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Healthy Beef Stew

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Healthy beef stew is the kind of cozy, nourishing meal that never goes out of style. Packed with tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth, this lighter take on classic beef stew delivers all the comfort without feeling heavy. Perfect for chilly evenings, meal prep, or a wholesome family dinner, this healthy beef stew recipe is simple to make and incredibly satisfying.

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Beef Stew

This stew is hearty yet balanced, using simple ingredients and minimal added fat. By relying on slow simmering and flavorful aromatics, you get deep, comforting flavor without the need for heavy thickeners or excess oil. It’s naturally gluten-free, protein-rich, and packed with vegetables—ideal for anyone looking for a nutritious comfort food.

Serving & Storage Tips

Serve this healthy beef stew on its own or with crusty whole-grain bread. It stores beautifully in the fridge for up to four days and freezes well for future meals.

A Nutritious Comfort Food Classic

This healthy beef stew is warm, nourishing, and full of classic flavor. It’s the kind of meal that feels comforting and wholesome—perfect for slow evenings, meal prep, and feeding a crowd with simple, real ingredients.

How To Make Healthy Beef Stew

The Ingredients

Stewing Beef

Stewing beef becomes tender and flavorful when simmered slowly, making it perfect for stew.
Substitutes: Chuck roast cut into cubes, sirloin tip, beef shank, or boneless short ribs. For a leaner option, use top round (cook gently). For non-beef options, try lamb, turkey thigh, or plant-based beef alternatives.

Onion

Onion forms the savory base of the stew, adding sweetness as it cooks.
Substitutes: Shallots, leeks, yellow or white onion, or frozen diced onion.

Carrots

Carrots add natural sweetness, color, and texture.
Substitutes: Parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, rutabaga, or butternut squash.

Garlic

Garlic brings depth and aromatic flavor.
Substitutes: Garlic powder (½ teaspoon per clove), roasted garlic, or shallots.

Mini Potatoes

Mini potatoes hold their shape and make the stew filling without needing thickening agents.
Substitutes: Yukon Gold potatoes, red potatoes, sweet potatoes, or diced turnips for lower carbs.

Peas

Peas add a pop of color, sweetness, and plant protein.
Substitutes: Green beans, corn, edamame, lima beans, or chopped spinach (stir in at the end).

Beef Bone Broth

Bone broth adds richness, protein, and minerals while keeping the stew light.
Substitutes: Regular beef broth, chicken broth, vegetable broth, or water plus bouillon.

Water

Water balances the broth and prevents the stew from becoming too salty.
Substitutes: Additional broth or red wine for deeper flavor.

Tomato Paste

Tomato paste adds umami, depth, and a subtle richness to the broth.
Substitutes: Crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, or a tablespoon of ketchup.

Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire enhances savory flavors and adds complexity.
Substitutes: Soy sauce, tamari, coconut aminos, or balsamic vinegar.

What You Need

The Steps

  • Dice onion, carrots and potatoes
  • Pat dry beef and season both sides with salt and pepper (option to further cut them into smaller pieces)
  • Heat a large pot over medium heat and add a splash of oil, add beef (don't overcrowd it) and sear it on each sides for 3 minutes
  • Remove beef and set aside
  • Add another splash of oil and add onion, cook until soft for 5 minutes
  • Return beef to pot and add tomato paste, Worcestershire and spices, mix well
  • Add broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to ensure nothing is sticking, bring to a boil, cover with lid and simmer on low heat for 1 hour
  • Add potatoes and carrots, continue to cook with lid on for another 30 minutes
  • Remove a cup of potatoes and blend in a blender with a splash of broth from the pot
  • Add peas, the potato mixture and 1/2 cup of water to the pot, stir well
  • Once the peas are cooked, the stew is ready! Serve with crusty bread and a sprinkle of chili flakes

Recipe Tips

You can skip blending the potatoes but it creates the most perfect creamy, thicker texture.

 

Healthy Beef Stew

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 410

Ingredients

  • 1 lb stewing beef
  • 1 onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 lb mini potatoes
  • 1 cup peas
  • 2 cups beef bone broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp thyme

Instructions

  • Dice onion, carrots and potatoes
  • Pat dry beef and season both sides with salt and pepper (option to further cut them into smaller pieces)
  • Heat a large pot over medium heat and add a splash of oil, add beef (don't overcrowd it) and sear it on each sides for 3 minutes
  • Remove beef and set aside
  • Add another splash of oil and add onion, cook until soft for 5 minutes
  • Return beef to pot and add tomato paste, Worcestershire and spices, mix well
  • Add broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to ensure nothing is sticking, bring to a boil, cover with lid and simmer on low heat for 1 hour
  • Add potatoes and carrots, continue to cook with lid on for another 30 minutes
  • Remove a cup of potatoes and blend in a blender with a splash of broth from the pot
  • Add peas, the potato mixture and 1/2 cup of water to the pot, stir well
  • Once the peas are cooked, the stew is ready! Serve with crusty bread and a sprinkle of chili flakes

Notes

You can skip blending the potatoes but it creates the most perfect creamy, thicker texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 42gFat: 156gFiber: 6g

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Recipe creator, toddler mama & wellness enthusiast. Happy&Full is a blog all about quick and easy recipes for every day living! Eating well (and feeling well) doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

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