Beef Stew with Cheddar Biscuits

Ingredients

  • Stew:
  • 1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef sirloin
  • 14 oz. pkg. frozen pearl onions, thawed
  • 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tsp. minced garlic (from 1 garlic clove)
  • 3/4 tsp. each pepper and kosher salt
  • 3 Tbs. tomato paste
  • 1 Tbs. flour
  • 12 oz. pkg. frozen peas and carrots, thawed
  • 3 C. beef stock
  • Biscuits:
  • 2 C. self-rising flour
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 C. unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 C. mild Cheddar cheese-divided
  • 1 C. whole buttermilk

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heat a large (12") cast iron skillet over medium-high. Add 1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef sirloin. Cook, breaking up and stirring with a wooden spoon, until well browned, 6-8 minutes. Add pearl onions, thyme leaves, garlic, salt and pepper and stir until combined. Cook until fragrant, 2-3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and sprinkle with flour. Cook, stirring often, until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add peas and carrots; stir to combine. Stir in beef stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until thickened, 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl. Using your hands, work butter, cut into small pieces into mixture until it clumps together and becomes pea-size pieces. Stir in 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Stir in 1 cup buttermilk just until incorporated. Using a 1/4 cup ice-cream scoop, drop biscuit dough directly on top of stew, leaving about 1/2" space between biscuits. Sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.

Place skillet on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake in preheated oven until biscuits a browned and flaky, 20-22 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes and serve.