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Hearty Beef Casserole | 50-Min Crowd Cozy Fall Comfort Family Feast

Best Hearty Beef Casserole Crowd Cozy Fall Comfort

Hearty beef casserole crowd favorite ready in 50 minutes. Try this fall comfort family feast with tender beef and vegetables. Discover easy dinner perfection.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Easy Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American
Calories: 340

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb beef chuck, cubed
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups diced potatoes
  • 1.5 cups diced carrots
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the cubed beef on all sides for 8-10 minutes total, working in batches to avoid crowding the pan and ensuring proper caramelization for deep flavor.
  2. Remove beef and set aside, then sauté diced onion and minced garlic in the same pot for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and softened. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen its color and concentrate flavors.
  3. Return beef to the pot and pour in beef broth, scraping up all browned bits from the bottom. Add bay leaf, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper, then bring to a simmer.
  4. Cover and reduce heat to low, simmering for 25 minutes until beef begins to tenderize. This hearty beef casserole crowd favorite develops its signature depth during this crucial braising phase when flavors meld together beautifully.
  5. Add diced potatoes, carrots, and celery to the pot and continue simmering covered for another 15-20 minutes until vegetables are nearly tender. The hearty casserole should smell amazing at this point.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Stir this into the bubbling beef casserole to thicken the sauce, cooking for 2 minutes until it coats the back of a spoon.
  7. Remove bay leaf and stir in frozen peas, cooking for 3-4 minutes until heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving your crowd comfort creation.