Old-Fashioned Beef and Noodles
Tender shredded beef, rich savory gravy, and homemade noodles come together in this old fashioned beef and noodles recipe, perfect over mashed potatoes.
September 2025 update: I first shared this old-fashioned beef and noodles recipe back in February of 2025. In this update I freshened up the content and added some notes to the recipe that will help you create the perfect beef and noodles dish.
👩🍳 Grandma Balls Beef and Noodles Recipe
Every holiday, my mom’s side of the family crammed into Great Grandma Ball’s house, where she was busy whipping up a feast like some kind of kitchen wizard. Her cooking was unreal. Flavors that could bring a tear to your eye, like these beef and noodles made completely from scratch.
One memory I’ll never shake is the time she dropped mashed potatoes on the floor, scooped them up with her bare hand, and tossed them straight into the trash without missing a beat. Why my brain decided to hold on to that moment instead of all the recipes she shared, I’ll never know.
Her house itself felt magical. My cousin Josh had me convinced it was haunted. We swore there was a hidden room boarded up somewhere, because what’s an old house without a mystery? The staircase to the second floor was so steep and narrow you practically had to climb it like a mountain goat. That house was bursting with character.
She passed away before I was old enough to truly appreciate all she did for us, but I think back on those memories often. And her beef and noodles? This recipe is close, but I swear she had a secret ingredient tucked away somewhere. Maybe it was love. Maybe it was that hidden room we never found.
Here’s why I love old-fashioned beef and noodles. They are pure comfort food. Tender beef, a rich savory broth, and slurp-worthy homemade noodles come together in a dish that feels like a hug for your soul. Slow-cooked beefy goodness with just the right amount of seasoning. The kind of meal that makes you close your eyes after the first bite and think, yes, this is it.
If grandma made it, you know it’s legendary. Old-school cooking always hits different. No shortcuts, no fuss, just time-tested, simple, and unforgettable.
Now my husband? He can’t handle dry meat. I don’t mean a little dramatic eye roll. I mean an actual gag reflex. Dry crockpot roasts are his worst nightmare. But when I double-cook the roast, it comes out juicy, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. He goes back for seconds every time.
So for me, beef and noodles isn’t just food. It’s tradition, memory, and pure comfort in a bowl. Serve these old-fashioned beef and noodles over creamy mashed potatoes for the perfect winter meal.
🛒 Ingredients In Old Fashioned Beef and Noodles
For the beef:
For the Noodles:
For the Gravy:
🥣 How to Make Old Fashioned Beef and Noodles
Start by slow cooking the beef roast so it turns perfectly tender. Place a chuck roast into your slow cooker and cover it with beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, butter, and seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Add a bay leaf for depth of flavor. Cook on low until the beef shreds easily with a fork.
Once the roast is done, shred the meat and skim any excess fat from the broth. You’ll use that broth as the base for the rich gravy. In a skillet, caramelize sliced onions in butter until golden, then whisk in flour and heavy cream to create a smooth roux. Stir this mixture back into the slow cooker with the shredded beef and broth. Let everything simmer together for several hours so the flavors deepen into a creamy beef gravy.
While the beef and gravy cook, make homemade egg noodles. Combine flour, salt, eggs, milk, butter, and a touch of baking powder for extra lift. Knead the dough until smooth, let it rest, then roll it thin and slice into noodles. Dust with flour and let them dry before cooking.
Add the noodles to the slow cooker during the final stretch of cooking. They’ll soak up the broth and turn silky and tender, making the dish thick and hearty. When the noodles are done, serve generous spoonfuls of beef and noodles over creamy mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort food dinner.
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Old-Fashioned Beef and Noodles
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
For the roast:
- 3-4 pounds beef chuck roast
- 4 cups beef broth (or enough to cover roast)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
For the noodles:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs (large ones)
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon butter (melted)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder (optional for a lighter plumper noodle)
For the gravy:
- 1 onion (medium, thinly sliced)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
Day 1: Slow Cook the Roast To Tender
- I like to do this the night before I want to serve it and let it cook overnight. To a slow cooker, add 3-4 pounds beef chuck roast. Add 4 cups beef broth, 1 bay leaf, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and 1 tablespoon butter around the roast.
- Sprinkle the roast with 2 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon dried thyme.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8–10 hours (or HIGH for 4–5 hours). The roast should shred easily when done. Remove the roast from the crockpot and shred it. Skim off any excess fat from the broth and leave the broth in the crockpot.
Day 2: Continue to Cook Roast In Gravy
- In a skillet, melt 3 tbsp butter and sauté the sliced onions over medium heat until soft and lightly caramelized (about 10–15 minutes). Set them aside.
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet. Whisk in 3 tablespoons flour. Cook, whisking continuously, for 1-2 minutes or until the flour begins to brown slightly. Whisk in ½ cup heavy cream until its somewhat smooth. Add this to crockpot with the broth and stir well to avoid lumps.
- Add the shredded beef and the onions back into the crockpot, stirring to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for another 6–8 hours to let the flavors meld and the meat become even more tender.
Make Homemade Noodles
- Two hours before the shredded beef and gravy is done, attach the dough hook to your stand mixer. Add 2 cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder (optional) and ½ teaspoon salt to the mixing bowl. Crack 2 eggs into the center of the flour. Add 3 tablespoons milk and 1 tablespoon butter that has been melted.
- Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Increase to medium speed and knead for about 5–7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. If it’s too dry, add a tiny bit more milk. If too sticky, add a sprinkle of flour.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 30 minutes (this makes rolling it out easier).
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about ⅛-inch thick.
- Cut into noodles using a sharp knife, pizza cutter, or a pasta cutter attachment. Aim for ¼-inch wide strips.
- Let the noodles dry on a floured surface or a drying rack for at least 15–30 minutes before cooking.
Add Noodles and Finish Cooking
- Add the noodles to the crockpot with the beef and gravy. Let them cook for 40-45 minutes or until the reach the desired consistency. They should soak up a lot of excess broth and get tender.
- Serve the beef and noodles over mashed potatoes. Add Salt & pepper to taste.
Notes
Storage
Nutrition
FAQs
How do I thicken the broth?
If you want the gravy a bit thicker, mix a little cornstarch with water and stir it in near the end, or let it simmer longer to reduce.
Beef and Noodles Serving Suggestions
The best way to enjoy beef and noodles is spooned right over a pile of creamy mashed potatoes so the gravy can sink in. I like to add something fresh on the side, like a simple green salad or some roasted veggies, just to balance out the richness. A warm roll or slice of crusty bread is never a bad idea either because you’ll want something to soak up the extra sauce. And if you’re going all in on comfort, finish the meal with a cozy dessert like apple crisp or peach cobbler.
More Comfort Classics
If you’re craving more cozy dinners, I’ve got plenty of old-fashioned favorites for you. My Easy Turkey Meatloaf is juicy, flavorful, and topped with a tangy glaze that takes it over the top. It’s the kind of dinner that makes the whole kitchen smell amazing.
For pure comfort, you can’t go wrong with One-Pan Chicken Pot Pie With Rosemary Biscuits. Golden biscuits on top, creamy veggie-packed filling underneath, all in one pan. It’s a weeknight lifesaver that tastes like Sunday supper.
If you love a sweet and savory side, my Cinnamon Mashed Sweet Potatoes With Marshmallow Ribbon is a must. Creamy, cinnamon-spiced sweet potatoes topped with gooey toasted marshmallows make the perfect holiday dish.
For something a little special, try my Slow-Cooked Pomegranate Glazed Pot Roast. The roast turns fall-apart tender while the tangy-sweet glaze makes it unforgettable. It’s comfort food with a little twist.
And if casseroles are your love language, my Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole will hit the spot. Crispy tater tots layered with savory sweet potato filling create the ultimate cozy dinner that the whole family devours.