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Healthy Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

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Weight Watchers Recipes of the Day: Healthy Hamburger Stew
(178 calories | *2 WW SmartPoints)

I made this simple healthy slow cooker hamburger stew for the first time last December. Everyone really liked it.

Hamburger stew in a bowl with a spoon in the background

WW Friendly Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

Hearty and satisfying, it’s the perfect antidote to weeks of overindulging with too many sweet treats. If your body is begging you to bring it back into balance, plan on cooking up a pot as soon as you can!

Ina Garten English Chocolate Crisps

English Chocolate Crisps

While I didn’t do nearly as much Christmas cookie baking this year as last, I still managed to to get myself in trouble with two deliciously decadent Ina Garten recipes: French Chocolate Bark and English Chocolate Crisps.

They were totally worth the splurge, but now I’m feeling ready to get back on track with some sensible slow cooking.

Ina Garten French Chocolate Bark

French Chocolate Bark

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been eating out and indulging in WAY more sweet treats than normal. And our celebrations won’t officially wrap up until we ring in the New Year.

‘Tis the time of year when my body begins craving a dose of simple, hearty, home cooking, like this slow cooker hamburger stew, a hodgepodge of vegetables and ground beef simmered for hours in the crock pot. It’s the perfect antidote to weeks of overindulging.
 

Skinny on Healthy Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

Homemade soup is SO MUCH BETTER than anything you can get in a can. It’s worth the little bit of extra work required and is really pretty easy when you use your Crock-Pot (affiliate link).

The potatoes will take the longest to soften in this recipe, so be sure to chop them into small pieces if time is an issue.

I kept the seasoning in this slow cooker hamburger stew pretty simple, using just Montreal Steak Seasoning, one of my favorites. If you like your soups spicier, you may want to add more herbs and spices.

To make this hamburger stew vegetarian, substitute 1 pound soy crumbles or 1-1/2 cups lentils for the ground beef, and vegetable broth (affiliate link) for the beef broth.

One of the great things about home cooking is the freedom to customize to your specific tastes!

Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?

Seasoning Ideas:

  • Give it an Italian flair by adding garlic, basil and oregano.
  • Take it in a Mexican direction with chile powder and cumin or a package of taco seasoning.
  • Give it an Indian flavor by adding curry powder
  • Bump up the beefy flavor with a splash of Worcestershire and a squeeze of anchovy paste.
  • For even more heat, add your favorite hot sauce and/or chopped picked jalapeños when you serve it.

According to my calculations, each serving has 178 calories, *4 PointsPlus and *2 Freestyle SmartPoints. Enjoy!

Curious about Weight Watchers Freestyle/Flex plan?
Watch this short video to learn more:

If you like this slow cooker recipe for hamburger stew, be sure to check out my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly Crock-Pot (affiliate link) recipes including Italian Pork & White Beans Stew, Slow Cooker Sausage & Vegetables, Crock-Pot Tomato Beef Macaroni Soup, Creole White Beans & Chicken and WW Chuck Wagon Chili

If you’ve made this Hamburger Stew, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it.

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3.25 from 96 votes

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew Recipe

Hearty and delicious, this hamburger stew is simple and satisfying and so much better than anything you can get in a can!
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time8 hrs
Total Time8 hrs 20 mins
Servings (adjustable): 11
Calories: 178
Author: Martha | Simple Nourished Living

Ingredients

  • 1 pound extra lean ground beef (95% lean)
  • 1 onion, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
  • Salt and pepper, or other seasoning, to taste (I used 1-1/2 teaspoons Montreal Steak Seasoning)
  • 3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped into tiny cubes (2 cups)
  • 1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
  • 1 can (14 to 15 ounces) diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth (I use jarred Better Than Bouillon mixed with water)
  • 2 cups water

Instructions

  • Ideal slow cooker size: 5- to 6-Quart.
  • Put the ground beef and onions in a large non-stick skillet set over medium heat. Season with salt, pepper and additional seasoning if you like.
  • Cook, stirring and breaking up the beef into small crumbles, until the ground beef is no longer pink and the onions have softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Drain off any excess fat. (There shouldn't be much if you used extra lean ground beef.)
  • Scrape the ground beef mixture into the crock pot. Add the potatoes, mixed vegetables, corn, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth and water.
  • Cover and cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours, or until the vegetables are all tender. The potatoes will take the longest to soften, so be sure to chop them really small if time is an issue for you.
  • Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired.

Recipe Notes

Weight Watchers PointsPlus: *4
Weight Watchers Freestyle SmartPoints: *2
Nutrition Facts
Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 178 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 5g20%
Protein 15g30%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crock pot hamburger stew, low fat hamburger stew
Did you make this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving on Instagram and tag #simplenourishedliving - we love to see your creations!

Source: adapted from The Crockin Girls Slow Cookin Companion: Yummy Recipes from Family, Friends, and Our Crockin Community (affiliate link) by Nicole Sparks and Jenna Marwitz.

*PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT Weight Watchers Zero Points fruits and vegetables using the WW Recipe Builder.

Watch how to make your own Crock Pot Ground Beef Casserole at home:

More Easy WW Friendly Recipes You Might Also Like:

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Comments

  1. Patt

    I made this tonight for dinner. An excellent choice for a very cold New Year’s Day dinner. After 8 hours, the potatoes were still too firm, so next time I will use whole wheat macaroni. It was delicious and filling. Thank you again for what you do for all of us who are trying to eat healthier on this weight loss journey. Happy New Year.

    Reply

  5. Kim S.

    I just started Weight Watchers and made this yesterday. I got a late start and since I work from home, I did stove top and it was DELICIOUS–and very filling. I did add a bag of frozen chopped baby Kale, plus a splash of Worcestershire and a squeeze of anchovy paste to up the beefy flavor. I would never guess this is “Weight Watcher friendly.” I portioned it up into 1 cup plastic containers and put all but 4 in the freezer. Now, I’ll have easy, healthy lunch for the rest of the week! Thank you!

    Reply

  7. Lisa Harrison

    Delicious and I usually have these ingredients on hand. I used small, tri colored fingerling size potatoes and they were perfect. Thank you for a basic, but tasty recipe.

    Reply

  9. Annemarie

    Hi Martha this is one of my favorite recipes i love to come back to, especially in the Fall and Winter. Any suggestions on making this one lower carbs as well?

    Reply

  11. Barb Johnson

    I made this yesterday. What a delicious, filling soup/stew. I piled the veggies in, and 1/2 cup of brown rice instead of potatoes. I didn’t have potatoes in the house. This was a very tasty, healthy dinner. Thank you.

    Reply

  12. Judy

    How will it affect the points if using whole wheat macaroni, barley or brown rice? How much would you put in, 2 cups as the potatoes??
    Thanks for the great recipe’s, you’ve helped so much!!

    Reply

    • Martha McKinnon

      Hi Judy, I’ve never made it with anything but potatoes. Just look up the ingredient you are thinking of using in your WW App to determine the Points. I would guess 1 cup of whole wheat pasta instead of 2 cups potatoes. But less rice and barley because it will expand much during cooking. You might have to add extra liquid for these ingredients too because they absorb more liquid than potatoes. I’m thinking 1/2 cup rice/barley. Hope this helps. – Martha

      Reply

  13. Susan B

    I love this recipe and yes you do have to cut the potatoes very small to get them cooked. I cooked it on high for 5 hours instead of low because I was pressed for time. I love the idea of the pasta and brown rice in place of potatoes.

    Reply

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