Step into the warm embrace of home-cooked comfort with our treasured recipe for Beef and Noodles with Tomatoes. Imagine thick, tender egg noodles, lovingly simmered with succulent chunks of beef, all bathed in a rich, deeply flavored tomato sauce. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary hug, a dish that has satisfied generations and continues to be a go-to for hearty family dinners.
Are you searching for that perfect dinner recipe to bring your family together around the table? Look no further! This robust beef and noodle dish is not only incredibly satisfying but also remarkably simple to prepare, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or cozy weekend gatherings. It’s the kind of meal that promises full bellies and happy smiles, leaving everyone eager for seconds.
Dust off your Dutch oven and prepare to transform humble ingredients into a culinary masterpiece. We’ll guide you through stewing tender beef in a savory gravy, then folding in those delightful egg noodles to create a dish that’s both deeply comforting and bursting with flavor. The beauty of this recipe lies in its ability to fill hungry tummies and become an instant family favorite, ensuring requests for “more, please!”
This particular recipe holds a special place in our family’s culinary history, one that MiMi has cherished and perfected over many years. It was a joy to revisit this beloved dish almost four years after its initial sharing, not just to refresh the accompanying photos but to fall in love with its timeless appeal all over again. The re-creation reaffirmed its status as a cornerstone of our family meals.
Recently, on a crisp, snowy day, this dinner recipe proved to be the ultimate soul-warmer. The rich, steaming aroma filled our kitchen, promising a comforting respite from the winter chill. It was a resounding success with everyone, from Little Dude, who devoured every bite, to my husband, who, true to form, couldn’t resist adding a sprinkle of cheese on top—a testament to its versatile appeal!
The Timeless Tradition: Cavanaugh’s Beef Noodles with Tomatoes
This recipe comes with a story, a narrative that stretches back through time to MiMi’s childhood. Long ago, in a simpler time, there lived neighbors named the Cavanaughs. It was Mrs. Cavanaugh who generously shared her exceptional noodle recipe with my mom, affectionately known as Maw Maw. This culinary gift wasn’t just any recipe; it was a celebrated dish, one that, if memory serves correctly, even won a contest sponsored by Kluski noodles, a testament to its unique and delightful flavors. What we share with you today is her original recipe, faithfully recreated and passed down through generations, exactly as we remember it.
Maw Maw, with her incredible memory and innate cooking prowess, often wondered what she would do with her original recipe box. For most of her life, she rarely consulted written recipes, preferring to cook from memory, relying on years of experience and intuition. It was a true labor of love to finally persuade her to search for that cherished box, filled with handwritten notes and culinary secrets.
We all hoped she would find it, knowing that within its depths lay a treasure trove of truly delicious recipes. Maw Maw’s ability to recall every ingredient and step for countless meals was legendary, a skill honed through a lifetime of preparing nourishing food for her family. This particular recipe, she believes, came into our family when MiMi was just a small child, likely between three and five years old. It’s a memory that evokes a sense of childhood wonder and the joy of helping in the kitchen.
MiMi vividly recalls the excitement of assisting her mom, Maw Maw, with dinner preparations. One particular memory stands out: shaking the beef cubes in a bag of flour, a simple yet magical task for a young girl. The anticipation of the delicious meal to come, coupled with the fun of contributing to its creation, made those moments truly special. And the reward? A delightful meal that was always eagerly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
Maw Maw always insisted on serving this hearty dish with a vibrant side of broccoli. She firmly believed that any tomato-based meal benefits immensely from the fresh, crisp counterpoint of a green vegetable. It’s a culinary philosophy that not only adds nutritional balance but also enhances the overall dining experience, creating a beautiful harmony of flavors and textures on the plate.
If you take the time to prepare this fantastic recipe, you’ll quickly understand why it clinched a recipe contest years ago and why it continues to be a cherished staple in our family’s culinary repertoire, generation after generation. It’s more than just food; it’s a taste of history, a memory in every bite, and a promise of comfort for years to come. The rich, savory beef, the tender noodles, and the robust tomato sauce combine to create an unforgettable meal that embodies the true spirit of home cooking.
-MiMi
More Recipes From MiMi’s Childhood
Maw-Maw’s Scalloped Potatoes and Pork Chops
Great-Grandma’s Homemade Egg Noodles
French Butter Cake with Old Fashioned Fudge Frosting
Maw-Maw’s Hamburger Surprise
Cavanaugh’s Beef Noodles with Tomatoes
Equipment
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Le Creuset Dutch Oven, 7.25 qt., Deep Teal
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon oil or shortening
- 1 onion halved and cut into slices
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoon Lawry’s salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 pounds beef stew meat
- 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 16 ounce package Kluski or similar noodles
Instructions
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In a sturdy Dutch oven, heat the oil or shortening over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté them until they are softened and lightly caramelized, releasing their aromatic sweetness.2 Tablespoon oil or shortening, 1 onion
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While the onions are sautéing, prepare your flour mixture. In a large ziploc bag, combine the all-purpose flour with Lawry’s seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder, and ground black pepper. Seal the bag and shake vigorously to ensure all the seasonings are thoroughly mixed with the flour. This seasoned flour will create a flavorful coating for the beef and contribute to the gravy’s thickness.1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 Tablespoon Lawry’s salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
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Add a handful of the beef stew cubes into the seasoned flour bag. Shake well to coat the beef evenly. Transfer the coated beef to the Dutch oven with the sautéed onions. Continue this process until all of the beef stew meat has been dredged in the flour and added to the pan. It’s important not to shake off the excess flour, as this coating will be crucial later for thickening the rich gravy.2 pounds beef stew meat
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Stir the beef and onions occasionally to ensure even browning on all sides. Continue cooking until all the beef chunks are beautifully browned. Once browned, add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan by about half an inch. Cover the Dutch oven and let the mixture simmer gently for approximately one hour, allowing the beef to become fork-tender and the flavors to meld beautifully.
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While the beef is simmering, prepare your noodles. Cook the Kluski or similar egg noodles according to the package directions until they are al dente. Drain them well and set aside.16 ounce package Kluski
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After the beef has simmered, add the can of diced tomatoes to the Dutch oven, stirring to incorporate them into the rich beef and gravy mixture. Continue to heat the mixture until the tomatoes are warmed through. Finally, gently stir in the cooked noodles, ensuring they are fully coated in the savory sauce.28 ounce can diced tomatoes
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Serve this comforting Beef and Noodles with Tomatoes hot, accompanied by a generous side of fresh, steamed broccoli. As Maw Maw always insisted, a green vegetable is the perfect complement to this hearty, tomato-based meal!
Nutrition Information
“Cooking With Carlee” is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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