely with beans and squash, as is rosemary”, Sykes adds. Then, to give the beans extra body, she turns to whole cloves of garlic. “Add several cloves still in their jackets along with the beans, and let them get really soft.

How do you make beef more tasty? ›

If you want to bump up the umami, you could add a few teaspoon of Worcestershire and/or mushroom ketchup. Cooked ground beef really doesn't have any real taste so it is necessary to season it up. You can use just salt and pepper or you can add virtually anything to it like jalapenos, peppers, onions, etc.

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