Spring Weekend Comfort: Just 5 ingredients. I make it when I want a cheap, hearty dinner handled hours ahead of time.

This 5-ingredient spring Sunday beef is one of those set-it-and-forget-it dinners I lean on when I want something cozy, cheap, and ready hours before anyone’s asking, “What’s for dinner?” Cubed stew meat slowly roasts in the oven until it’s fall-apart tender, with a glossy, dark amber glaze and caramelized edges that make the whole house smell like comfort. It’s not fancy or fussy—just simple Midwestern home cooking that works, especially on those in-between spring days when it’s still a little chilly and you want something hearty without hovering over the stove.

I like to spoon this saucy beef over a big pile of mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles so all that dark, glossy gravy has something to soak into. It’s also great over rice or with crusty bread for dipping. Add a bright side to balance the richness: roasted carrots and asparagus, a simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette, or steamed green beans tossed with a little butter and lemon. For a full Sunday spread, set it out family-style with a big bowl of potatoes, a vegetable, and maybe some store-bought rolls so everyone can build their own cozy plate.

Servings: 4

2 pounds cubed beef stew meat

Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Lightly grease a medium ceramic baking dish (about 2–3 quarts) so the beef doesn’t stick and the glaze can caramelize nicely.

Spread the cubed beef stew meat in an even layer in the baking dish. If there are any very large chunks, cut them so the pieces are roughly the same size for even cooking.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry onion soup mix, beef broth, balsamic vinaigrette, and brown sugar until the sugar is mostly dissolved and everything looks well combined. This is your simple glaze and cooking liquid all in one.

Pour the mixture evenly over the beef, making sure every piece is moistened. Use a spoon to gently stir and tuck the beef back into a single layer so it cooks and browns evenly.

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil to keep the moisture in. Place the dish on the middle rack and bake for 2 hours, undisturbed. This slow, covered time lets the beef get tender and starts building that rich, dark sauce.

After 2 hours, carefully remove the foil (watch for steam). Give the beef a gentle stir, then spread it back into an even layer. Return the uncovered dish to the oven.

Continue baking, uncovered, for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the sauce has reduced to a thick, dark amber glaze and the beef edges look caramelized and slightly crisp. The liquid should be glossy and cling to the meat, not soupy.

Let the beef rest for about 5 to 10 minutes out of the oven so the bubbling settles and the glaze thickens a bit more. Spoon the tender, glazed beef over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice, making sure to scrape up all the caramelized bits from the bottom of the dish.

For picky eaters, you can cut the balsamic vinaigrette down to 1/3 cup and add 2 extra tablespoons of beef broth to keep the flavor a little milder and less tangy. If your family likes things sweeter and stickier, increase the brown sugar to 3 tablespoons and bake uncovered toward the end until the edges get extra caramelized. To stretch the meal on a tight budget, add 1 to 2 cups of thick-cut carrots or halved baby potatoes right into the baking dish with the beef before cooking; just know this technically adds ingredients, but they cook in the same pan and soak up the sauce. For a lighter spring feel, serve the beef over cauliflower mash and top with a handful of chopped fresh parsley or green onions after baking (added at the table so they don’t count toward your core 5 ingredients). You can also make this in a slow cooker: mix everything in the crock, cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, then transfer to a baking dish and pop under a hot oven or broiler for a few minutes to get that caramelized, glazed finish. Leftovers reheat well and can be tucked into toasted rolls for easy beef sandwiches the next day.