Autumn All Year

Hearty Beef Stew Recipe – Perfect Comfort Food for Cold Weather!

Servings:

🛒 Ingredients:

1. 1 lb beef stew meat
2. 1/2 yellow onion
3. 2 garlic cloves
4. 2 cups Kettle & Fire Bone Broth, or similar
5. 4 button mushrooms
6. 1 tbsp butter, tallow, bacon fat, or avocado oil
7. 1/4 cup prepared tomato sauce, similar to Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce
8. Salt and pepper to taste

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Season the Beef: Preseason beef stew meat with salt and pepper, then let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Prepare Vegetables: While the beef is resting, dice 1/2 onion, mince 2 garlic cloves, and slice 4 button mushrooms. Set them aside.
3. Brown the Beef: Heat 1/2 of your butter, fat, or avocado oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned beef stew meat, sprinkle with additional salt and pepper, and brown on all sides. Remove the beef from the pot, cover, and set aside.
4. Sauté Aromatics: Add reamaining 1/2 of your butter, fat, or avocado oil to the pot. Scrape up any browned bits to enhance flavor. Add the diced onion, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook until translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, stirring frequently.
5. Combine Ingredients: Return the browned beef and any juices to the stockpot, stirring to combine. Add prepared tomato (marinara) sauce and stock, then stir well.
6. Simmer the Stew: Reduce heat to low and let the stew simmer, uncovered, for 1.5–2 hours. Add more stock as needed to keep the ingredients fully covered.
7. Add Mushrooms: About 30 minutes before serving, add the sliced mushrooms and simmer until they reach your preferred texture.
8. Final Seasoning Adjustments: Before serving, taste the stew and adjust seasonings (salt and pepper) as needed.

Pro Tip: Pair this hearty beef stew with our homemade biscuits for a complete, comforting meal.

🔄 Optional Add-Ins & Variations

• This hearty beef stew recipe is easy to customize based on your preferences. Want to add more vegetables like carrots, celery, or even parsnips? Toss them in when you’re sautéing the onions. Not a fan of mushrooms or onions? No problem—just leave them out. This stew is meant to work with what you love (and what you have on hand).
• For a flavorful base, I used homemade bone broth, but any high-quality stock or broth will do the trick—beef, chicken, vegetable, or even mushroom. Store-bought bone broth is a great option if you’re short on time and still want that deep, slow-cooked flavor.
• I also stirred in a homemade marinara sauce similar to Rao’s for extra richness. The acidity in the tomatoes does more than just add depth—it actually helps break down the beef’s muscle fibers during the simmer, making the meat more tender and flavorful. If you're short on time, a high-quality jarred sauce makes a convenient and delicious substitute.

These low-carb additions let you customize the recipe to your taste — all while keeping it keto, gluten-free, and carnivore-adaptable.

🥣 Why This Recipe Works

This beef stew recipe is built on timeless cooking techniques and ingredient pairings that deliver both comfort and depth of flavor—without unnecessary steps or fussy ingredients:

• Browning the beef first develops rich, savory flavor through the Maillard reaction—a natural chemical process that adds complexity to any meat-based dish.
• Simmering in crushed tomatoes adds not just brightness, but acidity. That acid helps gently break down connective tissue in tougher cuts, making the beef more tender without long marinating or pressure cooking.
• Layering aromatics and herbs like onion, garlic, and thyme builds a stew with depth, while still leaving room to adjust to your taste.

It’s a practical, adaptable approach that uses affordable cuts and common ingredients to create something that tastes like it took all day—without actually doing so.

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Beef stew stores and reheats beautifully, making it ideal for meal prep or next-day dinners:

• Refrigerator: Let stew cool fully, then store in an airtight container for up to 4–5 days. The flavor actually deepens after a night in the fridge.
• Freezer: Freeze in single-portion containers or freezer bags (with air removed) for up to 3 months. Label with the date for best results.
• To reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. You can also reheat in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each round.

If the stew thickens too much after chilling, just stir in a splash of broth or water as it warms.

🙋‍♀️ Common Questions

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Yes! After browning the beef and softening the onions, transfer everything to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours until the beef is fall-apart tender.

Can I use a different cut of beef?

Absolutely. Chuck roast is ideal for its fat content and texture, but stew meat, brisket, or even oxtail work well. Just adjust cook time as needed to ensure tenderness.

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes. Beef stew often tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld. Store in the fridge overnight and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

What vegetables work best?

Classic choices include carrots, celery, and onions, but you can easily swap in turnips, parsnips, or mushrooms depending on your preferences or dietary needs.

Can I freeze beef stew?

Definitely. Freeze cooled portions in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

🍽 Nutritional Information

Per Serving (estimated):

• Calories: 310 kcal
• Protein: 28g
• Fat: 20g
• Net Carbohydrates: 4g
• Total Carbohydrates: 6g

Note: Nutrition data is estimated based on commonly used ingredients and portion sizes. For precise values, use a tracking tool like Cronometer.

Note on Macronutrient Ratios: Fat-to-protein ratios in ketogenic and low-carb diets can vary significantly depending on individual goals, preferences, and medical advice. This recipe focuses on providing a delicious, zero-carb biscuit option that fits easily into most low-carb and keto eating plans. For personalized nutrition guidance, consulting a qualified healthcare professional is recommended.

This recipe keeps total carbs extremely low, which fits into most keto and low-carb diets. However, exact macronutrient needs vary by person and should be tailored individually.

Nutrition data sourced from Cronometer and the USDA FoodData Central database to calculate nutrition. All values are double-checked for standard portion sizes and rounded for simplicity.

Note: The information on this site is based on peer-reviewed research and personal experience. It’s shared for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making dietary changes.

🔬 Recipe Testing Approach

Every recipe I publish is tested multiple times using widely available grocery store ingredients. I measure ingredients by weight where relevant and aim to keep prep time minimal without sacrificing flavor or texture. My goal is to make low-carb and keto recipes approachable, reliable, and satisfying.

🥖 How This Recipe Compares to Traditional Biscuits

Traditional biscuits use wheat flour, baking soda, and milk or buttermilk—adding carbs and gluten. This version mimics the texture and comfort of classic biscuits using just pork rinds, eggs, and cheese. You still get a golden, tender result—without grains, sugar, or carb spikes.

🔬 Evidence-Based Support for Low‑Carb Diets

These peer-reviewed studies support the health benefits of low-carb eating — from improved blood sugar to weight management.

• Restricting carbohydrates and calories in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of the effectiveness of 'low-carbohydrate' interventions with differing energy levels (2021)

  This review shows that low-carb diets, whether calorie-restricted or not, effectively help manage type 2 diabetes, improving blood sugar control and weight.

• Efficacy of Ketogenic Diets on Type 2 Diabetes: a Systematic Review (2021)

  Ketogenic diets can significantly improve blood sugar levels and promote weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes over the short to medium term.

• The Effect of Low-Fat and Low-Carbohydrate Diets on Weight Loss and Lipid Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2020)

  Low-carb diets tend to produce slightly better weight loss and improved cholesterol profiles compared to low-fat diets.

• Low-carbohydrate versus balanced-carbohydrate diets for reducing weight and cardiovascular risk (2022)

  This study found that low-carb diets are as effective as balanced-carb diets for weight loss and may offer better improvements in some heart health markers.

• Effects of weight loss during a very low carbohydrate diet on specific adipose tissue depots and insulin sensitivity in older adults with obesity: a randomized clinical trial (2020)

  Very low-carb diets helped older adults lose harmful fat stores and improved insulin sensitivity, aiding metabolic health.

• Effects of very low-carbohydrate vs. high-carbohydrate weight loss diets on psychological health in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes: a 2-year randomized controlled trial (2021)

  This 2-year trial showed low-carb diets not only help with weight loss but also support psychological well-being in people with obesity and diabetes.