Name: Easy Low Carb Keto Beef Stew Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 2 lb Beef chuck stew meat ((cut into 1-inch pieces)); 1/2 tsp Sea salt; 1/4 tsp Black pepper; 2 tbsp Olive oil ((divided)); 1 medium Onion ((diced)); 2 medium Carrots ((peeled, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick-circles)); 2 cloves Garlic ((minced)); 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 1 lb Celery root ((weight peeled & cubed; from ~1.5 lb with peel and stems)); 6 cups Beef bone broth; 1 14.5-oz can Diced tomatoes; 2 medium Bay leaves

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When the weather drops, this easy keto beef stew recipe will warm you right up! My low carb beef stew takes just 10 minutes to prep, and some time on the stove. When it’s done cooking? You’ll be left with rich and hearty stew that makes a delicious and filling winter meal. And once you know how to make beef stew keto, pair it with a veggie side, or keto bread (or keto breadsticks from my Easy Keto Cookbook!)… or just a big bowl, it’s hearty enough to be a meal all on its own. For more meaty meals, try keto chili or Instant Pot beef short ribs next.

Bonus: The beef bone both in this healthy beef stew recipe can also help you avoid keto flu!

What Is The Secret Ingredient In Keto Beef Stew?

The low carb trick to this healthy beef stew? Celery root!

Low in carbs, this root veggie has the texture of potatoes once it’s soft and tender (even as celery root soup). You might just think it’s potatoes! (Seriously, my husband totally did and accused me of making a non keto beef stew… haha.)

How To Make Low Carb Beef Stew

This easy keto beef stew takes just 10 minutes to prep and some simmer time on the stove. Here’s how we make my keto beef stew recipe:

Peel and cube the celery root. This will be our keto friendly stand-in for potatoes!

TIP: You’ll get about 1 pound peeled, cubed celery root from 1.5 pounds celery root with stems and peel. So, buy 1.5 pounds at the grocery store to make this low carb beef stew recipe.

Here is how to peel celery root:

Start by chopping off the top and bottom.
Place a flat side onto the counter and use a peeler away from you, toward the counter, to peel the skin on the sides. Flip and repeat with any parts you didn’t get.
Slice the peeled celery root into discs.
Stack the discs and cut them into thin strips.
Place the strips next to each other and cut crosswise into small cubes.

You can see the various steps of the process below:

Season the meat. Cut the beef into chunks and season it with salt and pepper.

Brown meat. Working in batches, brown the meat in a dutch oven. Sear until well browned, then set aside. Repeat as necessary.

TIP: It’s important to brown the beef over high heat, in a single layer, and without moving it around too much. This ensures a nice sear. Do it in batches if necessary so that each piece touches the pan.

Saute veggies. Heat more oil in the dutch oven and add onions and carrots. Saute until soft and lightly browned. Add in garlic and Italian seasoning.

Cook the keto friendly beef stew. Place the beef back into dutch oven. Add broth, diced tomatoes, and bay leaves. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom – this is called de-glazing.

TIP: I used a can of diced tomatoes in place of higher-sugar tomato paste. It also helps balance out the richer flavor of using bone broth instead of regular beef broth.

TIP: If you like, you can add 1/2 cup red wine at the same step as the broth – some people consider red wine a must for beef stew. This will increase carb count though, and isn’t absolutely necessary. I skipped it for my stew to make it more kid friendly, too.

Boil the easy low carb beef stew. Bring the stew to a boil and reduce heat. Cove and let it simmer until the beef is tender.

TIP: Simmering beef stew will take a while, at least 45-60 minutes, and it’s not a problem if you let it simmer for longer. Not to worry – you don’t have to stand by the stove, so this is a good time to meal prep other dishes or do something else around the house.

Add celery root. When the beef is tender, add in the celery root and cook until tender.

TIP: We add the celery root at this later step so that it doesn’t get too mushy. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get soft, similar to boiling potatoes.

Serve your healthy beef stew. Remove bay leaves from the beef stew keto recipe and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Is Beef Stew Healthy?

Yes, this easy homemade beef stew is healthy! It’s made with beef chuck stew meat, onion, carrots, garlic, celery root, beef bone broth, and diced tomatoes.

So much good stuff and just 11 grams net carbs in this hearty and satisfying low carb beef stew. While that is a bit more carbs than some keto soup recipes, it’s not bad for a hearty dinner that feels like a carb lover’s soup!

How To Thicken Beef Stew

This beef stew keto recipe doesn’t need any thickeners! It thickened up really nicely all on its own.

But, if you want it more of the consistency of gravy, you can add some gelatin. (If you need an alternative thickener to a traditional one like cornstarch, check this list of cornstarch substitutes.) Here is how thicken with gelatin after your keto stew is done cooking:

In a medium bowl, sprinkle 1 tbsp gelatin over 1/3 cup water and let sit to bloom for 2-3 minutes.
Ladle 1 cup hot liquid from the soup and whisk into the gelatin mixture until dissolved.
Stir the gelatin mixture back into the pot of soup.

Can You Make Healthy Beef Stew Ahead?

Yes, you can definitely make this healthy beef stew recipe ahead. Most soups and stews taste even better the day after they have been made and this one is no exception!

Simply let it cool completely, and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Microwave or heat on the stove top until hot, once you’re ready to eat.

Can You Freeze Easy Beef Stew?

Yes, this recipe for keto beef stew freezes very well! Let it cool completely and then place in the freezer in a freezer bag or airtight container.

TIP: If you freeze your low carb stew in a bag, lay it flat in the freezer. Once it’s solid, you can store it vertically for easier access.

Let it thaw out overnight in the refrigerator and then heat in the microwave or stove top until hot. Serve!

What To Serve With Keto Beef Stew

This beef stew keto recipe is a meal-in-a-bowl, but if you’d like a veggie or bread side to go along with it, I’ve got you covered! Here are a few keto low carb side dishes to try:

Keto Mashed Cauliflower – If you love your healthy beef stew with mashed potatoes, try this mashed cauliflower recipe for a low carb – but just as tasty – alternative.
Italian Marinated Artichoke Salad – This bright salad is a fresh addition to hearty stew.
Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts – This simple side dish is great for fall and winter dishes.
5-Ingredient Keto Bread – The easiest way to ensure you don’t leave a single drop of low carb beef stew in the bowl!

Tools To Make Low Carb Beef Stew

Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

Vegetable Peeler – A veggie peeler makes the vegetable prep for this low carb beef stew recipe easy!
Dutch Oven – A sturdy dutch oven is helpful for keto stew meat recipes, this one is my favorite. Functional and gorgeous!
Soup Bowls with Handles – These bowls are the perfect way to serve your quick and easy beef stew.

Easy Keto Beef Stew Recipe

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91 Comments

Russ Pastuch
0 January 16, 2023Reply

We made this because the kids are on a keto diet.

We’ll make it again because it is quite yummy.
David Allard
0 November 15, 2022Reply

This stew was amazing. I cooked it in the crockpot and I added 2 tsp of xantham gum to thicken the broth. Very good.
Grady Scott
0 October 11, 2022Reply

This sounds good but begs the question, “Where in the world does one get celery root?”
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 October 12, 2022Reply
  
  Hi Grady, I usually find celery root or celeriac at organic grocery stores. I also suggest your local farmers market.
- AMP Texas
  0 December 10, 2022Reply
  
  Found it at Albertsons. Nothing super special. Also I feel like you could sub a fennel root & get similar results.
Maggie
0 September 20, 2022Reply

Potatoes are my favorite food. I couldn’t have imagined beef stew without it. But I have been making this recipe for 2 years now and love it – I haven’t made a beef stew with potatoes since! My whole family feels energized and good after this meal. There is also something about using the beef bone broth that makes it so much savory than regular beef broth. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Brenda
0 July 4, 2022Reply

The recipe called for celery root, where do I find it? I have never seen it at the supermarket. I really want to make this recipe but if it doesn’t have something to replace the potatoes I’m sure my husband won’t like it, ( even if I taste good) he’ll still complain, what no potatoes:-( he’s a potato freak! Lol! So you see I really need to find the celery root. Please help if you can!♥️I love your recipe’s!
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 July 5, 2022Reply
  
  Hi Brenda, I usually find celery root at organic grocery stores.
- Patricia O'Brien
  0 October 9, 2022Reply
  
  I’ve found that some vegetable outlets, like the farmers’ market type stores will order it for you. I pay 3.00 per celeriac/celery root, and usually buy at least six and cut them into wheels, and blanche and freeze them, and then I can use them for anything once they’re thawed.
Jowpie
0 February 18, 2022Reply

This came out very good but I did change the recipe a bit. instead of celery root, I added jicama. also I added additional chopped celery. Added 5 oz white mushrooms, chopped very small. In addition to these changes, at the end I added 2 tsp xanthan gum AND 2 scoops unflavored gelatin flavor. To do this, I added it 15 mins before it was done cooking. I used a mixing bowl, ladeled in some of the liquidy broth, and sprinkled in one scoop or teaspoon at a time and used a hand mixer to combine until smooth. added the rest to the batch and it was thick as if I used gluten flour! Without the carbs!
- Cassie Lard
  0 October 27, 2022Reply
  
  If I would like to use a crock pot instead, what do you suggest for cooking time?
  - Wholesome Yum D
    0 October 28, 2022Reply
    
    Hi Cassie, I have never made this in the Crock Pot but most recipes cook for 4-6 hours.