Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (2024)

Jump to Recipe

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….

Want to save this post?

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox.

And be automatically signed up for our free newsletter too!

  • 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.

Before you go I want you to sign up for my free newsletter!! You will get all my new recipes emailed to you a few times a week that will help with meal planning for the week.

Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!

Looking for more easy family recipes and tips? LIKE The Typical Mom Facebook page because we share all our new creations there every single day. And follow me on Pinterest for more inspirations! 😉

***** If you LOVED this recipe give it 5 Stars below and let everyone know what you thought about it. 😉

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (7)

Grandma's Beef Stew Casserole Recipe! (8)

Print Pin

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

Why add vinegar to beef stew? ›

Forgetting the Acid. The paradox of beef stew is that all that braised goodness can be a little bit heavy on the palate. It's easy to forget to add some sort of wine, vinegar, or yes, even lemon juice, to brighten things up. Adding some fresh thyme in the last 30 minutes of cooking can help brighten things up as well.

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.

How to make beef stew more flavorful? ›

I almost always add some beef bouillon crystals to my stew, it helps oomph (yes, a technical term) the beefiness of the stock. Sometimes also use a few shots of worcestershire sauce or soy sauce - both will also add some oomph to the flavor.

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 ingredient in stew? ›

Tapioca. One of the joys of eating stew is its hearty sauce, which should have more body than regular soup broth. Add a little tapioca to absorb some of the liquid and you'll end up with a nice, thick broth. Use this tapioca trick in your own favorite stew recipe, or see it at work in our Classic Beef Stew.

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.

Should beef stew be thick or soupy? ›

Part of what makes a stew a stew and not a soup is the mixture's thickness and the chunks of ingredients. The liquid suspending the chunky ingredients in a stew should be more of a gravy than a watery dish.

How do you make stew taste richer? ›

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.

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)

Should I put tomato paste in my beef stew? ›

Tomato paste adds crucial flavor and body to the stew meat when cooked with herbs, garlic and wine.

Why add tomato paste to beef stew? ›

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

Why does my beef stew have no flavor? ›

Not browning the beef enough would be the first possible problem. That adds a lot of flavour to the finished stew. You can toss the beef in seasoned flour before browning it which will also help thicken the stew. Not adding enough seasoning would be the second potential issue.

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.

What meat is best for beef stew? ›

Chuck. Chuck is one of the leaner types of beef, making it perfect for stews because it melts into delicious pieces as it cooks. A chuck roast has a large amount of connective tissue, which allows it to retain its moisture during the cooking process.

Does vinegar make beef more tender? ›

Balsamic vinegar is a good marinade for red meats because it helps to tenderize them. The acid in the vinegar helps to break down some of the protein and fat in the beef, which makes it softer. The balsamic vinegar also adds a sweet flavor while tenderizing, without having to add any sugar.

What kind of vinegar do you use for stew? ›

Vinegar & optional red wine - Use red wine vinegar and some red wine to give this stew a deep and rich sweet and savory flavor.

What kind of vinegar is good for stews? ›

Red wine vinegar

“Not a big personality in the bowl, but without white wine vinegar's sourness.” Holmberg prefers it for robust uses — it's great in braises and stews and paired with beef — although it also makes a fine salad dressing. Red wine vinegar works in pickling, too, especially for quick-pickling red onions.

Can you add vinegar to stews? ›

I made beef stew with beef, carrots & potatoes. I added salt, pepper, beef bouillon to start. I also added 1T of red wine vinegar because it brings out the flavor and it was perfect!

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tuan Roob DDS

Last Updated:

Views: 5368

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tuan Roob DDS

Birthday: 1999-11-20

Address: Suite 592 642 Pfannerstill Island, South Keila, LA 74970-3076

Phone: +9617721773649

Job: Marketing Producer

Hobby: Skydiving, Flag Football, Knitting, Running, Lego building, Hunting, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Tuan Roob DDS, I am a friendly, good, energetic, faithful, fantastic, gentle, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.