Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

This Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a very simple, whole30, paleo and gluten-free slow cooker stew with potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, and herbs.

Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (1)

This Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew is definitely one of my ultimate comfort foods, especially during the winter months. To be honest, I think I could have my Pasta Soup with Sweet Potato and Peas, Instant Pot Chicken Stew, Cabbage and Sausage Stew, Extra-lean Turkey Chili with Kale, Healthy Slow Cooker Red Wine Beef Stewand Turnip and Carrot Slow Cooker Beef Stewfor dinner every night from November until March and be perfectly content. I am lucky that my husband can eat these three recipes all the time during the winter season, too! When it is so cold outside, I guess there is nothing better than a comforting bowl of stew, chili, or soup to warm up. I also love to make this stew because of the aroma it brings to my home. It is so welcoming and delicious!!

Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (2)

I named this recipe Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew because by adding more vegetables, such as turnips and parsnips, and using reduced-sodium beef broth, I made this recipe extra healthy for my family. I also reduce the amount of potatoes because they’re high in starchy carbohydrates. For this reason, I don’t like to eat a lot of potatoes. Although, I know that potatoes are still a good source of fibre, potassium, and vitamin C, especially if you eat the skin and prepare them correctly like boiled or baked.

The other thing I did to make this recipe even healthier is that I didn’t add flour to the stew. I know the traditional slow cooker beef stew recipe calls for whisking 2 tablespoons of flour with 2 tablespoons (25 mL) of water, stirring it into the stew, and then cooking it for few minutes until thickened.

But I just didn’t think it is necessary for me. I prepared it avoiding the added white flour, but if you prefer, about 30 minutes before serving, mix the flour and water together in a small dish and add it to the slow cooker. Mix until well combined.

Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (3)

I also browned the meat before putting it into the slow cooker because it adds depth to the flavour that you simply can’t achieve just by letting it boil away in the cooker. Please do not skip this step. I guarantee that your slow cooker beef stew will taste much better if you brown the meat.

Got extra carrots in the first? Try my Carrot Parsnip Soup!

More healthy slow cooker recipes to try:

  • Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato: This recipe only requires 6 ingredients, 10 minutes to prep, and it is a healthy and easy meal-prep recipe for during the week!
  • Ultra-easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili: Add the ingredients, and let the slow cooker do the rest.
  • Morning Slow Cooker Omelet: Make this omelet ahead with eggs, almond milk, bell pepper, onions, ham, and cheese.
  • Super Easy Slow Cooker Chili: This is one of the easiest slow cooker chili recipes you will ever make. And, it’s packed with beans, veggies, and spices.
  • Slow Cooker Zucchini Lasagna: This is going to become your favorite lasagna recipe. It’s low-carb and gluten-free. This is a great hearty meal for dinner.

See below for how to make Healthier Slower Cooker Beef Stew:

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Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (4)

3.69 from 92 votes

Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a very simple yet hearty slow cooker stew with potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, and herbs.

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 5 hours hours

Total: 5 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

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Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 cups carrots cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 celery ribs chopped
  • 2 medium red potatoes cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 turnips cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 parsnip cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ½ cup tomato paste
  • 4 cups beef broth whole30-friendly beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 dried bay leaves
  • 2 pounds beef stew meat cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, for garnishing

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place the onions, carrots, celery, red potatoes, turnips, parsnips, tomato paste, beef broth, dried thyme, dried parsley, oregano, and dried bay leaves into a large slow cooker.

  • Add the stew meat to a large bowl, and season liberally with salt and pepper. Toss the meat until it is fully coated, and set aside.

  • Over medium heat, heat the olive oil in a skillet.

  • Add the garlic, and sauté for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.

  • Add the meat, and let the beef cook without stirring for a few minutes to brown the meat on one side.

  • Stir, and repeat until all sides of the beef pieces are browned.

  • Add the browned beef to the slow cooker, and stir to combine with the vegetables.

  • Place the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on high for 5 hours. After 5 hours, taste the stew, and adjust the salt if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Tips

  • If you like healthy beef stew recipes, you'll love these two recipes: Healthy Turnip and Carrot Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Slow Cooker Red Wine Beef Stew.
  • When browning the meat, you may have to do so in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot.
  • You can use low sodium beef broth if you're worried about the sodium.
  • Always brown the meat first as it adds a ton of flavour.
  • To store:Store leftover beef stew in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
  • To reheat:You can reheat the stew in the microwave or on the stovetop.
  • To freeze:Freeze leftover stew in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat before enjoying.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/4 Calories: 364kcal (18%) Carbohydrates: 31.4g (10%) Protein: 27.7g (55%) Fat: 12.5g (19%) Cholesterol: 66.9mg (22%) Sodium: 825.1mg (36%) Sugar: 13.9g (15%)

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.

© Author: Olivia Ribas

Similar Recipes:

  • Healthy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

  • Turnip and Carrot Slow Cooker Beef Stew

  • 50 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

  • Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

I love this Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe because you can make a nutritious meal in the morning before leaving for work. When you return home, you won’t worry about what to make for dinner. On top of that, your kitchen will smell so good!! You can serve it hot as is or over a delicious bowl of rice. Enjoy!

If you like this Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe, please share it with your friends and family. Do you want to taste more? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow Primavera Kitchen on Twitter, Pinterest,Instagram, and Facebook for all delicious recipe updates. As always, I really appreciate you stopping by.

Taste more from 50 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes!

Reader Interactions

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  1. chae manning says

    my son’s eats low carb so i substituted more parsnip for potatoes and he just loved this stew.

    Reply

    • Olivia says

      That’s amazing. Happy to gear that 😉

      Reply

  2. Sandi says

    How can I thicken it a little

    Reply

    • Olivia says

      Yes you can. You can use arrowroot flour for that.

      Reply

  3. Marcia says

    I have made it twice now. The family loves it. Thank you

    Reply

    • Olivia says

      Happy you and your family loved it!

      Reply

Older Comments

Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest meat for stew? ›

The Best Beef Stew Meats for Stewing
  • Chuck. Chuck is one of the leaner types of beef, making it perfect for stews because it melts into delicious pieces as it cooks. ...
  • Bone-In Short Rib. ...
  • Best Beef Stew with Just 5 Ingredients.

Is homemade beef stew healthy? ›

It's full of veggies and protein after all. Although traditional beef stew recipes provide more nutrition than many meals, most still plague you with far too much sodium and calories. Make some easy switches to truly have a healthy beef stew recipe you can be proud to share. Most stews use a beef broth for the base.

What gives beef stew the best flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

The Five Most Common Beef Stew Mistakes
  1. Choosing a meat that's too lean. Stew is not meant for all cuts of meat. ...
  2. Putting too much flour on the stew meat before sautéeing them. ...
  3. Not using wine. ...
  4. Putting the meat and vegetables together in one pan. ...
  5. Not cooking it enough.
Jun 28, 2020

Is beef stew healthy or unhealthy? ›

The essential ingredients for stew -- meat, vegetables and broth -- are healthy stuff. The problem is that traditional recipes call for massive portions of fatty meats paired with super-salty canned broths. Don't be turned off by recipes that use wine; a large portion of the alcohol and calories cook away.

What are the healthiest vegetables for stew? ›

Root Vegetables

They really bring more substance and body to these dishes and turn velvety and soft as they cook. Carrots are a go-to for stews and braises, but look beyond them to parsnips, turnips, rutabaga, celeriac, and sweet potatoes. Be sure cut them on the larger size so they don't dissolve into mush.

Can you eat beef stew on a diet? ›

BETTER-FOR-YOU BEEF STEW. The key to making this comfort food better for you is using more vegetables and less meat. It's still hearty and rich but also packed with fiber, vitamin A and beta carotene. Make this on the weekend and enjoy it through the week.

What makes beef stew better? ›

I almost always add some beef bouillon crystals to my stew, it helps oomph (yes, a technical term) the beefiness of the stock. Sometimes also use a few shots of worcestershire sauce or soy sauce - both will also add some oomph to the flavor.

Can you eat stew everyday? ›

While stew can be a healthy and satisfying part of a balanced diet, it may not provide all of the nutrients that are necessary for optimal health on its own. While stew can be a nutritious and filling meal, it is not advisable to rely solely on stew for all of your nutritional needs.

Which meat is better for stew? ›

Chuck: Chuck meat is taken from the shoulder and is one of the most popular choices for stew meat due to its high toughness and medium fat content. Beef chucks are usually large cuts of meat and are only a little more expensive than a round roast.

Is sirloin or chuck better for stew? ›

You should definitely ask the butcher what type of beef it is, because it could come from a few different primal cuts. The best (and least expensive) beef stew meat comes from the front shoulder, also known as the chuck.

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