Crock Pot Beef Stew Gluten-Free
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This gluten-free crock pot beef stew has tender beef, potatoes, carrots and celery in a savory broth thickened with rice flour. Garlic, onion and a bay leaf add flavor without a long seasoning list.
The ingredients go straight into the slow cooker, so you don’t need a separate browning step. Choose gluten-free broth and rice flour so the finished stew is appropriate for anyone avoiding gluten.
Gluten-Free Crock Pot Beef Stew at a Glance
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: About 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high
Total: About 8 hours 15 minutes on low
Servings: 8
Thickener: Rice flour
Main ingredients: Beef, potatoes, carrots and broth
Why You’ll Love It
- No wheat flour: Rice flour thickens the broth.
- No separate searing: Add the beef directly to the slow cooker.
- Vegetables included: Potatoes and carrots cook with the meat.
- Freezer-friendly: Portion leftovers for another dinner.
Gluten-Free Crock Pot Beef Stew Ingredients
The complete ingredients list and quantities are in the recipe card below.
- Stewing beef: Choose a cut for slow cooking, such as chuck, and cut it evenly. Thaw fully before adding to the slow cooker.
- Rice flour: Use a gluten-free-labeled product. Don’t substitute wheat flour.
- Beef broth: Check the label for gluten, including ingredients used for flavoring.
- Potatoes and carrots: Cut into similar pieces so they soften evenly.
- Celery, onion and garlic: These flavor the cooking liquid.
- Bay leaf: Remove it before serving.
How to Make Gluten-Free Crock Pot Beef Stew
The full instructions with weights and measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Coat: Toss the beef with rice flour, salt and pepper in the slow cooker.
- Add: Stir in the broth, vegetables and aromatics.
- Cook: Cover and cook until the beef is fork-tender and the vegetables are soft.
- Finish: Remove the bay leaf, stir and check the seasoning.
Equipment
- Chef’s knife: Cut the beef and vegetables evenly.
- Cutting board: Keep raw meat preparation separate from vegetables.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Measure the broth, rice flour and seasoning.
Use a slow cooker large enough for the ingredients without exceeding its recommended fill level, plus a sturdy spoon for stirring.
Tips for the Best Gluten-Free Crock Pot Beef Stew
- Check every label: Broth and packaged seasonings can contain gluten even when the main ingredients don’t.
- Use stewing beef: Lean steak cuts don’t soften in the same way during long cooking.
- Keep the lid on: Frequent opening releases heat and can lengthen cooking.
- Check tenderness: Continue cooking if the beef or vegetables still resist a fork.
- Adjust consistency at the end: Stir first; add a little hot gluten-free broth if the stew is thicker than you want.
Substitutions and Variations
- More garlic: Add extra if you prefer a stronger garlic flavor.
- Mushrooms: These can join the vegetables for a different flavor.
- Other root vegetables: Rutabaga can replace some carrots or potatoes; cut evenly and check tenderness.
- Dairy-free: No dairy ingredients are needed; check the broth.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the stew with gluten-free bread for dipping into the broth. My coffee braised beef is another slow-cooked beef dinner.
How to Store Gluten-Free Crock Pot Beef Stew
- Refrigerate: Refrigerate promptly in shallow covered containers; eat within 3 to 4 days.
- Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months for best quality. Potatoes may change texture.
- Reheat: Thaw in the refrigerator and heat in a saucepan, oven or microwave to 165°F (74°C). Don’t reheat cold stew in the slow cooker.
Gluten-Free Crock Pot Beef Stew FAQs
Plain rice flour is naturally gluten-free, but use a gluten-free-labeled product if cross-contact is a concern.
No. This method adds the beef directly to the slow cooker. Browning is a separate variation, rather than a required step.
Yes. The card gives about 4 hours on high, but slow cookers vary. Check that the beef and vegetables are tender before serving.
It may need more cooking time, or the cut may be too lean for stewing. Chuck and other stewing cuts soften during long, moist cooking.
Slow Cooked Gluten-Free Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 2 pounds stewing beef (900g, cut into even cubes)
- 1½ cups gluten-free beef broth (355ml; check the label)
- 3 sliced carrots
- 4 chopped potatoes
- ¼ cup rice flour (32g; use a gluten-free-labeled product)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 sliced celery stalk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 crushed garlic clove
- 1 chopped yellow onion
Method
- Start with fully thawed stewing beef. Add it to a slow cooker large enough to hold the stew within the manufacturer’s recommended fill level.
- Sprinkle the flour, salt and black pepper over it and stir to coat the meat.
- Add the broth, carrots, potatoes, bay leaf, celery, garlic and onion. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours or high for about 4 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the potatoes and carrots are tender. Cooking time varies with cube size and slow cooker; continue cooking if needed.
- Discard the bay leaf and stir the stew before serving.
Notes
More Recipes to Try
- Bobotie combines seasoned ground meat with an egg topping.
Beef, vegetables and a savory broth are enough for a warming bowl of stew. With gluten-free broth and rice flour, you can enjoy it without wheat flour.
