Cozy Up With a Healthy Beef Stew

As the temperatures drop and cozy evenings call, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a warm bowl of hearty beef stew. This slow cooker recipe is the perfect blend of nourishing vegetables, tender beef, and fragrant herbs, creating a meal that feels like a warm hug on a chilly day.

Why You’ll Love This Stew

• Comfort Food Made Easy: With a slow cooker doing most of the work, this recipe is low-maintenance but high in flavor.
• Nutritious and Balanced: Packed with protein, fiber-rich vegetables, and warming herbs, it’s as wholesome as it is delicious.
• Versatile Ingredients: You can swap out the potatoes for sweet potatoes or add seasonal veggies like parsnips or turnips for a personal touch.

Pro Tips for the Perfect Stew

• Sauté for Flavor: Browning the beef and sautéing the onions, garlic, and rosemary before slow cooking adds depth and richness. If your slow cooker doesn’t have a sauté setting, don’t skip this step—simply use a stovetop pan instead.
• Customizable Thickness: Prefer a thicker stew? Purée some of the vegetables with broth and stir them back in for a creamy, velvety texture.

Cozy Serving Suggestions

• Pair with a slice of gluten free bread to soak up every drop of the rich, savory broth.
• Serve over a bed of mashed potatoes for an extra layer of comfort.
• Top with a dollop of Greek yogurt or a sprinkle of Parmesan for added creaminess.

Recipe Recap

Here’s what you’ll need to bring this cozy dish to life:

• Protein: 2 lbs of cubed stew beef, browned for optimal flavor.
• Veggies: Carrots, celery, onion, garlic, potatoes (or squash), plus fresh herbs like rosemary and parsley.
• Broth: Low-sodium beef broth for a rich base.
• Spices: Bay leaves and freshly chopped herbs for aromatic warmth.

Cozy Up With a Healthy Beef Stew

Recipe by LivingPlateRXCourse: Dinner

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

4

hours 

Ingredients

• 2 lb beef, stew meat, cubed

• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped

• 3 stalks celery, chopped

• 1 onion, sweet, chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

• 1 Tbs rosemary, fresh, chopped

• 1/4 cup parsley, fresh, chopped

• 2 Tbs avocado oil

• 2 potatoes, medium (or fresh)

• 5 cups beef broth, low-sodium

• 2 bay leaves

Directions

• Prep
• Cube beef.
• Chop carrots, celery, and onion. Mince garlic.
• Chop rosemary and parsley.
• Set slow cooker to “Sauté” setting or warm a pan on medium-high heat.
• Make
• Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the slow cooker/pan and sauté beef until brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.
• Add remaining avocado oil to slow cooker and sauté onion, garlic, and rosemary until fragrant. If you don’t have a sauté setting on your slow cooker you can sauté the beef and vegetables stovetop separately and add. Sautéeing adds a deeper flavor to the stew.
• Add carrots, celery, and potatoes and stir to coat.
• Return beef and juices to slow cooker. Add broth and bay leaves.
• Set slow cooker on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. You want to cook the stew until the beef is tender.
• Remove bay leaves.
• For a thicker stew, remove some of the vegetables with broth and purée then add them back to the pot.
• Serve topped with fresh parsley.

Recipe Video

With just a bit of prep and a few hours in the slow cooker, your home will fill with the tantalizing aroma of this hearty beef stew. Perfect for meal prepping or sharing with loved ones, this dish is sure to become a family favorite.

So grab your favorite blanket, cozy up, and dig into a bowl of this comforting classic!