Heart Healthy Hearty Beef Stew

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Updated 6/24/2025
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Gluten Free
Heart Healthy Hearty Beef Stew
Photo Credit: iStock

Nothing beats the melt-in-your-mouth flavor of tender beef, creamy potatoes and perfectly seasoned slow cooked vegetables in this heart healthy beef stew recipe. We simmer bite-sized chunks of stew meat in a low sodium beef broth to boost the protein to 28 grams per serving. Instead of salt, garlic and herbs season the low sodium gravy that baths high fiber veggies and potatoes in a rich broth to make a healthy stew with lower calories and low fat.

Find more heart healthy dinner recipes for your favorite foods here.

Total Time
90 minutes
Servings
6
Calories
373
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Why You’ll Love This Hearty Beef Stew

  • Full of flavor: This healthy beef stew uses fresh herbs, tomato paste and fresh veggies to pack in the flavor without the addition of extra salt and fat.
  • Gluten-free: This meaty stew is gluten-free and full of healthy vegetables.
  • Lower in fat: There are just 3 grams of saturated fat per serving in this delicious beef stew, most of which comes from the beef.

This beef stew recipe is low sodium without compromising on flavor. It’s made with low sodium beef broth, fresh vegetables and aromatic garlic. It’s a low calorie recipe as well. The use of more fresh veggies and a little less beef keeps this stew packed with yummy goodness without adding extra calories. It clocks in at just 373 calories per serving. It contains a whopping 28 grams of protein, making it a heart-healthy, hearty stew your family can enjoy any night of the week.

Looking for a healthy salad or bread to serve with your beef stew? Add one of these delicious recipes to your meal:

 

If you love soups and stews, you will want to check out some of our other healthy stew options. These hearty stew recipes are full of flavor while remaining healthy:

 

Beef stew can be made healthy by adding more fresh vegetables, garlic and herbs and just a tad less beef. By adding flavor packed tomato paste, low sodium beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, you’ll end up with a mouth-watering stew that will be a family favorite meal.

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Ingredients

Recipe yields 6 servings

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How to Make Hearty Beef Stew

  1. Step 1

    In a heavy large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef and sauté until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add broth, water, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaf and stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

  2. Step 2

    Meanwhile, melt butter in another large pot over medium heat.

  3. Step 3

    Add potatoes, onion, carrots and celery. Sauté vegetables until golden, about 20 minutes. Add vegetables to beef stew. Simmer, uncovered, until vegetables and beef are very tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Tilt pan and spoon off fat. (Stew can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to a simmer before serving.)

  4. Step 4

    Transfer stew to serving bowl. Sprinkle with parsley and serve

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
3/4 cup

373
Calories
10
g
Fat
47
mg
Cholesterol
292
mg
Sodium
43
g
Carbs
3
g
Sat. Fat
5
g
Fiber
28
g
Protein
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