Easy Baked Beef Stew (2024)

If you’re looking for the ultimate comfort food that takes nearly no time to prep you’ve come to the right place! Our Easy Baked Beef Stew is a take on classic beef stew that will have everyone’s mouths watering. We guarantee everyone will be reaching their bowls out for a second helping of this beefy goodness!

What is Easy Baked Stew?

It’s no secret that we love easy recipes and that we’re also big fans of beef, so it’s no surprise that we’d marry the two together! This dish is our hot take on beef stew — except it’s pretty hands-off and chock-full of even more flavor.

We put together a recipe that embodies classic beef stew with its chunky mounds of beef and rich tomato flavor and kicked up a notch with spicy jalapenos and crushed red pepper, warm coriander, and subtly sweet bell peppers. But? Instead of standing over the stovetop stirring and waiting for it to come together, we bake it in the oven.

The result is a thick, rich version of the traditional stew that has amplified flavor thanks to the baking (we’re talking a whole lot of Maillard reaction goodness, here). If your family is a fan of beef stew, this recipe is going to knock their socks off.

Ingredients You Need

For the stew:

• Gold Yukon potatoes – These spuds are like little nuggets of gold, adding hearty texture and flavor to our beef bake.
• Large carrots, sliced thick – Carrots bring a burst of color and natural sweetness, making every bite of our beef bake a vibrant delight!
• Onion, quartered – Onions add a savory punch and subtle sweetness, ensuring our beef bake is bursting with flavor from every angle!
• Red pepper, quartered – Red peppers are like edible confetti, sprinkling our beef bake with a pop of color and a hint of sweet tanginess.
• Green pepper, quartered – Green peppers add a fresh crunch and a touch of bitterness, giving our beef bake a lively and balanced flavor profile.
• Large tomatoes, quartered – Tomatoes bring juicy goodness and a hint of acidity, creating a mouthwatering base.
• Jalapeños – Jalapeños bring the heat and a hint of smokiness, adding a fiery kick that takes this dish to the next level.
• Garlic cloves, sliced – Garlic cloves infuse the bake with aromatic depth and irresistible savoriness!
• Stew meat (such as chuck roast or sirloin) – Stew meat is the star of the show, with its tender juiciness and rich beefy flavor making this a true comfort food classic.
• Olive oil – Olive oil is the culinary MVP, lending a luxurious richness and golden crispness to the beef bake!
• Salt – Salt enhances all of the other ingredients and ensures each bite is perfectly seasoned and utterly delicious!
• Pepper – Pepper adds a zesty kick and a cozy hint of warmth.
• Crushed red pepper – Crushed red pepper brings the heat with a fiery intensity, turning up the temperature in the best way.
• Garlic powder – Garlic powder brings all the flavor without the fuss of mincing or grating.
• Onion powder – Onion powder infuses our beef bake with all the savory goodness of onions in a convenient, sprinkle-able form!
• Cardamom – Cardamom adds a touch of warmth to our beef bake, basically elevating it to gourmet status.
• Oregano – Oregano’s earthy aroma and robust flavor add Mediterranean flair.
• Bay leaf – Bay leaf infuses this bake with a subtle herbal complexity and just a whisper of floral notes.

For the Sauce:

• Tomato paste – Tomato paste is the thick, rich base that ties the dish together, providing a deep tomato flavor and luxurious texture that coats every bite.
• Tomato sauce – Tomato sauce is the smooth and tangy partner in crime, adding a burst of tomato goodness and a saucy richness that brings the bake to life!
• Water – Water helps to meld all the flavors together, ensuring our beef bake is moist, tender, and utterly irresistible!

How to Make This Super Simple Beef Baked Stew

1. Combine veggies and meat. Add the potatoes, carrots, onion, red pepper, green pepper, tomatoes, jalapenos, and sliced garlic cloves to a large baking dish with the meat.
2. Make the sauce. Pour the tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water into a large measuring cup and stir until combined.
3. Pour the sauce in. Add the tomato mixture to the baking dish with the meat and veggies.
4. Drizzle oil. Add the olive oil to the top of the other ingredients.
5. Add seasonings. Sprinkle all of the seasonings over top and place the bay leaf on top as well.
6. Bake. Secure parchment paper and foil over the top and bake for the recommended time.
7. Serve. After allowing the dish to rest briefly, serve on its own or garnished with chives, cilantro, and parsley.

Variations

• Spices – Switch up the spices to incorporate flavors you love. Cumin is a great addition and we love the fresh flavor of basil, too.
• Heat – Increase the red pepper flakes or add some cayenne pepper powder or hot sauce.
• Citrus – Any soup or stew can benefit from a squeeze of fresh lemon at the end of cooking to brighten it up.
• Meat – Swap out beef for pork or chicken for a totally different take on this bake.

Can I Store Leftovers?

This is one of the best recipes to store and reheat — letting it sit in the refrigerator lets all of the flavors come together. It’s even better the next day!

To refrigerate, either put a lid on top of the baking dish, cover it in aluminum foil, or transfer it to an airtight container. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days.

To freeze, just place it in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More Beefy Recipes

Want to beef up your meat game? Check out these recipes full of beefy goodness!

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Beef Kofta Bake

Beef Rolls

Cheesy Ground Beef Sliders