A comforting slow cooked beef casserole made with diced chuck steak, vegetables and beef stock, then served over a light layer of creamy mashed potato. Best cooked on low heat for tenderness.
Beef Casserole Ingredients
Serves 3–4
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1.2 kg diced chuck steak
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2 tablespoons oil
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2 onions, cut into medium pieces
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3 cloves garlic, chopped
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3 carrots, cut into chunks
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2 celery sticks, cut into chunks
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170 g tomato paste (one full can)
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500 ml Maggie Beer beef stock
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2-3 bay leaves
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4 sprigs fresh thyme
Seasoned Flour (for dusting the beef)
Mix together in a shallow bowl.
Mashed Potato (light amount for serving)
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2 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
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Butter (about 1–2 tablespoons)
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Milk (splash to loosen)
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Salt and black pepper
Method
Dust and sear the beef
1. Coat the chuck steak in the seasoned flour.
2. Heat oil in a pan and brown the beef in batches until caramelised. Set aside.
Load the slow cooker
1. Add the beef, onions, garlic, carrots and celery to the slow cooker.
2. Stir in the tomato paste and pour in the beef stock. Add bay leaves and thyme.
Cook
1. Place casserole in slow cooker and set to LOW. Cook for 6–7 hours.
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If short on time, set to HIGH and cook for about 4 hours.
2. Stir once an hour if you can.
3. Check consistency from hour 4 onward and adjust as needed:
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Too watery: sprinkle in a little flour and stir.
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Too thick or dry: add a splash of stock.
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Prefer no flour: remove lid for the last 30–60 minutes to reduce liquid.
4. Taste in the final 10 minutes and season to your liking.
Make the mash
1. Near the end of cooking, boil potatoes until soft.
2. Mash with butter and a splash of milk.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve
1. Spread a light layer of mash onto plates and spoon the beef casserole over the top. Serve hot.
Notes
- Browning the meat first builds flavour in the finished casserole
- Leaving the lid off naturally thickens the sauce without extra flour
- This beef casserole reheats well and can be made a day in advance
- You can use any vegetables you like in place of or in addition to the ones listed
Don’t Just Read It, Watch It
See exactly how we cook it in our Youtube video.