Healthy Beef Stew

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Heathy beef stew in the Crock-Pot is the perfect way to kick off the fall season and it pairs perfectly with a Saturday afternoon of putting up gorgeous fall decorations, don’t ya think?

After talking about it for a week, I spent a good part of the day last Saturday cooking this thick and chunky healthy beef stew and digging out all of my fall decor. Woo! I couldn’t wait another second and yes, you guessed it, I was in heaven! For me, fall is the start of the holiday season! My season!

This healthy beef stew is a perfect way to kick-off fall! It's made in the Crock-Pot, so it's quick and easy!

When it comes to fall here in Arizona…wait, fall in Arizona? No, we don’t really have fall; we have pretend fall. It’s still almost 100 degrees outside and since most of our plants are evergreen, nothing looks a whole lot different. In fact, the grass looks even greener in the wintertime. Go figure.

This healthy beef stew is a perfect way to kick-off fall! It's made in the Crock-Pot, so it's quick and easy!

So, as you can guess, it takes some real effort to ‘get in the spirit’ around here. Never-fear though, I am a holiday master! I. Got. This. In my opinion, the absolute best way to create a fall mood is to cook fall food. In the Crock-Pot. All day long. The smell alone makes it really feel like fall. It works like a charm!

This healthy beef stew is a perfect way to kick-off fall! It's made in the Crock-Pot, so it's quick and easy!

One of our favorite fall recipes is this healthy beef stew. It’s probably one of the best ways I use beef in my Crock-Pot. Seriously, it’s so easy and so, so good. After letting all the ingredients stew in the Crock-Pot for several hours, you’ll end up with a full of flavor hearty beef stew that’s loaded with veggies, potatoes, and of course, beef. It’s de-licious!

This healthy beef stew is a perfect way to kick-off fall! It's made in the Crock-Pot, so it's quick and easy!

And while we’re talking about beef; just in case you’re anything like me and you need a little help with the cuts of meat or finding a lean cut, I found this great resource for the cuts of beef that you must check out! I visit it at least once a week now, haha!

This healthy beef stew is a perfect way to kick-off fall! It's made in the Crock-Pot, so it's quick and easy!
Arizona Beef


The Arizona Beef Council represents the ranchers and beef producers that call Arizona home. I am so happy to honor them and their hard work by offering them the respect and admiration they deserve, and of course, eating their yummy beef in this healthy beef stew!

Arizona Beef has tons of useful information on their website, make sure to stop by and say hi!

And now for that recipe…

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    This healthy beef stew is a perfect way to kick-off fall! It's made in the Crock-Pot, so it's quick and easy!

    Healthy Beef Stew

    By: Kristine Underwood
    Thick and meaty healthy beef stew that’s made with all whole food ingredients.
    4.94 from 48 votes
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 3 hours
    Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
    Course Soup, Stew, & Chili
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 380 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1½ to 2 pounds chuck beef, cut into cubes
    • 3 stalks celery, chopped
    • 3 large carrots, chopped
    • 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
    • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
    • 1½ to 2 cup beef stock or beef broth
    • 1 cup tomato sauce or fresh tomato puree
    • 2 tsp honey
    • 10 dashes Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tsp sea salt
    • 1/2 tsp pepper
    • 2 TBS olive oil
    • 1/2 cup flour

    Instructions

    • Remove beef from package and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
      1½ to 2 pounds chuck beef, cut into cubes, 1 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp pepper
    • Dredge beef in flour, shaking off any extra.
      1/2 cup flour
    • Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium to medium-high heat.
      2 TBS olive oil
    • Add beef (in batches if needed to not crowd the pan) and cook for 2-3 minutes. Beef does not need to be fully cooked, just browned on both sides.
    • Add all ingredients to Crock-Pot, including beef and juices from the pan, and stir.
      3 stalks celery, chopped, 3 large carrots, chopped, 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes, 1 medium sweet onion, chopped, 2 cloves garlic, chopped, 1 bay leaf, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1½ to 2 cup beef stock or beef broth, 1 cup tomato sauce or fresh tomato puree, 2 tsp honey, 10 dashes Worcestershire sauce
    • Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
    • Remove bay leaf and serve garnished with chopped parsley and grated carrot if desired.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 bowlCalories: 380kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 20.5gFat: 20.6gSaturated Fat: 7.1gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 567mgFiber: 5.3gSugar: 6.2g

    *This post was sponsored by my good friends at Arizona Beef, please take a minute to show them some love! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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    Recipe Rating




    117 Comments

    1. Kristine! You have outdone yourself! This looks awesome. And we love beef too. It actually fills my kids up! What time is dinner?! 🙂5 stars

      1. Cynthia! You are so kind, thank you, thank you! Seriously, I know what you mean. Mad eats more beef by herself than the rest of us combined…with her hollow leg and all. 🙂

    2. That sounds absolutely delicious!5 stars

    3. Michelle Ellis says:

      That looks a-mazing!5 stars

    4. Sarah Carpenter says:

      I don’t know what the actual recipe is, but my husband makes these awesome meatballs in the fall and winter. They’re so good that we eat them as the main course!4 stars

      1. That sounds like my husband’s “recipes” – he makes the best food, but no one knows how! I LOVE meatballs too!

    5. Jill McNamara-Twiss says:

      My husband loves beef stroganoff in the colder months.5 stars

      1. Oh my gosh, mine does too, but neither one of our girls will eat it so we don’t get to eat it that often! My hubs makes a good mushroom cream sauce that is reminiscent of stroganoff for steaks too. I wish he could keep track of what he does, so I could duplicate it. Men. Haha! 🙂

    6. I typically use a pot roast seasoning pack, I’m going to have to try your way next time. Fall in Arizona lol. It was so warm last fall/winter I didn’t even make warm food until January.5 stars

      1. Haha Tracy, I know exactly what you mean! It was 66 degrees this morning and I wore a sweater to walk my kids to the bus stop. Was it that cold? No, not really…but I really wanted it to be! Oh, Arizona…

    7. My favorite recipe is stir fry with beef and broccoli ?4 stars

    8. Me too! It’s a good weeknight meal that even teenagers can make on their own.

    9. My favorite fall beef recipe is called “The Best Damn’ Short Ribs”!!

      Ingredients:
      -2-3 lbs (approximately) beef short ribs
      Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
      3 T butter
      1 bottle red wine such as Cabernet or Pinot noir
      4 c beef broth
      3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed5 stars

      1. Well this sounds fantastic! I’m totally making this, we LOVE short ribs! Thank you so much for the recipe! 🙂

    10. This looks so delicious! I’ll have to try it out soon. Thank you for sharing!5 stars

    11. I love anything beef, especially steak.

    12. Samantha Lynn Clostio says:

      my favorite fall beef recipe is a tie between beef stew (of coarse who doesn’t love a warm stew to fight the cold) and my parain makes this awesome beef tomato soup that’s to die for!5 stars

      1. Well that sounds delicious too, I really like tomato and beef together – it’s a winner! 🙂

    13. Hey Kristine! We have ‘pretend fall’ here in Los Angeles, too, but I power through and love my comfort food…this stew looks fabulous, and even better that the crock pot does all the work!5 stars

      1. Haha, Sue you get it! Power through, that’s exactly right – so funny! Thanks for commenting.

      1. Oh me too, I have such a weakness for it. Thank YOU for commenting. 🙂

    14. Cori Cambanes says:

      Chili in the crock pot is my fave fall meal!5 stars

      1. Oh me too, I love me some chili and the way it smells when it’s cooking all day, mmm!!

    15. Shannon Voyles says:

      This looks like a winner. Can’t wait to try it out. Thank you for the great recipe.5 stars

    16. Beef stew is one of my favorite fall recipes (and beef recipes)! I am definitely going to have to try this one out. Another beef favorite is Salisbury Steak with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots!5 stars

      1. Hi Marquette! Oh my gosh, I haven’t made Salisbury Steak in ages, I love it too! I’ll have to do that one soon, it sounds so good right now!

    17. It’s not fall specific, but we love to make homemade empanadas with beef, chimichurri, mushrooms and little bit of cheese. Sooo good!5 stars

      1. Okay, I’m ashamed to admit this, but I’ve never made empanadas! I’ve heard they are delicious – you’ve inspired me, I’m going to make some. Yours sound delicious!

    18. kathy schram says:

      I love Beef Stew..Can’t wait to try this one!!5 stars

    19. Julie Smith says:

      This looks amazing. We just found out my husband is diabetic and a crock pot would be amazing to help. We normally would make a roast with red potatoes, cad baby carrots and beef broth.5 stars

      1. Thanks so much Julie! I think roast is my next favorite, we do red potatoes and carrots too – YUMMY!

    20. Wow, your pretend fall sounds really warm!! Our fall is normally much cooler, although we did have a warm week last week. I do love comfort food this time of year, regardless of the temperature and your beef stew looks fantastic. Love all the wholesome ingredients and lovely flavours you have used.5 stars

      1. Thank you so much April! I eat comfort food all year too, if we wait for the weather here we have a very small window of opportunity and that does’t work for me, haha! 🙂

      1. Haha, “fall” is exactly right Tracy! Thanks for commenting!

    21. Linda |Your Daily Food Choices says:

      We love a hearty beef stew anytime of the year. It is so tasty and gets so tender cooked in the crockpot. Yours looks fantastic!5 stars

      1. Thank you so much Linda! I agree, the beef is always super tender and delicious. Yay for fall cookin’!

      1. I totally agree Jennifer, you can just throw in whatever you have and it comes out yum-o!

    22. I love to make beef stew too!5 stars

    23. Christy Caldwell says:

      I love beef stew in the crock pot. It’s always a favorite in my house.5 stars

    24. Stracotto is my favorite fall dinner recipe. An Italian “pot roast” prepared with red wine, porcini mushrooms and rosemary. Absolutely delicious. I also like a nice beef stew, and yours looks fab! Thanks for posting!5 stars

      1. I have ever heard Stracotto, but it sounds like something I need to try! You’ve inspired me! Thanks for commenting! 🙂

    25. Robert Shook says:

      Thanks for the chance!

    26. April Vaughan says:

      Good ole Chilli is my favorite thing to eat during the fall!

    27. janet aycock says:

      i love a good homemade beef stew or a good homemade chill

      1. Absolutely Janet, me too! I am really thinking about making some chili and cornbread today actually! Stew and chili all in one week – bring on fall!

    28. Yes! I want to win a crock pot so I can try this beef stew! Thank you Kristine!5 stars

    29. I have never made Beef Stew in a Crock Pot but will defiantly try this recipe! I live in Michigan and the leaves are starting to turn color. We get a lot of snow here in the winter. I am so ready to start making homemade soups and meals that can go in the oven and Crock Pot! Comfort food yum! Thanks for the recipe! Love your blog.5 stars

      1. Oh Salli you must try it! It’s so easy! I’m envious of changing leaves, I miss that so much! Happy fall!

    30. Thanks for this great recipe and the chance to win the crockpot! When I make stew, I add whichever vegetables I have on hand so the flavor varies each time. The one constant thread though would be adding both brown rice and barley to each stew.5 stars

      1. I love the idea of adding brown rice and barley! That sounds wonderful! I will try that next time. Thanks for entering and happy fall!

    31. Gloria Aman says:

      One of my favorites crock pot meals is a Good Chili

    32. My husband is a “meat and potato” kind of guy in general. However in the fall I love to curl up with a big steaming bowl of chili and cornbread.5 stars

      1. My husband is too Gina, but thank goodness he appreciates a good bowl of stew or chili on occasion. Thanks for commenting!

    33. Deb Poole says:

      Love crock-potting here in northern IL, where we DO get fall for real, but I still don’t have my fall decor up! Soon….
      Thanks for the great recipe….and giveaway!5 stars

      1. Deb, I love the term crock-potting and I might steal it, haha!! Thank YOU for entering! Happy fall! 🙂

    34. This beef stew looks amazing! The meat looks so tender and the gravy….scrumptious.5 stars

      1. Debbie! Thank you so much! I love how any meat cooked in the Crock-Pot ends up fall-apart tender, mmmm!! Thank you for sharing on Facebook and stopping by to comment! Happy fall!

    35. Love my crock pot. Going to try your recipe next week. We love a good stew. Glad I found your site 🙂5 stars

      1. Hi Kari, thank you so much!! I hope you enjoy it and happy fall!

    36. Pauline Vrbanic says:

      My favorite Fall recipe is a basic pot roast. Quick, easy, filling, and best of all, delicious!

      1. Pauline, it’s a close second for me too! I love, love, love pot roast, especially when it’s cooked perfectly and falls apart. Oh yum!

    37. Smfsprout says:

      Mmmmmm. This soup looks delicious. I can’t wait to give it a try on a cool day.5 stars

    38. This looks amazing! Some beef stew recipes don’t seem to have much flavor but this one sounds delicious. I
      can’t wait to try it.5 stars

      1. Haha, I totally agree Judy! Thanks for commenting. Happy fall!

    39. I’m with you!! Beef stew with crunchy french bread, ahhh…my idea of heaven5 stars

      1. You had me at crunchy French bread. That is my all-time favorite bread! YUM!

    40. My favorite recipe is stir fry with beef and broccoli

      1. Oh yes, I agree and so would my youngest daughter! I make that about once a week here, it’s a HUGE favorite of hers!

    41. I like to put a roast in the crockpot to make chimichangas with the meat, it’s a favorite in our house!?

      1. Oh I LOVE chimichangas! I’ve never made my own, but I’m going to try! Yum!

    42. Chili is my favorite! But this recipe looks delicious, I’m going to have to try it!5 stars

    43. Stefanie Beirley says:

      My husband is the cook in our family. We love beef stew with lots of beef cubes, carrots, onions and potatoes.5 stars

      1. Sounds delicious Stefanie! My husband is quite the cook too! 🙂

    44. I love my Grandma’s beef and noodle soup, with her homemade egg noodles!

      1. Oh my gosh Jeffrey, homemade egg noodles are the best! I haven’t made them ages! Yummy!

    45. Honestly I make a beef stew, broth, potatoes and carrots as well. Otherwise I love chili5 stars

      1. I’m all about traditional recipes myself! And chili is always a winner in our house!

    46. Stacy Bennett says:

      I love beef stew!!

    47. Not to be biased, but I LOVE a good beef stew, but it’s best in the fall. I can eat a ribeye ALL YEAR long though 🙂5 stars

      1. Haha Caroline! My oldest daughter would agree, she’s a steak lover! She out-eats my husband sometimes. 🙂

    48. I LOVE beef stew! This looks delicious and right in time for fall.5 stars

    49. God this looks incredible!! I so need a crock pot this season. SO much goodness in here5 stars

    50. Boastful Food says:

      I’m a huge fan of beef stew and this recipe looks out of this world! Maybe you can turn up the a/c a bit down there in Arizona so it feels a little more like Fall, although I could enjoy this stew any season:)5 stars

      1. Haha! That is a brilliant idea – I’m going to try it next time I make this stew 😉

    51. Dawn Waskiewicz says:

      My favorite fall food is beef stew and golumkis, love cooking in the crock pot, so mammy good recipes5 stars

      1. I totally agree, Dawn! I could almost use my Crock-Pot daily… 🙂

    52. Jennifer Menough says:

      Oooh this looks tasty! I’m going to make this soon!5 stars

    53. I love Beef, Barley, and Butternut Squash Stew Recipe
      Thank You for the chance5 stars

      1. Hi Fiona! Ooh I love the addition of butternut squash – sounds delicious! Thanks for entering! 🙂

    54. Mary West says:

      I love to have a beef roast with potatoes and carrots!

    55. Laurie Nykaza says:

      I take beef and add onion Braggs and some garlic with potatoes in the slow cooker my son has to eat gluten free and this is how he likes it if I have carrots I put some in too.

    56. HI Kristine: This is Kari. Oh my gosh, I am so excited and happy to have won. Thank you so very very much. I can’t wait to make so many of your recipes with it.