Hi, it’s Sara from Dinner at the Zoo coming to you with my family’s very favorite recipe for beef stew. This isn’t your ordinary beef stew; it’s got a generous amount of bacon in it that adds a ton of rich and savory flavor! Because bacon makes everything better, right?

This beef stew with bacon recipe is pretty straightforward. The chunks of beef are browned in bacon fat and slow cooked in the oven with potatoes and carrots for a hearty one pot meal that will satisfy even the largest appetites. The meat and veggies come out super tender and are packed with flavor. I add bacon during the cooking process, as well as a sprinkling at the end to preserve its crispy texture.

I use the classic carrots and potatoes for the veggies in this stew, but you can change it up and add celery, sweet potatoes or even frozen pearl onions if you prefer. I often make a double batch of this stew and put half in the freezer for another night. If you’d like to freeze it, simply put the cooled stew into resealable freezer bags, flatten to remove the air, then seal and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What I love about this dish is its simplicity. A handful of basic ingredients come together to make a comfort food classic that’s been a favorite in my family for many years, and is sure to be a hit with your family too!    

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