Healthy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Whether it is sitting down to a meal on a cold fall evening or coming home and coming together after a long day away, a meal brings people together. When what you really want is togetherness and not much time cooking, your slow cooker is the ultimate solution. Especially with a great healthy slow cooker beef stew recipe on deck.

Beef stew, with its slow-simmered browned beef chunks, hearty vegetables, and rich broth is the stuff of family food memories. The flavors in this healthy slow cooker beef stew recipe will fill your home with the smells of a delicious home-cooked dinner.

This healthy slow cooker beef stew recipe is all that and more. Yes, you prepare all your ingredients in the morning (or the night before). Then you set it and forget it. Not only does it have all the ease of Crock Pot cooking, but it’s also low carb and Whole30 friendly.

It’s up to you whether to have a warm loaf of crusty bread on the side, but if you are following a low carb diet, this recipe will work for you and even for those at your dinner table who aren’t.

Healthy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Eating healthy gives you a chance to try some foods you might not have tried before. This low carb beef stew replaces traditional potatoes with turnip. They are a perfect sub for high-carb potatoes, and they cook to potato consistency in your Crock Pot.

Nobody will even know the difference!

Using Arrowroot powder instead of flour when you brown your beef will provide the same browning effect, a little bit and all, but without the added carbs that are really a no-no if you are following Whole30.

That’s what sets this healthy slow cooker beef stew recipe apart from others.

How to make Slow Cooker Beef Stew

In a mixing bowl, combine the Arrowroot powder, salt, and pepper. Then add the beef chunks and dredge them in the powder combination. 

Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Then carefully add the beef, not letting the pieces touch each other. Brown for 3-5 minutes on each side.  Remove the beef to a plate and set it aside. TIP: You may have to work in batches depending upon how large your pan is. It’s important to give the beef a little room between pieces for even cooking.

Pour one cup of the beef broth into the hot pan and scrape with a spatula to pick up the tasty, browned bits. 

Place the browned beef along with the rest of the ingredients into your slow cooker. Be sure to add the beef broth and browned bits to the pan. 

Place the cover on the slow cooker and set it at high for 6-8 hours. 

Before serving be sure to remove the bay leaves and taste one more time to adjust seasonings if necessary.

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Healthy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time8 hours hrs

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: Crockpot Recipes, Main, Meat, Soups

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 300kcal

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. lean beef stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tsp. Arrowroot powder
• 2 Tbsp avocado oil
• ½ cup tomato paste
• 5-6 cups organic beef stock or broth
• 1 cup kale, sliced in thin ribbons
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 medium turnip cut into cubes (can substitute sweet potato if diet approved)
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 cup carrots, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 Tbsp dried thyme
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• In a mixing bowl, combine the Arrowroot powder, salt, and pepper. Then add the beef chunks and dredge them in the powder combination.
• Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed pan over medium high heat. Then carefully add the beef, not letting the pieces touch each other. Brown for 3-5 minutes on each side. Remove the beef to a plate and set aside.
• Pour one cup of the beef broth into the hot pan and scrape with a spatula to pick up the tasty, browned bits.
• Place the browned beef along with the rest of the ingredients into your slow cooker. Be sure to add the beef broth and browned bits from the pan.
• Place the cover on the slow cooker and set at high for 6-8 hours.
• Before serving be sure to remove the bay leaves and taste one more time to adjust seasonings if necessary.

Notes

u003cliu003eTIP: You may have to work in batches depending upon how large your pan is. It’s important to give the beef a little room between pieces for even cooking.u003c/liu003e

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