Whether you’re in the mood for tried-and-true favorites or eager to explore new recipes, these healthy recipes redefine comfort food, promising not only satisfying flavors but also the convenience of reheating for those busy days.
These stews transform simple ingredients into wholesome delights, whether simmering in a Dutch oven or slow-cooking in a crockpot. From the rich aroma of an Irish beef stew to the aromatic simplicity of a vegan lentil stew, these recipes cater to diverse tastes while offering the ease of preparing and reheating in the same pot. Elevate your winter dining experience with these nourishing stews that bring a touch of culinary magic to your meal plan.
Catering to various dietary preferences—including vegan, keto, and paleo—without compromising on taste, these healthy stews are the perfect companions for easy and delicious home-cooked meals.
Now, let’s dive into our 10 favorite healthy stew recipes, guaranteed to warm your heart and your stomach this winter season.
1. Crockpot Beef Stew
This soul-soothing healthy beef stew recipe offers the warmth of old-fashioned comfort. Featuring tender beef chuck roast, assorted vegetables, and a rich gravy comprised of Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste, this slow cooker beef stew promises a delicious reward for your patience. With its low and slow cook time, flavorful red wine or beer base, low-sodium beef broth, and a blend of aromatic herbs including bay leaf, fresh thyme, and parsley, this hearty stew becomes a perfect make-ahead meal, providing a cozy and satisfying experience for chilly nights.
2. Slow Cooker White Wine Chicken Stew
This slow-cooker chicken stew is a delightful blend of fresh herbs, vegetables, and protein, creating a creamy and comforting dish perfect for colder months. Featuring boneless skinless chicken thighs, a mix of herbs, and a touch of dry white wine, this stew offers a rich and flavorful experience. The stew includes a variety of veggies such as carrots, peas, onions, and potatoes, creating a hearty and nutritious meal. To enhance the thickness and creaminess, a mixture of flour and almond milk is added, resulting in a satisfying hug-in-a-bowl. Serve it with your favorite sides like crackers, cornbread, or homemade biscuits for a cozy dinner.
3. Vegan Instant Pot White Bean Stew
This vegan Instant Pot white bean stew is a hassle-free, dump-and-go recipe that delivers a hearty, allergen-friendly, and flavorful dish. Loaded with shallots, celery, garlic, grated Yukon Gold potatoes, and soaked white beans, this stew is both satisfying and healthy. Garnish with a zesty gremolata featuring parsley, garlic, and lemon zest for a burst of freshness, making it an ideal weeknight dinner paired with crusty bread.
4. Simple Vegetarian Sweet Potato Stew
This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian sweet potato stew is a delightful blend of hearty and healthy. It’s a low-calorie meal at just 128 kcal, packed with sweet potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, yellow onion, and baby spinach, and enriched with warm spices like cumin and turmeric. Quick to make in just over 30 minutes, it’s a one-pot wonder that’s both vegan and versatile, ideal for a comforting meal served over couscous or with crusty whole wheat bread.
5. Irish Beef Stew
This hearty Irish-inspired beef stew, a festive choice for St. Patrick’s Day or a chilly night, combines chuck beef stew meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions in a flavorful broth enriched with Guinness extra stout and red wine. While traditionally Irish stew favors lamb, this American adaptation uses beef, yielding a rich and satisfying dish. The recipe, originating from a European chef who added Guinness and red wine to a Bon Appetit recipe, promises rave-worthy results and a comforting bowl of goodness.
6. Vegan Lentil Stew
This vegan lentil stew offers a hearty and comforting meal, perfect for chilly winter evenings. Packed with nutritional goodness, lentils serve as an excellent meat substitute, providing a satisfying and satiating experience. The recipe, featuring brown or green lentils, combines aromatic herbs, spices, and vegetables, creating a flavorful stew that pairs well with gluten-free bread. Easy to make with everyday ingredients, this stew is a wholesome choice for those seeking a nutritious and delicious vegan option, enriched with the benefits of lentils such as high protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
7. Moroccan Chickpea Stew Recipe
This Moroccan chickpea stew is a flavorful, cholesterol-free, vegan delight. It showcases the versatility of chickpeas beyond hummus, presenting them in a warm and savory stew enriched with the aromatic blend of ginger, cumin, and cinnamon. The recipe begins with sautéing finely minced garlic and chopped onion in olive oil, creating a fragrant base for the stew. The addition of diced tomatoes, drained chickpeas, ground cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and vegetable stock follows, and it’s simmered to perfection fast with a total time of just 32 minutes. This healthy stew recipe can be served with couscous, quinoa, or naan bread, making it an ideal choice for cold winter nights. The leftovers, if any, can be stored in the fridge for four to five days and reheated on the stovetop.
8. Slow Cooker Paleo Korean Beef Stew (Whole30)
This Slow Cooker Whole30 Paleo Korean Beef Stew is a delicious and healthy weeknight dinner option, featuring garlicky goodness, punchy ginger, and tender stewed meat. The dish, cooked with sesame oil, avocado oil, and an array of flavorful ingredients, is garnished with pickled cucumbers, kimchi, sesame seeds, and more for a delightful balance of spicy-sweet flavors.
9. Italian Vegetable Stew with Sausage (Keto and Low Carb)
This flavorful and hearty Italian Vegetable Stew with Sausage, a keto and low-carb option (with just 11g carbohydrates) perfect for fall. Packed with Italian sausage, cauliflower rice, spinach, and a blend of seasonings, this stew is a comforting solution for using up leftover veggies. Simply cooked in a pot, it’s a quick and delicious way to embrace the autumn season.
10. Hearty Vegetarian Stew
This comforting Hearty Vegetarian Stew is perfect for chilly evenings. Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and swede, along with chestnut mushrooms, are cooked in a rich red wine sauce, creating a flavorful and filling dinner. This veggie stew, enriched with rosemary, thyme, and other herbs, captures the essence of traditional stews, offering a satisfying and easy-to-make option for those embracing a vegetarian lifestyle.