The Hearty Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe: Cozy Comfort in Minutes

Crafting a hearty beef stew in an instant pot feels like a culinary adventure waiting to unfold.

Tender chunks of meat melt into rich, savory broth with remarkable speed and precision.

Comfort arrives quickly when you harness the power of modern cooking technology.

Minimal effort yields maximum flavor through this streamlined preparation method.

Robust seasonings dance alongside succulent beef, creating a symphony of taste that warms from the inside out.

Home cooks appreciate how this recipe simplifies traditional slow-cooking techniques without sacrificing depth or complexity.

Let’s transform ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal that beckons everyone to the table.

Instant Pot Beef Stew: Reasons to Make

• Rapidly Prepare Hearty Meal: This Instant Pot beef stew transforms tough meat into tender, mouthwatering bites with minimal kitchen effort.
• Minimize Cooking Complexity: Perfect for busy home cooks who want restaurant-quality results without complicated techniques or multiple pots.
• Create Nutrient-Packed Comfort: Packed with protein-rich beef and colorful vegetables, this one-pot wonder delivers balanced nutrition in every delicious spoonful.
• Versatile Dining Solution: Ideal for family dinners, meal prep, chilly evenings, or when craving a satisfying meal that feeds multiple people with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients For Instant Pot Beef Stew

• Beef Chunks: Tender meat that forms the hearty base of this classic stew.
• Potatoes: Starchy vegetable that adds substance and comfort to the dish.
• Beef Broth: Flavorful liquid that creates the rich cooking environment for the stew.

• Onions, Garlic, Carrots, Celery: Aromatic vegetables that build a deep, savory foundation for the stew.

• Flour: Coating for the beef that helps create a golden crust and thickens the stew.
• Tomato Paste, Worcestershire Sauce: Concentrated ingredients that add depth and umami to the dish.
• Thyme, Bay Leaves: Herbs that provide subtle, earthy undertones to the stew.
• Olive Oil: Cooking fat used for searing and sautéing ingredients.

Instant Pot Beef Stew Cooking Guide

Step 1: Prepare Beef

Grab your Instant Pot and fire up the “Saute” mode. Drizzle in some olive oil and get it sizzling hot.

Dust beef chunks with a light coating of flour, then drop them into the pot. Sear each piece until they develop a gorgeous golden-brown crust that’ll make your mouth water.

Once perfectly browned, scoop out the beef and set it aside on a plate.

Step 2: Build Flavor Base

• Onions
• Garlic
• Carrots
• Celery

into the pot.

Let these veggies dance and soften, soaking up all those delicious meaty remnants from the beef sear.

Step 3: Create Sauce Magic

Stir in rich tomato paste and splash of Worcestershire sauce.

Use your spatula to scrape up those tasty browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Pour in beef broth, sprinkle fresh thyme, and drop in bay leaves for extra depth.

Step 4: Combine and Pressure Cook

Return the seared beef to the pot and nestle in chunky potatoes. Lock the lid, set the Instant Pot to high-pressure cooking for 35 minutes.

Let the magic happen!

Step 5: Release and Rest

Once cooking completes, let the pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes.

Then carefully quick-release any remaining steam.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Fish out the bay leaves, give everything a gentle stir, and ladle this hearty stew into bowls.

Serve alongside a crusty bread for soaking up all that incredible sauce.

Tricks For Flavorful Beef Stew

• Pat beef dry before dredging to ensure a perfect golden-brown sear and develop deep flavor layers.
• Choose chuck roast or stew meat with good marbling for tender, melt-in-your-mouth results.
• Cut vegetables into uniform sizes to guarantee even cooking and consistent texture throughout the stew.
• Enhance flavor by adding a splash of red wine during deglazing for richer, more complex taste profile.
• Thicken the stew with cornstarch or additional flour if you prefer a heartier, more robust consistency.

Remix Beef Stew In Instant Pot

• Lamb Stew Swap: Replace beef with tender lamb chunks for a Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Vegetarian Comfort: Substitute beef with hearty mushrooms and add extra root vegetables for a plant-based alternative.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use cornstarch instead of flour for dredging, ensuring a celiac-friendly meal.
• Slow Cooker Adaptation: Convert the recipe to a traditional slow cooker, cooking on low for 8 hours instead of using pressure cooking method.

Ideal Sides For Beef Stew

• Cozy Family Feast: Serve this hearty beef stew with warm, thick slices of sourdough bread for dipping and soaking up the rich, savory broth.
• Rustic Comfort Plate: Pair the stew with creamy mashed potatoes or buttery egg noodles to create a comforting, filling meal that hugs your taste buds.
• Winter Gathering Spread: Accompany the stew with a simple green salad dressed in a light vinaigrette and a glass of red wine to balance the robust flavors of the meat and vegetables.
• Leftovers Lunch Remix: Transform remaining stew into a delicious pot pie by topping with flaky puff pastry and baking until golden brown and bubbling.

Storing Instant Pot Beef Stew

• Store leftovers in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking to maintain food safety.
• Refrigerate beef stew for 3-4 days, keeping it in shallow containers to cool quickly.
• Freeze stew in freezer-safe containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months.

FAQs

• How do I prevent my beef from becoming tough?

Dredge beef in flour before searing, which helps lock in moisture and creates a protective layer that keeps meat tender during pressure cooking. Searing at high heat also develops rich, deep flavors.

• Can I use different cuts of beef?

Yes, chuck roast or stew meat work best because they have enough marbling and connective tissue that breaks down during pressure cooking, making the meat extremely tender and flavorful.

• What if I don't have an Instant Pot?

You can make this stew in a Dutch oven or slow cooker. For Dutch oven, cook at 325°F for 2-3 hours. In slow cooker, cook on low for 7-8 hours until beef is fork-tender.

Easy Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

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4.7 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty beef stew from the instant pot blends tender meat with rich, savory flavors from classic vegetables and herbs. Comforting and simple, this one-pot meal delivers warmth and satisfaction for hungry families seeking a quick, delicious dinner.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 pounds beef chuck (cubed)

Vegetables:

• 3 potatoes (cubed)
• 3 carrots (sliced)
• 2 celery stalks (sliced)
• 1 onion (diced)
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)

Seasonings and Liquids:

• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Prepare beef by coating each chunk with flour, ensuring even coverage for a rich, golden exterior.
2. Activate Instant Pot’s sauté function at medium-high heat, adding olive oil to create a sizzling surface.
3. Sear meat pieces until deep brown on all sides, developing complex flavor through caramelization, then transfer to a separate plate.
4. In the same pot, introduce diced onions, minced garlic, chopped carrots, and sliced celery, cooking until vegetables soften and release their aromatic essence.
5. Incorporate tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce, vigorously scraping accumulated browned fragments from the pot’s bottom to integrate concentrated flavors.
6. Pour beef broth into the mixture, introducing fresh thyme and bay leaves for herbaceous undertones.
7. Reintroduce seared meat and add cubed potatoes to the liquid base, creating a hearty landscape of ingredients.
8. Secure Instant Pot lid, programming the device to high-pressure cooking mode for 35 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and tenderize.
9. After cooking completes, permit a 10-minute natural pressure dissipation to enhance meat’s tenderness.
10. Quickly release remaining pressure, then extract bay leaves and gently stir the stew to distribute flavors evenly.
11. Ladle the rich, steaming stew into bowls, accompanying with crusty bread for a comforting meal.

Notes

• Always pat beef chunks dry before dredging to ensure a perfect golden-brown sear that locks in rich, deep flavors.
• Choose chuck roast or stew meat with good marbling for tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that breaks down beautifully during pressure cooking.
• Keep vegetable chunks uniform in size to guarantee even cooking and consistent texture throughout the stew.
• For gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with cornstarch or alternative gluten-free flour blend when coating beef before searing.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Pressure Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg