One Pot Beef Stew
This One Pot Beef Stew is the perfect hearty, family-friendly meal prep recipe. Packed with beef, carrots, potatoes, and peas, it’s easy to make, freezer-friendly, and ideal for new mamas preparing meals before baby arrives.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1.2 kg stewing beef cut into chunks
- 3 tbsp plain flour for coating the beef
- salt & pepper
- 2 white onions chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 carrots cut into chunks
- 3 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 cups beef stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 150 grams frozen peas
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the beef: Toss beef in flour, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven, then sear the beef in batches until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Cook the base: In the same pot, sauté onions and garlic for 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Build the stew: Stir in tomato paste, then pour in the beef stock.Add carrots, potatoes, thyme, and bay leaves. Return the beef to the pot.
- Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2–2.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender and the potatoes are soft.
- Finish with peas: Stir in peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if you like. Best served with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes.
Notes
Kid-Friendly Tips:
- Cut everything smaller: Chop the beef, carrots, and potatoes into bite-sized pieces so little ones can easily pick them up with a spoon or fork.
- Milder flavors: Keep seasoning gentle by going light on black pepper and skipping any strong herbs (like too much thyme or bay leaf) if your kids are sensitive to flavor.
- Make it thicker: If your child doesn’t like “soupy” textures, mash a few potatoes into the stew at the end to thicken it up. It’ll be creamier and easier for toddlers to manage.
- Serve with bread: Kids love dipping, so pair the stew with crusty bread or toast soldiers. It makes mealtime more fun.
- Add peas at the end: Some kids don’t like mushy peas, so stir them in right before serving to keep them bright and sweet.
- Turn leftovers into pies: Use the stew as filling for mini puff pastry pies or top with mashed potato for a shepherd’s-pie-style dish — this makes it exciting for kids if they don’t like eating the same meal twice.
- Cool slightly before serving: Stew can stay very hot, so let it sit a little before serving small portions to children.