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Ghostly Beef Stew Dinner Recipe for Halloween

Mashed Potato GhostsHalloween is such a fun yet hectic time.  Cook this spooktacular recipe in advance or use your slow cooker to fill your goblins’ tummies with a delicious, nutritious fun meal.

Our photographer Linda Wolpert whipped up these adorable mashed potato ghosts which you can serve on top of my Hearty Beef Stew for a Halloween-themed dinner before or after your children romp around on a chilly autumn night.

Feel free to substitute other root vegetables like turnips and parsnips for the carrots and potatoes.

To make the mashed potato ghosts, make our mashed potatoes or use your favorite recipe, adding extra water or milk as needed to make it smooth and creamy.  Put the mashed potatoes in a strong plastic bag (sandwich-sized Ziploc works well), snip 1 inch off the bottom corner of the bag on the diagonal, and squeeze out the ghosts. The eyes can be peppercorns, coriander seeds, pieces of olives or carrots; use your imagination!

Ghostly Beef Stew

Ghostly Beef Stew

Jessica Braider
Halloween is such a fun yet hectic time. Cook this spooktacular recipe in advance or use your slow cooker to fill your goblins’ tummies with a delicious, nutritious fun meal. For more creepy and fun ideas, check out our other healthy halloween recipes!
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 375 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ghostly Beef Stew

  • 1 1/2 lbs. beef chuck cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup flour use wheat/gluten-free, if needed
  • 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 yellow or white onion diced
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
  • 8 oz. tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup red wine or use tomato juice with a splash of balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 3 carrots peeled and sliced into bite-sized pieces

Whipped Potato Ghosts

  • 2 lbs. Yukon Gold or russet potatoes
  • 1 clove garlic peeled
  • 1 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/2 cup low fat milk
  • 1/4 tsp. dried thyme or use 1/2 tsp fresh

Instructions
 

  • Dredge the meat in the flour and reserve 1 Tbsp. of the flour.
  • Heat the oil over medium heat in a large stockpot and brown the meat in a single layer, flipping it once or twice, until it is almost cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Reduce the heat if it is getting too brown.
  • Remove the meat from the pan and add the onions and 1 Tbsp. flour. Sauté the onions for about 5 minutes until they begin to brown.
  • Return the meat to the pot and add the broth, tomato sauce, wine or juice, Worcestershire, salt and thyme. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, and cover it. Simmer it for 45 – 60 minutes.
  • Add the carrots and cover and simmer the stew for 45 minutes more, until the meat and vegetables are tender. (Meanwhile make the whipped potatoes for the ghosts.)
  • Serve it right away or refrigerate it for up to 3 days, or let it cool and freeze it for up to 3 months.

Slow Cooker Directions

  • Place the carrots in the slow cooker.
  • Dredge the meat in the flour and reserve 1 Tbsp. of the flour. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet and brown the meat in a single layer, flipping it once or twice. Remove the meat from the pan and add it to the slow cooker on top of the vegetables.
  • Add the onions and 1 Tbsp. flour to the skillet. Sauté it for about 5 minutes until the onion starts to brown. Remove the onions from the pan and add them to the slow cooker on top of the meat and vegetables.
  • Add 2 cups broth or 1 cup broth and 1 cup water (rather than 1 cup broth above), tomato sauce, wine or juice, Worcestershire and thyme to the skillet and warm through while scraping up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour the mixture over the meat and vegetables.
  • Cook for 8-10 hours on low, or 4-5 hours on high. Add extra broth or water during cooking if it looks too thick. (Slow cooker cooking times may vary—Get to know your slow cooker and, if necessary, adjust cooking times accordingly.)

Whipped Potato Ghosts

  • Bring a large pot that’s about half full of water to a boil. Peel and cut the potatoes into 1-inch pieces. While the water is coming to a boil, add the potatoes, the garlic clove and about 1 tsp. of the salt to the water and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender.
  • Drain the potatoes and garlic and return them to the pot over medium heat, shaking until any remaining water dries. Transfer the potatoes and garlic to a large mixing bowl; add the butter or margarine, the milk (or buttermilk, if you have it), thyme and remaining salt. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until they are just smooth—don’t over mix (or mash them, if you prefer). Serve immediately or transfer to an oven-safe serving bowl and keep warm in a 300 degree oven until you are ready to serve.
  • Put the whipped potatoes in a strong plastic bag (sandwich-sized Ziploc works well), snip 1 inch off the bottom corner of the bag on the diagonal, and squeeze out the ghosts. The eyes can be peppercorns, coriander seeds, pieces of olives or carrots; use your imagination!

Notes

Do Ahead or Delegate: Cut and refrigerate the beef, dice the onion, peel and slice the carrots, cut the potatoes and store them covered with water to prevent browning, combine the beef broth through the thyme, or fully prepare and refrigerate or freeze the stew.
Scramble Flavor Booster: Season the stew with salt and black pepper, and serve it with hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco.
Tip: Use tongs or a spatula to flip the meat while browning.  Using a fork or other sharp object to puncture the meat will release its flavorful juices.
Like this recipe? Check out The Scramble's family-friendly meal plans to see just how simple getting dinner on the table can be!

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 21gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 754mgPotassium: 1072mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 4110IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 5mg
Keyword Fall, Gluten-Free, Holidays/Special Events, Kid-Friendly, Main Dish, Make-Ahead, Nut-Free, Slow Cooker, Soups & Stews
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Worry Less About the Halloween Sugar with these Dinner Recipes

Wednesday 5th of August 2020

[…] Ghostly Beef Stew: This fun recipe packs in the vegetables and proteins so that your little demons will be able to spook with the best of them. […]

Mary M. Martinez

Tuesday 12th of April 2016

I LOVE a good beef stew. This one looks so yummy and cozy!

Kami

Monday 19th of October 2015

I can't wait to try this for Halloween! ย What a great idea. Thank you for the post! I would be honored if you checked out our conference and affiliate program. ย We need awesome bloggers like you! http://www.foodbloggingconference.com/become-an-affiliate/

Sharon Buck

Thursday 15th of October 2015

Aviva, how many servings for the beef stew? (Ghostly Beef Stew Dinner Recipe for Halloween)

Thanks! Sharon

Aviva

Friday 16th of October 2015

Sorry we missed adding that, I've added it now, but it's 8 servings.

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