
Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
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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
Easy Low Carb Keto Beef Stew Recipe
Keto beef stew takes 10 minutes to prep. Made with a secret ingredient that tastes like potatoes, low carb beef stew is rich and hearty.
Recipe Video
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Season the beef with salt and pepper. (It will be a light amount because the broth will be salty.)
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Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add the beef in a single layer. (Work in batches if you can't get the beef in a single layer on the bottom of the pan.) Sear for about 8-10 minutes total per batch, moving only every few minutes after each side has well browned. Remove the beef and set aside on a plate.
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Heat another tablespoon of oil in the same dutch oven. Add the onions and carrots. Saute for about 10 minutes, until soft and lightly browned.
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Add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Saute for about a minute, until fragrant.
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Place the beef back into the dutch oven. Add the broth, diced tomatoes, and whole bay leaves. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
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Bring the beef stew to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 45-60 minutes, until beef is tender.
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Add the celery root. Increase heat to bring to a boil again. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, until tender.
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Remove the bay leaves. Adjust salt and pepper to taste if needed.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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91 Comments
Russ Pastuch
0We made this because the kids are on a keto diet.
We’ll make it again because it is quite yummy.
David Allard
0This 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
0This sounds good but begs the question, “Where in the world does one get celery root?”
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Grady, I usually find celery root or celeriac at organic grocery stores. I also suggest your local farmers market.
AMP Texas
0Found it at Albertsons. Nothing super special. Also I feel like you could sub a fennel root & get similar results.
Maggie
0Potatoes 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
0The 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
0Hi Brenda, I usually find celery root at organic grocery stores.
Patricia O'Brien
0I’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
0This 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
0If I would like to use a crock pot instead, what do you suggest for cooking time?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Cassie, I have never made this in the Crock Pot but most recipes cook for 4-6 hours.