Beef and Noodles Recipe For Two – A Classic Comfort Food Meal

There’s nothing like the rich taste of beef and noodles to warm both your heart and stomach. This classic combination is a favorite comfort food recipe for many of us, especially in the cold winter months.

Thick and hearty chunks of beef nestled in the simple, yet delicious cream sauce. Then cooked egg noodles are added to the mix for a complete and satisfying meal.

Best of all, it is easy to make and can be prepared either on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. If you want to get dinner on the table quickly, use the stovetop method.

However, if you want super tender chunks of beef that literally fall apart as you take a bite, let the meat cook low and slow all day in your slow cooker. Either cooking method will give you a delicious dinner that you will want to make over and over again.

However before you dive into the recipe itself, it is important that you pick out the correct cut of beef for this recipe. In addition, the type of noodle that you use will also impact both the flavor and texture of this dish.

What Type of Beef To Use

When it comes to making the perfect beef and noodles dish, the choice of meat plays a pivotal role. Luckily you have a few choices of meat that are commonly found at most grocery stores.

1. Stew Meat – Stew Meat is a popular choice due to its affordability and tenderness when slow-cooked. This blend of meat comes from various lean cuts from the cow and becomes nice and tender when cooked low and slow.

2. Beef Tips – Beef tips are cut from the tip of the tenderloin and are much more tender than stew meat. However, some grocery stores label stew meat as beef tips so be sure about what you are purchasing.

3. Chuck Roast – Another great option to make beef and noodles is chuck roast. It is fairly inexpensive and when cooked low and slow it becomes tender and juicy.

Although must chuck roasts are typically sold in 3-4 pound sections, you can cut the meat yourself and use the other half to make Mississippi Pot Roast. However you can also ask the butcher to cut the meat into small, bite size sections as well.

What Type of Noodles For Beef and Noodles

Although you can use any type of noodle that you prefer, the balance of the pasta to meat will effect the overall texture and taste of the dish. Broad noodles are often preferred because there is a large surface area that holds onto the rich sauce.

However, small or medium egg noodles can also bring a classic, silky texture to the dish. The thinner the noodle, the easier the dish is to serve and eat.

For those preferring a firmer texture you can also use penne or rigatoni pasta. These tubular shaped pastas will hold the sauce both inside and outside, making sure that each bite is full of flavor.

Other Ingredients Required

While the beef and noodles are the stars of the show, a few other ingredients are required to flavor the dish and to make the creamy sauce.

• Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup provides the base of the sauce. Of course you can choose to make your own homemade cream of mushroom soup, however many of us will choose the store-bought canned version for the ease of the recipe. Just be sure to purchase low-sodium or salt-free soup so that you can control that amount of salt in your meal.

• Dry Onion Soup Mix is used to add various seasonings without the need to pull several spice jars out of your pantry.

• Beef Broth not only provides the necessary moisture but also adds more of a robust, meaty flavor to the dish. However I have also used dry red wine in place of the beef broth to add even more flavor to the beef and noodles.

Cooking Methods

Stove-top Method – This cooking method will allow you get beef and noodles on the table in a shorter amount of time. This process requires a little more hands on time to ensure that the sauce doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.

However it is a very easy recipe to make. Simply brown the meat and add the sauce ingredients and let it simmer for an hour. Then add the cooked noodles and dinner is ready!

Slow Cooker Method – If you are looking for a way to get a delicious dinner on the table but don’t have time to stand over a stove monitoring a pot, use your crock pot instead. After browning the meat in a skillet, put everything into the crock pot and let it cook for several hours. Then add the cooked noodles right before serving.

Both methods guarantee a delicious outcome, it just depends on how much time that you have to prepare this comfort food meal.

Beef and Noodles Make Ahead Option

You can make this dish ahead of time and freeze it for later use. Once the beef and sauce are finished cooking let the mixture cool. Then freeze it in an airtight container.

However be sure to not add the noodles before freezing. The noodles will become overly soft when reheated from frozen.

Instead, when you’re ready to make dinner simply cook fresh noodles and combine them with the thawed and reheated beef mixture for a meal that tastes freshly prepared.

Classic Beef and Noodles Recipe For Two

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 pound beef stew meat, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup
• 1 Tablespoon onion dip mix
• 1/2 cup beef broth more if needed
• 4 ounces egg noodles, cooked

INSTRUCTIONS

Stove Top Instructions

1. In a heavy bottom pot or Dutch oven add the oil and place over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the beef and brown on all sides.
2. Add the cream of mushroom soup, dry onion mix and beef broth to the pot and stir. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover and let it simmer for an hour or until the beef is cooked through and is tender.
3. Stir in the cooked and drained noodles.

Crock Pot Instructions

1. In a large skillet add the oil and place over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the beef and brown on all sides. Remove the meat from the pot and place in the crock pot.
2. Add the cream of mushroom soup, dry onion mix and beef broth and stir. Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours.
3. Stir in the cooked and drained noodles and serve warm.

For another great comfort food recipe be sure to check out my Stuffed Peppers Recipe. It is another classic recipe designed as a small batch recipe.

Enjoy! Mary

Follow My Facebook Page For Great Recipes For Two! I Cook For Two Facebook Page

To receive FREE recipes delivered directly to your email, be sure to sign up for the iCookfortwo newsletter. A sign up form is located in the middle of this article. If you have any questions, comments, or want to submit an idea for a recipe for two, feel free to email at mary@icookfortwo.com