Beef Quinoa Stew

Healthy Quinoa Stew recipe filled with all your cozy favorites like tender beef, vegetables, protein rich quinoa, and savory spices. Sprinkle with fresh dill for a flavorful comfort meal!

We also love chicken chickpea stew and Mediterranean ground turkey stew during the cooler months.

I grew up with grandma’s steaming bowl of homemade beef stew. It is an Eastern European traditional dish that fills your house and clothes with a stew smell.

I had all intentions to make traditional beef stew with potatoes, just to find out I was out of potatoes. Quinoa stew it is and it was amazing! Originally posted in 2015, this recipe is even easier now. Updated with new photos, tips and tricks as well.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One pot meal: Quinoa stew with beef is easy to make, ready in 1 hour, and made in one pot!
• Gluten free: All ingredients are naturally gluten-free making this quinoa dinner recipe perfect for the entire family and guests.
• Healthy: Beef and potatoes are often found together in many soup and stew recipes, but I loved swapping in quinoa. It adds plant-based protein, all nine essential amino acids, and fiber, keeping you full longer.
• Flavorful: I carefully selected spices, herbs, and vegetables to make this an unforgettable healthy dinner that does not skimp on flavor. Your house will smell amazing too!

Ingredients for Beef Quinoa Stew

This quinoa stew will be your newest winter staple packed with simple ingredients, protein, and cozy flavors.

• Beef: Use any beef stew meat such as beef chuck roast or rump roast cut into 1″ cubes. Or if you’d like you can use pre-cut stew meat.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic cloves add cozy flavor and aroma.
• Vegetables: Onion, carrots, and peas. Feel free to use fresh or frozen peas.
• Olive oil: Sautéing with extra-virgin olive oil also enhances the dish with extra flavor.
• Cornstarch: We’ll coat the beef in cornstarch to help thicken the stew and deepen the flavor.
• Broth: I was out of beef broth so pictured is chicken broth. Of course, low sodium beef broth would be the best.
• Quinoa: Uncooked, rinsed, and drained quinoa. I had white quinoa but you can use whichever color you have. Note red quinoa stew will be more hearty and chewy.
• Spices: A blend of salt, pepper, and bay leaves.
• Fresh herbs: I stirred in some fresh dill but fresh parsley is good too.

How to Make Beef Quinoa Stew

Here’s a quick and easy overview of how to make homemade quinoa stew in one pot.

There’s a full recipe card below.

• Sauté vegetables: Heat a Dutch oven or heavy bottom pot on medium heat and coat it with oil. Sauté onion, garlic and carrots for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a medium bowl.
• Sear beef: Add remaining oil to the large pot, then add beef and sprinkle with cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes while stirring a few times.
• Add broth: Pour in broth and deglaze the pot by bringing mixture to a boil. Scrape the bottom to remove any stuck bits and cook for a few minutes. 

• Add veggies: Mix in previously cooked veggies, remaining salt and pepper, and bay leaves. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Cook quinoa: Add quinoa, stir, cover and cook for15 minutes. Turn off heat and let stew sit covered for 5 minutes.
• Add peas and herbs: Add peas and dill, gently stir and enjoy a delicious bowl of quinoa stew.

Tips for Best Results

Make this one of the most tastiest quinoa recipes by following these tips and tricks.

• Adjust the thickness: The ingredients in this stew are absorbing. After a few hours or next day, feel free to add more beef broth, chicken broth or vegetable broth. Or if you like a more soupy stew in general.
• Beef doesn’t have to be very brown: Saute the beef but do not expect it to have charred, caramelized edges mostly because we use a high-walled pot which doesn’t allow moisture to evaporate. So, don’t wait for that and overcook the meat.
• Deglaze the pot: All those caramelized bits on the bottom of the pot hold so much flavor, you don’t want to leave them behind.
• If you love garlic: I love adding a bit of freshly grated garlic at the end. It adds a depth of flavor, different from cooked garlic. But you don’t have to, if you prefer very mild garlic taste.

What to Serve Quinoa Stew with?

This is the best time of year for beef quinoa stew! I like serving it as is sprinkled with more fresh dill or parsley. You can also add freshly grated Parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese.

Make it a meal and serve with a simple salad like brussels sprouts salad, arugula salad, or a healthy Caesar salad. Sometimes I’ll keep it extra simple and have diced avocado on the side.

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Transfer any leftover stew to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freeze: Allow stew to cool completely, store in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat for a healthy lunch.

Make a healthy freezer meal: Sauté vegetables and beef stew meat and transfer to a large resealable Ziploc bag or airtight container. Add quinoa and freeze for up to 3 months. When you want to make it, just defrost the freezer meal in the fridge overnight and combine in a pot with broth. Cook as per recipe. At the end add peas and dill.

Reheat: Add to a pot along with a splash of broth or water, cover, and simmer on low heat until warmed through.

FAQs

More Beef Recipes to Try

• Instant Pot beef stew
• Korean ground beef and rice bowls
• Beef stir fry
• Beef barley soup
• Instant Pot beef barley soup
• Healthy beef and broccoli

More Quinoa Recipes to Try

• Black bean quinoa casserole
• Ground turkey quinoa casserole
• Instant Pot ground turkey quinoa bowls
• Chicken quinoa skillet
• One pot chicken quinoa
• Quinoa chili