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Slow Cooker Chunky Beef Chili Stew

Slow cooker chunky beef chili stew is healthy stew that uses simple, affordable ingredients. Chunks of beef stew meat, ground beef, tomatoes, vegetables, and chili seasonings cook together in this meaty stew that can be tailored to your liking. Low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible, this easy beef recipe will hit the spot but not the waistline. Instructions to make this chili inspired beef stew in the Instant Pot are also included. 

overhead shot of chunky beef stew in a white bowl garnish with avocado & cilantro

Ingredients For Chunky Beef Chili Stew

  • Beef Stew Meat
  • Ground Beef
  • Whole Tomatoes (with juices)
  • Diced Tomatoes (with juices)
  • Bell Peppers
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Seasonings: salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika

How To Make Chunky Beef Chili Stew In The Crock-Pot

Slow Cooker

  1. In large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and cook a few minutes until browned. Drain grease and add the ground beef to the slow cooker.
  2. Add all other ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
  3. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.

Instant Pot

  1. Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil and beef sirloin. Cook until beef is browned, approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove beef from the pressure cooker and set aside.
  2. Add the ground beef, bell pepper, and onion to the pot. Cook 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft, crumbling the beef as it cooks. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute. Drain fat excess grease if necessary.
  3. Add the beef sirloin back to the pressure cooker along with all remaining ingredients. Stir to mix well.
  4. Close lid and seal valve. Set or high pressure setting for 20 minutes.
  5. When cooking time is complete, let the pressure naturally release 5 minutes then quick release any remaining pressure.
overhead shot of cooked chunky beef stew in a black slow cooker

before

What Type Of Beef To Use

For this chunky beef chili stew, I use a combination of chopped beef and ground beef.  For the chopped beef, I use beef stew meat. In place of the beef stew meat, I suggest cutting up roast like chuck roast or rump roast.

A Healthy Beef Stew

This crockpot beef stew is paleo and Whole30 compatible. When I updated this recipe with Instant Pot instructions, I also updated the ingredients. While I added more beef, the main update is I removed the potatoes. I did this mainly because I wanted this stew to be low-carb & keto friendly. If you want the original version, add in 1 pound of chopped potatoes.  

overhead shot of cooked chunky beef stew in a black slow cooker

after

How To Serve Beef Stew

The sky is the limit when it comes to serving this beef stew. Since it has chili flavors, I garnish with cilantro and avocado and eat as-it. Green onions, sliced jalapeños, and of course cheese (depending on your dietary restrictions) are other topping suggestions. You can also serve this over rice (cauliflower or regular), zoodles, pasta, etc. 

overhead shot of cooked chunky beef stew in a black slow cooker

after

Storing & Freezing Leftover Beef Stew

Store leftover crockpot chunky beef stew an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To freeze leftover stew, let the stew cool completely. Once cooled, add the stew to an air tight container, freezer-friendly plastic bag, or souper cubes. Store the stew in your freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat frozen chunky beef stew, you have two options. You can either thaw the stew overnight  in the refrigerator OR add the stew directly to the slow cooker or Instant Pot & thaw on the warm setting!

overhead shot of chunky beef stew in a white bowl garnish with avocado & cilantro

FAQs & Tips

  • Since this is a chunky stew, cut the food into into larger chunks than normal. While you can of course cut your vegetables into any size you want, I suggest you cut the meat & vegetables into uniform-size chunks so they cook evenly.
  • This easy beef stew uses my homemade chili inspired seasoning. It includes the usual chili ingredients: chili powder, cumin, salt, paprika. 
  • If you do not eat red meat, make this a chunky chicken stew by simply using chicken thighs &  ground chicken.   
  • Turn this stew into a soup by adding an additional 4 cups of beef broth. 
  • I used a  6-quart slow cooker / Instant Pot for this recipe.

Beef Stew Recipes 

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overhead shot of chunky beef stew in a white bowl garnish with avocado & cilantro

Slow Cooker Chunky Beef Chili Stew

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 2 reviews

Slow cooker chunky beef chili stew is healthy stew that uses simple, affordable ingredients. Chunks of beef stew meat, ground beef, tomatoes, vegetables, and chili seasonings cook together in this meaty stew that can be tailored to your liking. Low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible, this easy beef recipe will hit the spot but not the waistline. Instructions to make this chili inspired beef stew in the Instant Pot are also included.

  • Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 bell peppers, chopped
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 28 ounces whole tomatoes (with juices)
  • 15 ounces diced tomatoes (with juices)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more)
  • 2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon oil

Instructions

Slow Cooker

  1. In large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and cook a few minutes until browned. Drain grease and add the ground beef to the slow cooker.
  2. Add all other ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
  3. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.

Instant Pot

  1. Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil and beef sirloin. Cook until beef is browned, approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove beef from the pressure cooker and set aside.
  2. Add the ground beef, bell pepper, and onion to the pot. Cook 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft, crumbling the beef as it cooks. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute. Drain fat excess grease if necessary.
  3. Add the beef sirloin back to the pressure cooker along with all remaining ingredients. Stir to mix well.
  4. Close lid and seal valve. Set or high pressure setting for 20 minutes.
  5. When cooking time is complete, let the pressure naturally release 5 minutes then quick release any remaining pressure.
  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 308
  • Sugar: 5.2 g
  • Sodium: 782.5 mg
  • Fat: 9.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 11.3 g
  • Fiber: 3.2 g
  • Protein: 44.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 112.2 mg

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Slow Cooker Chunky Beef Chili StewSlow Cooker Chunky Beef Chili Stew
Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Jim

Wednesday 25th of January 2023

What’s the serving size?

John King

Monday 21st of September 2020

I've made this recipe several times. The first time exactly according to directions - it was better than okay.

Tried it again with 2.5 lbs. of chunked beef, no ground meat. Dredged the beef chunks in flour and browned them in a cast iron skillet. I thnk it was better.

Another time, I skipped the tomatoes completely and used beef broth. That was really good. This was my favorite.

And once with pork butt roast - also quite good.

Lorenzo

Wednesday 19th of August 2020

Looks wonderful

Kris

Tuesday 17th of September 2019

Am I suppose to to drain the tomato's before pouring it in?

Fit SlowCooker Queen

Tuesday 17th of September 2019

Nope!

Valerie

Tuesday 9th of January 2018

This looks yummy delicious...I think I may try it today but with ground turkey!!! Thanks for sharing my friend.

Fit SlowCooker Queen

Friday 12th of January 2018

Thank you! Ground turkey sounds fantastic. I hope you enjoy the recipe! xo