Slow Cooker Keto Beef Stew

Classic beef stew is full of potatoes, carrots and flour, which makes it high in carbs. This slow cooker keto beef stew keeps all the comfort and flavor but cuts the carbs way down. Tender beef, mushrooms and celery cook low and slow in a rich, savory broth. Radishes replace the potatoes. After hours in the stew, they turn soft and mild and taste surprisingly like potatoes.

The gravy is thickened without flour, so it's naturally gluten-free too.

Why This Recipe Works

• Beef chuck turns melt-in-your-mouth tender after slow cooking.
• Browning the beef builds deep flavor.
• Radishes lose their spicy bite when cooked and become soft like potatoes, with far fewer carbs.
• Mushrooms and tomato paste add rich, meaty flavor.
• Xanthan gum or reduction thickens the gravy without flour.

Quick Facts

• Prep time: 20 minutes
• Cook time: 8 hours on LOW (or 4–5 hours on HIGH)
• Total time: about 8 hours 20 minutes
• Servings: 6
• Net carbs: about 7 g per serving (estimate)
• Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

• 2½ lb (1.1 kg) beef chuck roast, cut into 1½-inch cubes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
• ½ medium onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 cups (720 ml) beef broth (check for no added sugar)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce or coconut aminos
• 1 lb (450 g) radishes, trimmed and halved (quartered if large)
• 8 oz (225 g) mushrooms, halved
• 3 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 small carrot, sliced (optional, adds about 1 g net carb per serving)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (optional, for thickening)
• Fresh parsley to serve

About Keto Swaps

Radishes vs turnips: Both make good potato replacements. Turnips are a little higher in carbs but taste more like potatoes. You can use half and half.

Carrots: Carrots have more carbs than most keto vegetables, but one small carrot in a big pot adds color and only a little carb per serving. Leave it out for strict keto.

Onion: Onions have some carbs, so we use only half.

Worcestershire sauce contains a small amount of sugar. Coconut aminos is a lower-sugar choice.

Step 1: Season the Beef

Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels. Season all over with salt and pepper.

No flour coating here, unlike regular stew.

Step 2: Brown the Beef

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown half the beef for 2–3 minutes per side until a deep brown crust forms. Move to the slow cooker. Repeat with the remaining oil and beef.

Brown in batches. Crowding makes the meat steam.

Step 3: Cook the Aromatics

Lower the heat to medium. Add the onion and cook 3–4 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.

Pour in 1 cup of the broth and scrape up the browned bits from the pan. Pour it all into the slow cooker.

Step 4: Add Vegetables and Broth

Add the remaining broth, Worcestershire, radishes, mushrooms, celery, carrot, thyme, rosemary and bay leaves to the slow cooker. Stir gently.

Step 5: Slow Cook

Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the radishes are soft.

Avoid opening the lid during cooking.

Step 6: Thicken the Gravy

Remove the bay leaves. Choose a thickening method:

Option A: Xanthan gum (fast). Sprinkle ½ teaspoon xanthan gum very slowly over the stew while whisking or stirring fast. Let it sit 5 minutes. Add more, ¼ teaspoon at a time, only if needed. Too much makes the gravy slimy.

Option B: Reduce. Remove the lid and cook on HIGH for 30–45 minutes to let the liquid cook down and thicken.

Option C: Blend some veggies. Scoop out 1 cup of radishes and mushrooms with some broth, blend until smooth and stir back in.

Step 7: Serve

Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley.

Tips for the Best Keto Stew

• Choose chuck roast for the most tender meat.
• Brown the beef well. It's where the flavor comes from.
• Add xanthan gum slowly. A little goes a long way.
• Season at the end. The broth concentrates as it cooks.
• Make it a day ahead. It tastes even better the next day.

Common Problems

Radishes taste bitter or spicy. They needed more cooking time. Cook until very soft.

Gravy is thin. Use one of the thickening methods above.

Gravy is slimy. Too much xanthan gum. Add a little more broth to loosen it.

Tough beef. It needs more time. Keep cooking until it pulls apart easily.

Serving Ideas (Low Carb)

• Over cauliflower mash
• With keto biscuits or cheese crisps
• With a simple green salad
• Topped with sour cream and shredded cheddar

Instant Pot Version

1. Use the Sauté setting to brown the beef in batches.
2. Cook the onion, garlic and tomato paste, then deglaze with broth.
3. Add everything else (except xanthan gum).
4. Cook on High Pressure for 35 minutes, then natural release 10 minutes.
5. Thicken using the Sauté setting or xanthan gum.

Storage

Fridge: Cool and refrigerate within 2 hours. Keeps 3–4 days in airtight containers.

Freezer: Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Reheat: Warm on the stove over medium heat, stirring, until hot all the way through (165°F / 74°C).

Nutrition Estimate

Per serving (1/6 of the recipe, with one small carrot):

• Calories: about 410
• Protein: about 39 g
• Total carbohydrates: about 9 g
• Fiber: about 2 g
• Net carbs: about 7 g
• Fat: about 25 g

Carb counts change with brands and portion sizes. Check labels if you track carbs strictly.

FAQs

Do radishes really taste like potatoes in stew?

They don't taste exactly the same, but after long cooking they get soft and mild and soak up the broth, so they're a great low-carb swap.

Is beef stew keto-friendly?

Traditional stew isn't, because of potatoes and flour. This version is low carb.

Can I use stew meat?

Yes, but chuck roast cut yourself usually gives more tender, even results.

What can I use instead of xanthan gum?

Reduce the stew uncovered, or blend some of the cooked vegetables back in.

Can I add carrots on keto?

In small amounts. One small carrot spread over 6 servings adds very few carbs.

Is this stew gluten-free?

Yes, if your broth and Worcestershire sauce are gluten-free. Coconut aminos is a safe swap.

More Recipes to Try

• Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew (coming soon)
• Keto Friendly Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (coming soon)
• Keto Almond Flour Pizza Crust (coming soon)
• Browse all recipes

A Final Note

Brown the beef, swap potatoes for radishes and thicken without flour. This slow cooker keto beef stew gives you all the cozy comfort of a classic stew with just a few net carbs per bowl.