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Published: Jan 25, 2021 · Updated: Nov 8, 2021. Post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure page for details.

Dutch Oven Beef Stew | Healthy & Gluten-Free

Dutch oven beef stew is healthy, easy, gluten-free, & is made all in one pot! Make sure to use a cast iron pot in the oven, & don’t forget the red wine!

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Well, that was a cold January, wasn’t it? I’ve made this healthy dutch oven beef stew a few times for my family, and even my husband will eat it (he’s not a soup fan). Personally, nothing warms me up like a pot of easy, cozy, beef stew.

Traditional recipes usually call for flour to be added to make a thicker gravy base, but this recipe doesn’t call for any gluten at all. Gluten-free stew is better!

Healthy dutch oven stew is delicious, less traditional, and more flavor-forward than classic versions. It’s also made using only one pot, so it’s easier, faster, and saves on dishes!

Dutch oven beef stew in a bowl surrounded by fresh thyme.
Jump to:
  • What does it taste like?
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Tips & FAQ
  • Nutritional Info
  • Pricing Info
  • Sides
  • Other one-pot recipes
  • Recipe

What does it taste like?

Stew braised in the oven has a deep, condensed flavor, thanks to the cast iron dutch oven.

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    By using a dutch oven to make stew, you ensure that everything is cooked evenly, and slowly and that the flavors are rich and have depth.

    There are hints of Worcestershire sauce and fresh thyme in every bite, and tender beef that falls apart as you eat it. This recipe can’t be described as anything but comforting and delicious.

    Ingredients

    The ingredients needed to make dutch oven beef stew.
    • Stew meat – the best stew meat is chuck roast, bottom round roast, or top round roast, cut into 1 inch cubes. Those cuts of meats are the leanest and they get really tender when cooked at a lower temperature for longer, so they make perfect stew meat!
    • Salt – not very much, but the salt does help to bring out all the flavors.
    • Black pepper – seasoning the beef with pepper as it cooks helps to flavor the beef, and give the stew some depth
    • Avocado oil – one of the healthiest cooking oils, and it’s personally the only oil I use to cook with ever. It’s high in polyunsaturated fats, making it really heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory
    • Yellow onion – there are 2 yellow onions in this recipe, and they give so much flavor and some texture to this recipe. Don’t skimp on the onions!
    • Garlic – simply a classic, garlic is must-have for any stew.
    • Carrots – they add a little sweetness and a lot of bulk to this gluten-free stew. Plus, they taste amazing with the other vegetables in this recipe.
    • Red bell pepper – adds a little sweetness and a pinch of spice to this recipe. Plus, they have a lot of vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A, so they give this recipe a big nutritional boost.
    • Potatoes – I use baby yellow potatoes in this recipe, but any yellow or white potato will do. If you want a little sweeter flavor, you could even use sweet potatoes or yams.
    • Balsamic vinegar – a really important ingredient in dutch oven stew, it helps to tenderize the meat while adding tons of deep flavor
    • Worcestershire sauce – this gives the stew a little bit of a savory, almost steak-like flavor. Worcestershire sauce is the main ingredient in steak sauce, so I guess that makes sense!
    • Red wine – I personally use pinot noir, but any dry red wine will work. It helps to add a deep flavor to the stew while helping to tenderize the beef as it cooks.
    • Tomato paste – this helps to thicken it slightly while adding that acidic tomato flavor.
    • Low sodium beef broth – beef broth is the most flavorful of all the broths but can be salty if you don’t buy the low sodium version. I always use low sodium broth in my cooking. You can always add more salt but you can’t take it out, so it’s best to start lighter on the salt and add salt later if your stew is too bland.
    • Fresh thyme – one of my favorite herbs, it adds a nice flavor that can’t be substituted. If you don’t have fresh thyme, you can use dried thyme, but only use about half of what the recipe calls for.
    • Dry oregano – just a classic flavor that elevates the flavor of this dutch oven beef stew.

    Instructions

    • A cast iron dutch oven with avocado oil heating inside of it.
    • Stew meat browned inside of a cast iron dutch oven.
    • A cast iron dutch oven full of all the ingredients to make beef stew in the oven.
    • Dutch oven beef stew being brought to a boil in a cast iron dutch oven.
    • A hand placing the lid of a cast iron dutch oven over the stew.
    • Dutch oven beef stew in a bowl surrounded by fresh thyme.
    1. Heat the avocado oil over medium heat in your dutch oven.
    2. Brown the beef in the dutch oven. Season with salt and pepper as it cooks. It will be browned on the outside but not cooked through.
    3. Add the vegetables to the pot, along with the balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, red wine, tomato paste, low sodium beef broth, fresh thyme, and oregano.
    4. Bring to a boil. One boiling, turn the heat off and remove it from heat.
    5. Cover, and bake (braise) the stew at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
    6. Serve hot with your favorite roll or bread!

    Tips & FAQ

    What cut of beef should I use for stew meat?

    You can use chuck roast, bottom round, or top round roasts for this recipe. Those are the least expensive cuts of beef, and make great stew meat!
    For this stew recipe, I used chuck roast, cut into about 1 inch pieces and trimmed of the excess fat.

    How do you make beef stew meat tender?

    Stew meat is usually a leaner cut of meat, so it can turn out tough if it’s not cooked properly. Slow cooking it for about 1.5 to 2 hours is ideal, because it gives the beef time to tenderize. Adding a meat tenderizer, such as vinegar or wine, can really help, too!
    My dutch oven beef stew recipe calls for both red wine and balsamic vinegar, so the meat will be tender after about an hour and half of braising in the oven.

    What else can I add to my beef stew for flavor?

    Stew can be incredibly flavorful if cooked correctly. There are a lot of different flavors you can add to other stew recipes to prevent or fix any blandness:
    – Balsamic vinegar
    – Red wine
    – Dark beer, such as Guinness
    – Beef broth
    – Dijon mustard
    – Rosemary
    – Thyme
    – Oregano
    – Basil
    – Garlic
    – Onion
    – Worcestershire sauce

    What temperature should beef stew be cooked to?

    Beef, no matter what, should be cooked to a minumum temperature of 145 degrees. Beef stew should be braised in the dutch oven at about 325 degrees for about 90 minutes. This will ensure that it reaches a safe temperature to eat, while also making sure the beef is tender and not tough.

    Should I brown the meat first?

    Browning the meat in the dutch oven before baking in the oven helps to seal in the moisture and flavor of the beef. Although it’s not necessary, it does help the meat become tender and more flavorful while it cooks.

    How can I thicken my beef stew?

    This dutch oven beef stew recipe is gluten-free, so it doesn’t use any flour. Instead, this recipe calls for tomato paste to thicken it. The potatoes in this recipe also help to thicken it.
    If your stew doesn’t turn out as thick as you’d like, you can remove about 2 cups of the liquid and a few potatoes, and pureed them in a blender or food processor. Once pureed, add the mixture back to the pot and stir.
    Potatoes are excellent at thickening soups and stews, and this method works without adding anything extra to compromise or alter the flavor of this recipe.

    Nutritional Info

    Dutch oven beef stew is healthy, and is loaded with veggies and protein. It’s full of carrots, potatoes, and even red bell pepper, making it a healthier version!

    This recipe is also gluten-free, and doesn’t require anything but the tomato paste to thicken it up. Some stew recipes call for flour or even au jus packets to flavor and create a sauce, but not this recipe!

    Total nutritional content per serving is:

    • Calories: 440 calories
    • Protein: 30 grams
    • Sodium: 481 mg
    • Carbohydrates: 20 grams
    • Fiber: 5 grams

    Looking for another easy way to add protein to your morning? Try making protein coffee at home!

    Pricing Info

    For 8 servings of this flavorful stew recipe, you’ll be spending around $15.87 for the whole pot. That comes out to be around $1.98 per serving, which is a great deal on a hearty and homemade beef stew!

    Sides

    Some excellent sides for beef stew include:

    • Homemade beer bread
    • Dinner rolls
    • Mashed potatoes
    • Acorn Squash Salad
    • Air Fryer Delicata Squash

    Other one-pot recipes

    • Dutch Oven Potatoes
    • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • 40 Healthy Dutch Oven Recipes
    • Boursin Mashed Potatoes

    Shop my recipe:

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!

    Recipe

    Dutch oven beef stew is healthy, easy, & is made all in one pot! Make sure to use a cast iron pot in the oven, & don't forget the red wine!
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Healthy Dutch Oven Beef Stew

    Dutch oven beef stew is healthy, easy, & is made all in one pot! Make sure to use a cast iron pot in the oven, & don't forget the red wine!
    Total Time1 hr 45 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: dutch oven beef stew
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 440kcal
    Author: Megan Byrd, RD
    Cost: $15.87 or $1.98 per serving

    Ingredients

    • 2.5 lbs beef stew meat cut into 1 inch cubes
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp pepper
    • 2 tbsp avocado oil
    • 2 yellow onion chopped
    • 6 garlic cloves minced
    • 4 medium carrots chopped
    • 1 red bell pepper chopped
    • 1 ½ lb potatoes chopped
    • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
    • ¼ cup red wine
    • 2 tbsp tomato paste
    • 4 cups low sodium beef broth
    • 2 tbsp fresh thyme
    • 1 tbsp dry oregano

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325°.
    • In a 6 qt dutch oven, heat the oil on medium heat. Brown the stew meat on medium heat, until just browned but not cooked through. Season with salt and pepper as it cooks.
    • Add the remainder of the ingredients to the dutch oven.
    • Bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat, cover, and place in the oven. Braise (bake) the stew for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
    • Remove from the oven, and serve hot!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 440kcal

    Pin me for later!

    Dutch oven beef stew is healthy, easy, & is made all in one pot! Make sure to use a cast iron pot in the oven, & don't forget the red wine!

    If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!

    Healthy, gluten-free beef stew in the oven will be your family’s new go-to dinner recipe for a chilly winter night! Made in the dutch oven and braised to perfection, this is a one-pot meal everyone can enjoy!

    xoxo Megan

    « Instant Pot Chicken Shawarma Wraps
    Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip »

    Categories: Dinner

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lorenzo Cenci says

      February 10, 2022 at 4:39 pm

      My first time making this dish, I broke in my new Dutch Oven pot.
      It came out excellent. Can’t wait for next time.

      Reply
      • Megan Byrd, RD says

        February 11, 2022 at 7:51 am

        So you glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. cathy b says

      October 30, 2021 at 9:41 pm

      5 stars
      Megan, I was recently gifted a dutch oven and have yet to use it. Looking forward to making this, will report back!!!

      Reply
      • Megan Byrd, RD says

        November 5, 2021 at 12:31 pm

        I’m so excited for you to this one!

        Reply
    3. Wajeeha Nadeem says

      August 19, 2021 at 11:23 pm

      5 stars
      This was so delicious. My whole family loved it!

      Reply
      • Megan Byrd, RD says

        August 20, 2021 at 10:59 am

        Yay I’m so glad! 🙂

        Reply
    4. SHANIKA says

      August 19, 2021 at 10:46 pm

      5 stars
      OMG! This beef stew looks incredible! Definitely looking forward to soup season and this is so comforting!

      Reply
      • Megan Byrd, RD says

        August 20, 2021 at 11:01 am

        It’s seriously so cozy and has incredible flavor! Thank you so much! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Joan says

      August 19, 2021 at 10:44 pm

      5 stars
      Great flavors! And I love how easy this is to make!

      Reply
    6. Tavo says

      August 19, 2021 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      The recipe was delicious! Thanks for all the great tips!

      Reply
      • Megan Byrd, RD says

        August 20, 2021 at 11:48 am

        Of course! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Seema Sriram says

      August 19, 2021 at 9:56 pm

      5 stars
      I have a dutch oven sitting in my kitchen for ages, but never used it!! Seeing your recipe I am tempted to take it out. Love the way you have described each ingredient and the way to get the best of it.

      Reply
      • Megan Byrd, RD says

        August 20, 2021 at 11:48 am

        Yes!! Pull it out and make this stew! 🙂

        Reply

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