This Healthy Beef Stew recipe is filled with hearty vegetables, tender beef, and packed with flavor. You can make it on the stovetop or in the slow cooker for an even easier option!
Hearty and Cozy Healthy Beef Stew
There is just something so comforting about a hearty and cozy beef stew. Tender beef, root veggies, a rich and flavorful broth; beef stew is classic comfort food.
There are so many things to absolutely love about beef stew, but here are a few of my favorite reasons why you should add this recipe to your menu:
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You can make it in one pot. Seriously, who doesn’t love a one pot meal? All you need is one large stock pot or dutch oven to make this easy recipe.
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It is packed with veggies. I know that beef stew gets its name for the tender pieces of beef, but don’t forget about the veggies. This recipe is a great way to load up on several different hearty root veggies.
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It is full of flavor. Beef, veggies, and plenty of herbs give this beef stew a deep rich flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
Not only is this easy one-pot beef stew packed with veggies and full of flavor, it is also Whole30 compliant, Paleo, gluten and dairy-free. Keep reading to learn how to make a Whole30 version of this classic dish.
Watch How to Make This Recipe
The Secret Ingredient for Perfect Gluten Free Beef Stew
Classic beef stew traditionally uses flour or cornstarch to create a slightly thick and flavorful broth. Instead this recipe uses arrowroot starch to create the perfect gravy that’s made without any grains.
What is Arrowroot Starch?
Arrowroot starch is a gluten free thickener that is grain-free, Paleo-friendly, and Whole30 compliant. Arrowroot starch comes from the arrowroot plant which is actually a large herb. It looks and feels almost exactly like cornstarch!
How to Use Arrowroot Starch?
You can use arrowroot starch as a 1-to-1 replacement in recipes that call for cornstarch. For this beef stew recipe, you coat the stew meat pieces in arrowroot starch before browning them. As the stew cooks, the arrowroot starch will slightly thicken the broth.
The Best Veggies to Use for a Hearty Stew
This stew uses a variety of classic veggies to keep things satisfying, nutrient dense, and hearty. You can feel free to add your own favorite vegetables and aromatics to this recipe or swap things out based on your preferences.
Celery, carrots, and onion: these are the must have base of any good beef stew and help to create a solid foundation of flavor.
Garlic: fresh garlic is another must for any good stew in my personal opinion. I know it may be easier to use pre-minced garlic, but if you can I highly recommend freshly minced garlic in this recipe. It adds so much more incredible flavor to this dish.
Mushrooms: mushrooms may not be a staple in classic beef stew, but I really think that they add so much hearty flavor to this recipe. Mushrooms are also so good for you, so I’m always looking for a way to incorporate them a bit more into my recipes.
Peas: they add such a bright fresh color and flavor to the stew!
Tomatoes: these are another maybe not so classic addition, but canned diced tomatoes also add another level of complexity and flavor to this stew that works so well.
Potatoes: it wouldn’t be a beef stew without a few delicious hearty spuds in the mix.
Simple Gluten Free Beef Stew Seasonings
The veggies and garlic help build a lot of flavor in this stew, but so do the dried herbs. This recipe calls for dried thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
It may not sound like a lot, but these dried herbs with just simple salt, pepper, and garlic go a long way. You can also feel free to add any of your favorite herbs that you love to the mix as well.
How to Make Healthy Beef Stew
Step One: Toss the stew beef meat in the arrowroot starch, salt, and pepper until completely coated.
Step Two: Heat a heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat. Once hot, add in the olive oil and then add in the stew beef meat. Cook the beef for five to six minutes on each side until browned.
Step Three: Once brown, remove the meat from the pot and lower the heat. and Add the balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pot and use a wooden spoon to scrape any of the brown bits off the bottom of the pot.
Step Four: Next, add the garlic, onion, celery, and mushrooms to the pot.Cook for another 3-5 minutes, until the onions start to become translucent.
Step Five: Next add the diced tomatoes, potatoes, herbs, bay leaf, and beef broth.
Step Six: Bring the stew to a rolling boil and then reduce the heat to medium low. Let the stew simmer for 45-60 minutes or until the beef is tender.
Need a Lower Carb Option?
If you are following a lower carb approach or serving this recipe to someone watching their carb intake, there are a few options for you to make this beef stew a bit lower carb.
Tips to Make Low Carb Beef Stew
- Replace the potatoes with a lower carbohydrate root veggie like parsnips or rutabaga. You could also swap the russet potatoes with peeled sweet potatoes if you prefer.
- Swap the potatoes for cauliflower. After the beef stew has simmered for 30-40 minutes, add in large chopped cauliflower florets to the stew and let simmer until they are tender.
- Leave out the potatoes altogether! This stew will still be delicious without them.
How to Make Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker
This stew beef is also easy to make in the slow cooker! I give you slow cooker instructions in the instructions below, but essentially you start by developing the flavor on the stove top and then transfer everything to the slow cooker. You’ll have a hearty and delicious meal waiting for you when you get home!
More Comfort Food Recipes
- Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
- One Pot Chicken Stew
- Short Rib Ragu
- The Best Dutch Oven Pot Roast
- Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
- Creamy Braised Short Ribs
- The Best Whole Roasted Chicken
- Gluten Free Gumbo
I hope you give this Healthy Beef Stew a try! It’s hearty, comforting, and so easy to make.
If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.
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Healthy Beef Stew (Slow Cooker Option!)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Healthy Beef Stew recipe is filled with hearty vegetables, tender beef, and packed with flavor. You can make it on the stovetop or in the slow cooker for an even easier option!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1.5 pounds of stew beef meat (cut into 1 inch chunks)
- 3 tablespoons arrowroot starch
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, smashed
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms
- 1 – 15oz can diced tomatoes
- 4 yukon gold potatoes, diced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 32 oz beef broth
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Toss the stew beef meat in the arrowroot starch, salt, and pepper until completely coated.
- Heat heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat. Once hot, add in the coconut oil. When the oil has melted, add in the stew beef meat. Cook the beef for five to six minutes on each side until browned.
- Once all of the beef is brown, lower the heat and then add the balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pot. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any of the brown bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Next, add the garlic, onion, and herbs to the pot. Cook for another 5 minutes, until the garlic, herbs, and onions become fragrant.
- Next add the veggies and stir until well combined. Lastly, add the beef broth.
- Bring the stew to a rolling boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the stew simmer for 30-45 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender. Lastly, add the frozen peas and let simmer for another five minutes until they are warmed through. Serve and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Follow steps 1-4 from the stove top instructions above.
- Transfer the beef, garlic, onion, and herb mixture to your slow cooker. Add the veggies and broth, then stir until well combined.
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until the beef and potatoes are tender.
- When the potatoes are tender, add in the peas and stir. Let the stew cook for 10-15 more minutes until the peas are warmed through. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
