Oven Beef Stew

Oven Beef Stew is classic comfort food at its best! This stew simmers slowly in the oven, coated with a savory tomato sauce and mixed with fresh veggies.

It smells so good as it cooks, everyone in the house will be asking you when dinner will be ready.

There are many ways to make a classic, savory beef stew, but this recipe for Oven beef stew is one of our favorites.

Everyone loves it when I make this stew. Tender, bite-sized pieces of meat are nestled in with chunks of carrots, sweet peas, and a savory gravy that is heavenly on mashed potatoes.

In about 2 hours, your kitchen will be filled with the comforting aroma of this homestyle stew, and you’ll be ready to serve it to your hungry crew.

Need more hearty, filling meals to make for your family? Try making John Wayne Casserole, Short Rib Beef Ragu, or a Classic Chicken Pot Pie.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. No Fancy Equipment Needed – While I love cooking with my slow cooker and Instant Pot, sometimes you need a recipe that is simply cooked in the oven. This oven beef stew recipe is exactly that!
2. Warm, Rich Flavors– The sauce for this beef stew starts with tangy tomato sauce and is seasoned with cumin, paprika, onion, garlic, and more.
3. It is Gluten Free and Dairy Free.
4. Simple Recipe – You’ll mix all of the ingredients up in a bowl before throwing the stew in the oven. So easy!

Ingredients In Oven Beef Stew

Here’s what you need to make this satisfying meal:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Stew Meat: Well-marbled chuck roast is my choice when it comes to making beef stew. It will give you the most tender meat. You can also use regular beef stew meat if you prefer.
• Carrots, onion, garlic, celery, and peas: Adding veggies to beef stew gives the dish flavor, and means that you don’t necessarily have to make a salad tonight to go with dinner. Chop and prep the veggies before you get started to make the cooking process go smoothly.
• Tomato sauce, sugar, paprika, cumin, bay leaf, and olive oil: Together these ingredients create the most delicious sauce for our beef.

How To Make Oven Beef Stew

Start by preheating the oven to 350°F/280°C, and spraying a 2.5-quart baking dish with cooking spray.

1. Mix Everything Together: Add the beef, tomato sauce, seasonings, and veggies (everything except for the peas and bay leaf) to a large bowl. Stir to make sure that everything is well combined and coated with the sauce.

1. Add to The Baking Dish: Pour the mixture into the pan, and tuck a bay leaf into the center. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
2. Bake: Cook the stew in the oven for 2 hours, stirring every half hour. It’s ready when the meat is tender and the liquid has slightly thickened.
3. Finish: Remove the stew from the oven, and find and discard the bay leaf. Add the frozen peas to the stew, and then cover and let sit for 5 minutes so that they thaw. Serve garnished with fresh parsley, over mashed potatoes.

Recipe Tips

• It’s important to use the correct size baking dish for this recipe. If you use a smaller dish the sauce will not thicken up, and if the pan is too big all of the liquid will evaporate. A 2.5-quart oval dish is what I use. A 9x9x3 inch square dish also holds 2.5 quarts and will work well. 
• Check the meat for doneness at the 1.5-hour mark. If your pieces of meat are smaller, they may be ready sooner than 2 hours. 
• Double the recipe. This recipe is delicious when frozen and reheated, so feel free to make a double batch. Just be sure to cook it in two separate dishes so that it cooks correctly. 

Storing Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

The flavors in this oven stew only get better on day 2!

You can double the recipe so that you have leftovers to freeze. They are easy to reheat. Simply thaw overnight and then warm in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop.

If you make a double batch, be sure to cook it in two separate dishes so that the sauce thickens properly.

Looking for a different type of beef stew recipe? Try my Hawaiian Beef Stew instead tonight! Instant Pot Chicken Stew is also super tasty.

What To Serve With Beef Stew

This baked beef stew is perfect to serve over mashed potatoes. Try my cheesy Boursin mashed potatoes recipe, or make the mashed potatoes in the crockpot while the stew is simmering in the oven.

If you’d rather not have potatoes, try beef stew with buttered noodles, rice, or a side of green beans instead.

FAQs

You are going to love the simplicity of this Oven Beef Stew, and your family is going to love you for making it for them! Pin this recipe for more people to enjoy too!