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–+ servings
Darleen's Easy Stew
Darleen’s Easy Stew is a comforting, traditional one-pot dish that captures the warmth of home cooking. Combining tender chunks of beef, hearty root vegetables, and a simple tomato base, it delivers balanced flavor with minimal effort. This recipe epitomizes classic mid-century American simplicity, straightforward ingredients, slow-cooked comfort, and nostalgic appeal. Often shared between families and neighbors, it’s beloved for its wholesome taste and easy preparation, offering a taste of rustic kitchen heritage where slow oven roasting coaxes depth and heartiness from every bite.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 330 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large baking dish

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ lbs stew meat or roast (cut in 1" pieces)
  • 2 stalks celery (chopped)
  • 4 carrots (cut to bite size)
  • 3 potatoes (medium, cubed)
  • 2 onions (chopped, chopped)
  • 1 can tomato soup
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp basil leaves
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • pepper (to taste)

Instructions
 

Step 1: Preheat Oven

  • Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).

Step 2: Prepare Ingredients

  • Cut meat into chunks, and chop celery, carrots, potatoes, and onions into bite-size pieces.

Step 3: Combine Ingredients

  • In a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven, combine meat, vegetables, tomato soup, and water.

Step 4: Season

  • Add salt, basil, parsley, oregano, and pepper. Stir gently to coat ingredients evenly.

Step 5: Bake Slowly

  • Cover and bake in a 300°F oven for 3½ hours. Stir once or twice during cooking for even tenderness.

Step 6: Serve

  • Serve hot with bread or rolls for a hearty meal.

Tips

  • Substitute tomato soup with diced tomatoes for chunkier texture.
  • Add frozen peas in the last 30 minutes for color and sweetness.
  • For richer flavor, brown the meat before baking.
  • Use a slow cooker on low for 6–7 hours as a modern variation.
  • Serve over rice or noodles for a more filling meal.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 28gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 720mgPotassium: 1050mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 7200IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 3.2mg
Keyword Beef, beef stew, classic recipes, easy dinner, hearty stew, oven-cooked, vintage recipes
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