This oven baked 3-ingredient beef Ellsworth is the kind of old-school potluck recipe that sticks around for good reason: it’s easy, cozy, and somehow much greater than the sum of its parts. The sauce bakes down into a sticky, savory-sweet glaze that clings to every bite of beef, making it perfect for cool-weather gatherings, casual family dinners, or those nights when you need something dependable without a long ingredient list.
Serve these beef bites over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or fluffy white rice to catch all of that rich glaze. For a potluck table, they also pair really well with green beans, roasted carrots, a simple side salad, or dinner rolls, and they stay comforting and crowd-pleasing even as they sit out for a bit.
Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Beef Ellsworth
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds beef stew meat
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chili sauce
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and lightly grease a medium glass casserole dish.
2. Spread the beef stew meat evenly in the casserole dish.
3. In a bowl, stir together the brown sugar and chili sauce until smooth and well combined.
4. Pour the sauce over the beef and stir right in the dish so every piece is coated.
5. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the beef is tender.
6. Remove the foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the sauce is bubbling and slightly caramelized around the edges.
7. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving so the glaze thickens slightly.
Variations & Tips
Make it a meal: Spoon the beef and sauce over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles if you want to stretch it a little further for a hungry group. This is one of those recipes that feels especially practical on busy weeknights because the side dish can cook while the casserole is in the oven.
Choose the right beef: Stew meat is the easiest option, but if your pieces seem especially large, cut them into smaller, even bites so they cook at the same rate. Uniform pieces give you more tender results and make the finished dish easier to serve at parties or potlucks.
Adjust the flavor: If you like a less sweet finish, reduce the brown sugar slightly to 3/4 cup. If you want a little more zip, use a chili sauce with a bit of tang or stir in a pinch of black pepper, though the classic version is wonderfully simple just as it is.
Slow cooker option: This recipe also adapts well to a slow cooker. Combine everything and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, then uncover for the last 30 minutes if you want the sauce to thicken a bit more.