Keto slow cooker beef stew

Name: Keto slow cooker beef stew
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 h
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lb beef stew meat (chuck), cubed; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 turnips, peeled and cubed; 8 oz mushrooms, quartered; 2 celery stalks, sliced; 1/2 onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 3 cups beef broth; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 bay leaf; Salt and pepper; 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional, to thicken)

June 29, 2026 · 1 min read

A bowl of hearty keto beef stew with chunks of beef, mushrooms, and turnips in a rich brown broth with fresh thyme — Serving suggestion — your result will vary

Classic beef stew is built on potatoes and a flour-thickened gravy, both of which keto skips — but the soul of the dish is the slow-braised beef, and that's entirely keto. Turnips stand in for potatoes (they soften the same way without the starch), mushrooms add body, and xanthan gum thickens the broth without flour. A hearty bowl comes in around 7g net carbs.

Searing the beef first is the difference between a flat stew and a deeply savory one. It's worth the extra ten minutes.

6 servingsPrep 20 minCook 8 hr~7 g net carbs / serving

Ingredients

2 lb beef stew meat (chuck), cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 turnips, peeled and cubed
8 oz mushrooms, quartered
2 celery stalks, sliced
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional, to thicken)

Steps

Season the beef with salt and pepper and sear it in the olive oil in batches until browned all over. Add to the slow cooker.
Add the turnips, mushrooms, celery, onion, and garlic.
Whisk the broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and thyme together and pour over. Tuck in the bay leaf.
Cover and cook on low 8 hours (or high 5), until the beef is fork-tender.
Remove the bay leaf. For a thicker stew, sprinkle in the xanthan gum, stir, and let it rest 5–10 minutes before serving.

Per serving (approx): 7 g net carbs · 34 g protein · 22 g fat · ~362 cal

Notes and swaps

Turnips and radishes both make convincing potato stand-ins — they go tender and absorb the broth. Carrots are higher in carbs, so add them sparingly if at all. Chuck is the cut to use; it's tough raw and silky after a long braise. Thicken with a pinch of xanthan gum rather than flour, and let it rest so it sets. Serve as is or over cauliflower mash.

Already eaten today? Copper Keto Companion keeps your running total, so you'll know whether a bowl fits under your carb ceiling before you ladle it.

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