Healthy Crockpot Beef Stew

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/22/22
Healthy Crockpot Beef Stew

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 8 hrs
Total: 8 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
643 Calories
26g Fat
43g Carbs
55g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 643
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g 33%
Saturated Fat 10g 49%
Cholesterol 156mg 52%
Sodium 751mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 43g 16%
Dietary Fiber 9g 31%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 55g
Vitamin C 35mg 173%
Calcium 168mg 13%
Iron 6mg 35%
Potassium 1344mg 29%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This low-fat, low-sodium crockpot beef stew is healthy and full of flavor. It's also very simple to make; the only work you need to do is cut the beef into cubes and chop the onions and garlic. All of the ingredients are then mixed in the slow cooker and cooked. This is the perfect recipe for the beginning cook or a busy weeknight.

A deep-flavored broth of red wine, low-sodium beef broth, and Italian-seasoned tomatoes is the base for a rich stew of sirloin tip, carrots, green beans, and pasta. All you need is a crusty bread to complete the meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin tip steak, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 cup red wine, or low-sodium beef broth

  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth

  • 2 (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings, undrained

  • 3 cloves garlic. minced

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 2 cups baby carrots

  • 1 (9-ounce) package frozen cut green beans, thawed

  • 9 ounces fresh fettuccine, halved

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Healthy Crockpot Beef Stew ingredients

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. In a bowl, toss the cubed beef with the flour, salt, and pepper.

    toss the cubed beef with the flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Place in a 3 1/2 quart or larger crockpot.

    beef cubes in a Crockpot

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Add the red wine, beef broth, diced tomatoes, garlic, onion, and baby carrots and mix well.

    beef stew ingredients in a Crockpot

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours until the beef is tender.

    beef stew cooking in a Crockpot

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. Stir in the green beans and the pasta.

    beans and pasta added to the beef stew in the crockpot

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  7. Increase the heat to high and cover the crockpot. Cook for 10 to 13 minutes longer until the pasta is tender.

    Healthy Crockpot Beef Stew

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Tip

  • If you'd rather not cut the meat yourself, ask the butcher to cube the meat for you or buy meat that has already been cubed. 
  • The pasta should absorb enough liquid so that the stew has a nice texture, but if the stew isn't thick enough when it's time to eat, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water. Stir it into the stew, then cover the slow cooker, and cook on high for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the mixture is thickened.

Recipe Variations

  • You can certainly add more vegetables to this recipe. Some sliced mushrooms (fresh or canned) would be delicious, as would some chopped zucchini or frozen corn.
  • Instead of the pasta, add some chopped Yukon gold or Russet potatoes.

What Is Sirloin Tip?

The name of this cut of meat suggests it is from the sirloin, but sirloin tip is actually from the round primal. It also goes by "knuckle" and "round tip," and is located on the front end of the rear leg. In the meat section of the grocery store, there may be a few different packages labeled with "sirloin tip;" sirloin tip steak is the best choice when making a stew.