Slow-Simmered Beef and Tomato Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A rich, savory stew with lean beef and sun-ripened tomatoes, simmered with aromatic vegetables for a deeply satisfying meal. This Whole30 recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs lean ground beef, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 340 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a Whole30 week and pairs well with roasted sweet potato or a simple olive-oil salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (95% lean) lean ground beef
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, finely diced yellow onion
• 2 medium, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes carrots
• 2 stalks, diced into 1/2-inch cubes celery
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 cups (15 oz, no sugar added) crushed tomatoes
• 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1 cup, diced into 1/2-inch cubes zucchini
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, for 5-6 minutes until no longer pink and slightly browned; drain excess fat.
2. Step 2: Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot; sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften and onion turns translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant, then add crushed tomatoes, beef broth, dried thyme, and bay leaf; bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Step 4: Add diced zucchini, cover, and simmer 25 minutes until vegetables are tender; remove bay leaf, season with salt and pepper, and garnish with fresh parsley.