Name: Slow Cooker Paleo Irish Beef Stew, Gluten free, Whole30
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 20 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 lb carrots, cut into 1 inch chunks; 1.5 lbs potatoes, cut into larger diced chunks ( we used dutch baby yellow potatoes and cut them in fourths); 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 2 lbs beef chuck or stew meat, cut into 1 1/2-2 inch cubes; 1 onion, diced large; 4 cloves garlic, diced; 3 Tablespoons tomato paste; 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon to put on the meat, and 1 teaspoon to put in the slow cooker.; 1 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon to put on the meat, and 1/2 teaspoon to put in the slow cooker.; 3 cups beef broth; 1 cup apple juice; 2 Tablespoons blackstrap molasses, (omit if following a Whole30 diet); 1 teaspoon dried rosemary; 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder; ½ teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 bay leaf; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 10 ounces baby bella mushrooms, quartered; 2 Tablespoons water; 2 Tablespoons tapioca flour

This slow cooker Paleo Irish beef stew is a rich and satisfying crock pot recipe where beef, carrots, potatoes and mushrooms are seasoned with tomato, beef broth and lots of spices until tender. Just right for dinner or lunch on a cold day or for St. Patrick’s day!

There’s just something so cozy about a good beef stew. The longer it cooks, the better. Which is why we love using a slow cooker for this type of recipe.

This Irish stew is a favorite of ours because it is simple, yet it is full of flavor. It is made with lighter ingredients and it is incredibly satisfying. It’s a recipe we make often in the winter and around St. Patricks Day. Along with our dairy free Irish cream liqueur and lighter potato pancakes.

Paleo Irish stew in a bowl from a side angle.

Why this recipe works

It has great flavor. We don’t like when beef stew is bland, but if you add lots of spices and herbs, like in this recipe, it tastes great.
This stew is great for those with allergies, it is dairy free, gluten free, grain free and nut free.
It is made with lighter ingredients.
It is simple to make. All you have to do is brown the meat, and put all the ingredients into a slow cooker / crock pot and it cooks itself. Try our honey garlic chicken if you love slow cooker dishes.
It works for those following a lighter life style or who are following a Paleo or Whole30 diet.

Recipe ingredients

Ingredients needed to make lighter Irish beef stew.

carrots– you can use large or baby carrots here, just as long as you cut them to bite sized pieces.
potatoes– gold potatoes work best here in terms of flavor, but you can use any potato you want.
stew meat– a good quality stew meat works best here.
fresh onion– this seasons the meat when browning it.
fresh garlic– this seasons the meat when browning it.
tomato paste– this seasons the meat when browning it and then seasons the sauce of the stew.
beef broth– we like using bone broth as well.
apple juice– this replaces wine that is often used in traditional recipes.
dried rosemary– this is used to season the stew.
chili powder– this is used to season the stew.
dried thyme– this is used to season the stew.
blackstrap molasses– this adds great flavor to the stew and is used to replace Worcestershire sauce. Note: blackstrap molasses is not Whole30 so omit if following a Whole30.
paprika– you can use any type of paprika that you want.
mushrooms– these add depth to the stew, but can be optional.
tapioca flour– this thickens the stew.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Additions/ Substitutions

Instead of fresh onion, you can use onion powder. We would use 1 1/2 teaspoons in the recipe to replace the onion.
Instead of fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder. We would use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Instead of beef broth, you can use chicken broth or any kind of bone broth.
Instead of apple juice, you can add more beef broth.
Instead of blackstrap molasses, you can use maple syrup or date syrup.
You don’t have to use mushrooms at all if you don’t like them.
Instead of tapioca flour, you can use arrowroot starch.

Step by step recipe instructions

Step 1

Step 1: Put the cut up carrots and potatoes into the slow cooker.

Step 2

Step 2: Sear the meat. Add the meat, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and tomato paste to a pan and brown over medium-high heat for a few minutes.

All of the ingredients in the crock pot before cooking.

Step 3

Step 3: Add the beef broth, apple juice, blackstrap molasses and the rest of the spices to the crock pot.

Paleo Irish stew in a ladle after cooking.

Step 4

Step 4: Cook everything for 6-8 hours in the slow cooker.

If you are adding mushrooms, add them after 4 hours.

Make sure to add the tapioca flour and water mixture to the crock pot in the last hour of cooking to thicken it.

Recipe FAQs

How do you store this stew?

In an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.

What thickens Irish stew?

Usually flour, corn starch or arrowroot powder. You can also use tapioca flour.

What do you serve with it?

We like serving this stew with a side of bread, or with a side salad.

Prep 20 minutesCook 8 hoursTotal 8 hours 20 minutesMakes 8

Ingredients

1 lb carrots, cut into 1 inch chunks
1.5 lbs potatoes, cut into larger diced chunks ( we used dutch baby yellow potatoes and cut them in fourths)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 lbs beef chuck or stew meat, cut into 1 1/2-2 inch cubes
1 onion, diced large
4 cloves garlic, diced
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon to put on the meat, and 1 teaspoon to put in the slow cooker.
1 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon to put on the meat, and 1/2 teaspoon to put in the slow cooker.
3 cups beef broth
1 cup apple juice
2 Tablespoons blackstrap molasses, (omit if following a Whole30 diet)
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
10 ounces baby bella mushrooms, quartered
2 Tablespoons water
2 Tablespoons tapioca flour

Method

Place the cut carrots and potatoes into a large slow cooker.
Brown the meat. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Put the beef cubes, diced garlic, diced onion, tomato paste, 1 salt and 1/2 tsp ground pepper in pan, mix and cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Place the browned meat on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
Add the beef broth, apple juice, and blackstrap molasses to the slow cooker. Top with all the stew seasoning ( 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon paprika). Mix the seasoning into the liquid in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on High for 5 hours (or Low for 8 hours). After 4 hours of cooking, add the quartered mushrooms. During the last hour of cooking, dissolve the tapioca flour in water in a small bowl, and then stir the mixture into the broth.

Notes

Instead of fresh onion, you can use onion powder. We would use 1 1/2 teaspoons in the recipe to replace the onion.
Instead of fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder. We would use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Instead of beef broth, you can use chicken broth or any kind of bone broth.
Instead of apple juice, you can add more beef broth.
Instead of blackstrap molasses, you can use maple syrup, but the flavor won’t be as distinct.
You don’t have to use mushrooms at all if you don’t like them.
Instead of tapioca flour, you can use arrowroot starch.