Freezer Beef Vegetable Soup

This healthy freezer meal makes dinner prep times quick and easy, so you don't have to stress about what to make.

Servings: 12 cups

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, diced
• 2 12-ounce bags frozen peas and carrots
• 12-ounce bag frozen baby lima beans
• 12-ounce bag frozen corn
• 3 pounds of stew meat (or a pot roast that has been cut into 1-1/2-inch cubes)
• 10 cups low-sodium beef broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

This recipe provides directions so that the soup is fully cooked before being frozen, and it can be thawed and reheated either in a pot or microwave.

If you want to cook the soup in a slow cooker after it is frozen and thawed, skip step 6. After thawing, place in slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Use a large, heavy-duty pot that has a lid and is oven safe, such as a Dutch oven. Heat the olive oil on medium high heat.  Put the stew meat in the pot and leave undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes. Flip the pieces of meat to the other side and repeat. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Add the onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, then add 2 cups of broth to the pot and stir to loosen the remaining fond.
4. Bring to a boil, cover with lid and place in preheated oven. Cook for approximately 45 to 60 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed.
5. Remove from the oven. The beef should be so tender that you can take two spoons and pull it into smaller cubes, if desired.
6. Add the remaining 8 cups of broth and the frozen vegetables.  Stir and scrape the sides to loosen the fond that has accumulated on the sides of the pot.
7. Place over medium heat and cook for another 30 to 45 minutes.
8. Move the soup to a metal bowl to cool. Once cool to the touch, it can either be frozen in individual serving containers or good quality freezer bags. Place in freezer.
9. 1 to 3 nights before cooking, remove from freezer and place in refrigerator to thaw. If frozen in bags, place bags in a bowl to catch any drippings.
10. For bags, place contents in a pot over medium heat. If individual serving containers are microwave safe, you can microwave them.