Gravy Smothered Stew Beef (frugal but fantastic)

When stew meat goes on sale, it REALLY goes on sale.  At my local grocery store it generally goes on sale in those "big buy" packs which are huge.  The day I bring it home, I divide those packs into freezer bags and save for later use.  The problem is, I can only make beef stew so many times before the eyes are rolling at me during dinner.  You really have to take your time with stew meat.  It's so tough that low and slow is the only way to go.  If you prepare it this way, the meat literally just melts in your mouth without being a mushy mess.

This could probably be made in the crock pot but I feel like the crock pot breaks down the meat too much and alot of meat turns more "pulled".  I like this meat to be fork tender but still maintain the original shape, more like a steak tip.  But by all means try it in the crock pot, I would still brown the meat first though.

See below recipe for other options to add to this easy frugal meal.

Brown flour dredged meat

cook garlic

Add two jars of gravy to the garlic and meat mixture

Bring just to a boil

Cover and cook at 300 for 3 hours

It comes out of the oven so tender and delicious

Serve over mashed potato or maybe a creamy rice

Ingredients:

Stew meat (I used about 1.5 lb) (fed 2 adults and 2 kids) cut into cubes
1 jar savory beef gravy
1 jar au jus gravy
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
3 T flour
salt and pepper
2 T oil
(see other options below for additional ingredients)

Recipe:
Preheat oven to 300F.

• Season flour with salt and pepper.  Toss beef cubes in flour to lightly coat.
• Heat oil over medium/high heat in a high sided oven proof skillet or dutch oven.  Add beef cubes.  Leave them alone for a few minutes so they can brown.  Flip over and brown the other side.  Remove beef to plate and return pan to stove.
• Add garlic to the skillet and cook about 1-2 minutes.  Return beef to pan.  Add both jars of gravy and stir.  Bring just to a boil.  Cover and put in oven for 3 hours. 

Additional Options:

• saute onions with the garlic
• Add chopped green onions before serving to make more visually appealing
• Add some steamed broccoli when it comes out of the oven
• Pairs well with peas, green beans and broccoli
• Mix and match different types of gravy