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:

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

healthy beef stew ingredients

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.

veggies in pot

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. 

healthy beef stew in pot

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.

healthy beef stew in bowl with spoon

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

healthy beef stew in bowls

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 in bowl

Healthy Beef Stew (Slow Cooker Option!)

  • Author: Ashlea Carver
  • 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
  • Author: Ashlea Carver
  • 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

Ingredients

Method

  1. Toss the stew beef meat in the arrowroot starch, salt, and pepper until completely coated.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Next, add the garlic, onion, and herbs to the pot. Cook for another 5 minutes, until the garlic, herbs, and onions become fragrant.
  5. Next add the veggies and stir until well combined. Lastly, add the beef broth.
  6. 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

  1. Follow steps 1-4 from the stove top instructions above.
  2. Transfer the beef, garlic, onion, and herb mixture to your slow cooker. Add the veggies and broth, then stir until well combined.
  3. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until the beef and potatoes are tender.
  4. 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!
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Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: Eat Love Eats

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16 Comments

  1. Sounds great! One question though could you replace the peas with maybe black beans or red beans? I’m ok with peas but love my beans! Would that be considered a chili then? Ha Ha. We have gluten free members and I would like to cook something everyone would enjoy together.
    Thanks!
    Romi






    1. Ashlea Carver says:

      Hi, Romi! I haven’t tried it but it may be worth a shot. I think Garbanzo beans could work!

  2. so delicious, am a picky eater trying to eat healthy and this was incredibly hearty and filling and so flavorful.






  3. DONNA H Tyler says:

    Delicious. I added some red wine along with the balsamic vinegar to deglaze. It came out wonderful. Very easy. Cooked it on top burner. It was the best!

  4. This recipe…. Is AMAZING!!!! So so easy to put together and it tastes delicious. I used the slow cooker option and put the ingredients together in a rush before I needed to leave the house. Even on a short timeline, the stew tasted DELICIOUS! Another 11/10 recipe, Ashlea! Thank you!!!






  5. Another delicious recipe! Hearty, comfy, homey. Perfect for this fall and winter season. I love the flavor the balsamic vinegar adds. I have a beef stew recipe that is very similar but I wont ever make it without the balsamic vinegar again. It leveled up by beef stew.






  6. This was so flavorful and delicious!






  7. Made this tonight for my family of 4. Chopping all the veggies takes some time but well worth it. I doubled the recipe so now we can eat it for several nights. It’s absolutely delicious, we all love it including picky teenagers! Thanks Ashlea, your recipes are the best!!!






  8. Dominique says:

    Followed the recipe as written. Deglazing with balsamic vinegar is a game changer! So easy and so much flavor. This stew is on regular rotation in our house!






    1. Ashlea Carver says:

      I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Dominique!

  9. Stephanie says:

    I would love to try this recipe!! Can you please advise the amount of frozen peas to add?? I did not see it in the ingredient list, but you have listed it in the instructions and I see them in the pictures. I have not cooked with arrowroot starch before, but I’m excited to try it. Thanks!!

    1. Natalie Perkins (ATHT) says:

      Hi Stephanie! Thanks for letting me know! You can use a cup of frozen peas for this recipe!

  10. Amanda Acerra says:

    This is definitely going on my dinner rotation list for the winter. I love the flor and all the veggies. Super yummy! Thanks for sharing.

    1. Ashlea Carver says:

      You’re welcome, Amanda! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

  11. Thanks for this recipe! I think you mean Yukon potatoes, not tomatoes? Also I don’t see peas in the ingredient list but I do see it in the recipe.

  12. Definitely a new favorite for me! It’s packed so full of flavor. It was perfect.