Hearty Beef Vegetable Casserole (Print Version)
Comforting beef and vegetables baked with a rich sauce, ideal for hearty family dinners or easy meal prep.
# What You Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1.5 lbs beef chuck or stewing beef, cut into 1-inch cubes
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
04 - 1 large onion, chopped
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 cup frozen peas
→ Sauce & Liquids
08 - 2 cups beef broth
09 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
10 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
11 - 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
12 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
→ Seasonings
13 - 1 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
17 - 1 tsp salt, or to taste
18 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
→ For Searing & Baking
19 - 2 tbsp olive oil
# How to Make It:
01 - Set the oven temperature to 350°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe dish over medium-high heat. Add beef cubes and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
03 - Using the same pot, add chopped onion, sliced carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Cook and stir for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
04 - Sprinkle all-purpose flour over the vegetable mixture and stir continuously for 1 minute to coat evenly.
05 - Return the browned beef to the pot. Add diced potatoes, drained tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, dried rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Stir to integrate.
06 - Pour in beef broth and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer on the stovetop.
07 - Cover the pot with a lid and transfer to the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour.
08 - Remove from oven, stir in frozen peas, and continue baking uncovered for an additional 15 minutes until beef is tender and sauce thickened.
09 - Discard the bay leaf. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving warm.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It's the kind of dish that tastes even better the next day, which means less stress about leftovers.
- Everything happens in one pot, so cleanup is nearly as satisfying as the meal itself.
- Beef becomes so tender it practically melts, and the sauce is rich enough to make simple bread feel fancy.
02 -
- Don't skip the searing step—those browned bits on the beef create the savory depth that makes this dish memorable instead of just filling.
- If your sauce looks too thin after baking, leave the casserole uncovered for those final fifteen minutes; the oven will do the thickening work naturally.
- Beef chuck benefits from patience; rushing the cooking time results in meat that's mealy instead of tender.
03 -
- A splash of red wine stirred in with the broth adds a subtle richness that deepens without tasting of alcohol.
- Sweet potatoes or parsnips work beautifully as substitutes for regular potatoes, each bringing their own gentle sweetness to balance the savory sauce.