Fall-Apart Tender Oven Beef With Just 4 Ingredients
Tender oven-braised beef stew meat in a rich soy-brown sugar sauce, made with just four pantry ingredients.
Equipment
- Deep 2- to 3-quart glass casserole dish
- Mixing bowl or large measuring cup
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 2 lb raw beef stew meat cut into 1 to 1 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup soy sauce regular or low-sodium
- 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Set out a deep 2- to 3-quart glass casserole dish.
- Add the raw cubed beef stew meat into the casserole dish, spreading it into an even layer. Keep the pieces snug but avoid piling them high in the center.
- In a bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the beef broth, soy sauce, and brown sugar until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the liquid looks dark and slightly thickened.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the beef. Gently toss and turn the cubes so every piece is coated, with no dry spots remaining. The meat should be partially submerged in the sauce.
- Cover the dish tightly with a lid or a double layer of aluminum foil.
- Bake on the middle rack for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the beef is very tender when pierced with a fork. About halfway through, remove the dish, stir gently to keep everything coated, then re-cover and return to the oven.
- Once the beef is fork-tender and the sauce has thickened into a rich, dark coating, remove the dish from the oven. Let it rest, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Uncover, stir to coat every piece in the sauce, and taste. Season with a little extra soy sauce if desired. Serve hot over your favorite starch, spooning sauce over the top.
Notes
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth. Freezes reasonably well; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. For a sweeter, teriyaki-style flavor, add 1-2 tablespoons of honey or extra brown sugar. For less sweetness, reduce brown sugar to 1/4 cup and add a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice.
