Instant Pot Beef Stew (2024)

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Instant Pot Beef Stew (1)Emily Richter

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This Instant Pot Beef Stew is everything slow roasted stew is, but without the long cook time! Fall apart beef and tons of veggies, plus its ready to eat in under an hour.

Instant Pot Beef Stew (2)

Featured Comment

“This is by far the most delicious meal I have made in my InstaPot and perhaps the best beef stew I have ever made. Your seasonings are perfect! What I thought was just “comfort food” turned into a delicacy. I absolutely love how healthy it was as well! I look forward to trying more recipes!” – Tanya

This Instant Pot Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food – hearty, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. Forget slaving over a stove for hours, this recipe comes together in under 60 minutes, thanks to the magic of the Instant Pot.

This Instant Pot beef stew recipe is inspired by one of our all-time favorite recipes to spend cooking all day with our family in the winter — BEEF BOURGUIGNON.

We wanted to take all the things we love about the taste of beef bourguignon (the rich flavors, the fall-apart beef chunks, the perfectly cooked vegetables), but make it a meal you can easily whip up for weeknight dinners with your family in your Instant Pot pressure cooker.

Instant Pot Beef Stew Ingredients

We love beef stew because it’s truly a complete meal in a bowl– meat, veggies, and so much flavor. Here’s what you need:

  • Boneless beef chuck roast
  • White onion
  • Celery
  • Carrots
  • Russet potatoes
  • Baby bella mushrooms
  • Frozen peas
  • Dry red wine
  • Beef broth
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Tomato paste
  • Fresh herbs
  • Flour

Best Beef for Beef Stew

We love boneless chuck roast for beef stew for a couple reasons:

  • It’s a tougher cut of meat than many leaner alternatives, but when slow cooked (or emulating the slow cooking process in the Instant Pot through pressure cooking!) it breaks down the meat and becomes oh so tender and delicious.
  • Beef chuck is a cheaper cut of meat meaning this high-end tasting beef stew is super budget-friendly!

Don’t have chuck roast?You can use another cut of beef,such as stew meat or rump roast.

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Beef Stew Seasoning

This beef stew seasoning adds so much flavor to this Instant Pot beef stew. It’s salty, savory, and a little bit sweet. Here are the ingredients you need for our perfect beef stew seasoning mix:

  • 1 teaspoondried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoonblack pepper
  • 1 teaspoondried thyme
  • 1 teaspoononion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoonsmoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoongarlic powder
  • 1 tablespoonbrown sugar
  • 1 teaspoonsalt
  • 1 tablespoonwhite whole wheat flour

double or triple it!

Mix up a double batch of this seasoning so you have it on hand whenever you’re making beef stew!

Instant Pot Beef Stew (4)

Tips & Tricks for Beef Stew in the Instant Pot

Don’t cut beef into too large of chunks

Because chuck meat is a tougher cut of meat, it relies on slow cooking to break down the meat and make it tender and flakey. If you cut the beef into chunks that are larger than 1 – 1.5 inches, you run the risk of not cooking the stew for long enough to break down the beef.

Don’t skip browning the beef

Browning the beef before Instant Pot cooking your stew (you’ll do this right in the Instant Pot!) draws out the delicious flavors of the beef, which allows it to soak into every bit of this stew as it cooks down.

BONUS: this preheats your Instant Pot, which will eliminate the time it takes to preheat before pressure cooking your stew.

Deglaze your Instant Pot

Right after you brown the beef for this beef stew, you’ll remove the beef, and deglaze the bottom of the Instant Pot by adding red wine to the Instant Pot. Use a wooden utensil to scrape off all the brown bits on the bottom of the Instant Pot.

This step not only helps prevent the Instant Pot burn notice, but also distributes the delicious flavor from browning into the wine liquid, which allows it to flavor the entire stew.

Don’t skip the herb bundle

The herb bundle (we used fresh rosemary and fresh thyme) is a must have for this beef stew! It allows your stew to incorporate all the flavors of fresh herbs without needing to dig around in the stew to fish them out at the end.

Simply bundle tightly the fresh rosemary and thyme with baker’s twine, and place right in the Instant Pot. You’ll easily be able to remove it from the beef stew right before serving.

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How to Store this Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

Store this Instant Pot beef stew in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To Freeze: let cool completely before transferring into an air-tight container, making sure to remove as much air as possible. Place into the freezer for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Beef Stew

We love to reheat this beef stew just as it was cooked — low and slow!

  • In the Oven: Allow the beef stew come to room temperature (about 30 minutes) before placing in an oven-safe dish with a lid. Reheat at 350°F for 45 minutes, or until reheated thoroughly.
  • On the Stovetop: Allow the beef stew to come to room temperature before placing in a stock pot and reheating over low / medium heat on the stovetop.
  • In the Microwave: We don’t loveee this method, but if time is of the essence, reheat your beef stew on low / reheat in the microwave until reheated thoroughly.

reheating tip:

As your beef stew sits in the fridge, it will thicken. When reheating, add a little beef broth in order to thin things out a bit to get that delicious broth in every bite.

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More of our Favorite…

Instant Pot Beef Recipes

  • Instant Pot Pot Roast
  • Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
  • Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

What to Serve with Instant Pot Beef Stew

Serve this deliciously savory beef stew with something starchy (what better to soak up that yummy broth with!). We recommend any of the following:

  • Biscuits or slices of bread
  • Cornbread
  • Mashed potatoes (or mashed sweet taters!)
  • Cauliflower mashed potatoes for a lower carb option

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Instant Pot Beef Stew (7)

5 from 14 votes

Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

Made with chuck tender boneless chuck roast, hearty root vegetables, and the most delicious broth — this delicious Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe is ready to go in less than 60 minutes.

Prep:30 minutes minutes

Cook:20 minutes minutes

Total:50 minutes minutes

Fat 12

Carbs 24

Protein 42

Yield: 8

Print Rate

Ingredients

  • 1.5 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 2 lbs. boneless beef chuck roast sliced into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon white whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup dry red wine
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1.5 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 5 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium white onion chopped and divided
  • 2 large celery stalks cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 4 large carrots peeled and cut into 1.5-inch chunks
  • 3 small russet potatoes sliced into 1-inch chunks
  • 8 oz. sliced baby Bella mushrooms
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions

  • First, begin by prepping your chuck roast. Cut the beef into 1 to 1.5-inch bite-sized pieces and then place into a large bowl.

    Instant Pot Beef Stew (8)

  • Next, mix together your beef stew seasoning by placing rosemary, pepper, thyme, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and white whole wheat flour into a small bowl. Mix to combine and then sprinkle on top of beef chunks and toss to coat the beef.

    Instant Pot Beef Stew (9)

  • Turn on your Instant Pot’s sauté feature and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When the olive oil is fragrant, add half of the beef chunks to the pot. Brown beef chunks for 1.5-2 minutes, flip, and brown for another 1.5-2 minutes. Then, remove the first batch of beef chunks and repeat with the remaining half. Once browned remove all beef from Instant Pot and set aside.

  • Turn off the saute feature and deglaze the pot with red wine. Use a wooden utensil to scrape off all the brown bits on the bottom of your Instant Pot. This step is important for preventing the burn notice.

  • Add beef broth, Worchestershire, balsamic vinegar, and tomato paste to the Instant Pot and whisk to combine.

  • Next, create an herb bundle by using a piece of baker’s twine to tie together fresh rosemary and thyme. Add that into the liquid.

    Instant Pot Beef Stew (10)

  • Add minced garlic, half the white onion (you’ll use the other half later), and the seasoned beef. Make sure you get any leftover spices from the beef. Give everything a toss and then place the lid on your Instant Pot.

  • Turn the valve to seal and turn your Instant Pot to manual > high > and set the timer to 20 minutes. It should take around 10 minutes to build enough pressure to start counting down from 20.

  • Once the timer goes off, quick release and let the steam pour out. Open Instant Pot, remove herb bundle, and then add the remaining onion, celery, carrots, potato, and mushrooms. Give everything a toss and then place the lid back on your Instant Pot. Seal the valve > turn Instant Pot to manual > high > and set the timer to 2 minutes. Again, it will take some time for enough pressure to build before it starts to count down from 2.

  • Once the timer goes off, quick release the Instant Pot and let the steam pour out. Open the lid and immediately add the frozen peas and stir. Let the beef stew sit for at least 5 minutes to thicken before serving.

    Instant Pot Beef Stew (11)

Tips & Notes

  • Since all Instant Pot’s vary, you may need to cook the vegetables for additional time depending on how your veggies come out. Ours cooked perfectly after 2 minutes. If they still aren’t done, close the lid and cook longer.

Watch It

Nutrition facts

Calories: 379kcal Carbohydrates: 24g Protein: 42g Fat: 12g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 7g

Author: Emily Richter

Similar recipes:

  • Beef and Broccoli Casserole

  • Beef Taco Bowl Recipe

  • Best Beef Chili

  • Instant Pot Korean Beef Bowl Recipe

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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.

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About Emily Richter

Emily is Fit Foodie Finds' editor-in-chief. She has a master's degree in strategic communication, and a passion for food. She is an incredible at-home cook making her writing an important part of the content creation process.

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Instant Pot Beef Stew (18)

Amy

Posted on 4/9/2022

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (19)
This was the tastiest beef stew I’ve ever had. Was so delicious I couldn’t stop to take a picture, I had to eat right away! Lots of ingredients, but it’s SO worth it for the amazing flavor. Thanks, FFF!

Reply

Emily Richter

Posted on 4/12/2022

Reply to Amy

We’re blushing, Amy! So happy to hear you loved this beef stew 😀

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (21)

Tanya Ireland

Posted on 2/9/2022

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (22)
This is by far the most delicious meal I have made in my InstaPot and perhaps the best beef stew I have ever made. Your seasonings are perfect! What I thought was just “comfort food” turned into a delicacy. I absolutely love how healthy it was as well! I look forward to trying more recipes!

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 2/13/2022

Reply to Tanya Ireland

Oh wow! Thanks for the raving review 😀

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (24)

Becca

Posted on 11/15/2021

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (25)
I made this last winter and it was absolutely delicious. I plan to make it for dinner with a family member who has Celiac’s. Would it be fine to omit the flour or would you recommend a substitution (and if so, what)? Thank you!

Last edited 2 years ago by Becca

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (26)

Katie

Posted on 3/7/2021

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (27)
Love this recipe, I did have to add more beef stock but I’m new to the instant pot so it could have been a user error! I didn’t have fresh herbs and used dry ones from the pantry instead and it still had incredible flavor.

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 3/7/2021

Reply to Katie

Glad you loved this! We add more stock usually the next day after it sits and soaks up all the goodness 😀

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (29)

Nancy

Posted on 12/30/2020

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (30)
Best Beef Stew recipe….EVER!! I don’t like beef stew and yet I tried this recipe for my hubby and we love it. I did add more beef stock and I used the dry herbs that I had in my stash. It was easy and fast and tasty and I am going to make this again and again.

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 1/1/2021

Reply to Nancy

WOW! Glad you guys loved this <3

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (32)

Lily

Posted on 10/15/2020

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (33)
Saw this on my IG feed, and had the ingredients on hand… YUM! The beef was so tender, and the spices were a perfect combination for cool fall comfort. Definitely making this again. And again!

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 10/15/2020

Reply to Lily

So glad you guys loved this!

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (35)

Savanna H

Posted on 10/13/2020

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (36)
Made this for dinner and it was fantastic! My husband said this is his new favorite recipe (and that was a pretty high bar!)

I did make minor modifications. Found that there wasn’t as much liquid as I like, so I added an extra 2 cups of beef broth and a tiny bit more worchestershire, tomato paste, and vinegar to compensate.

I like my veggies fork tender so I did 5 minutes of pressure cooking for them instead of 2. Turned out perfect!

Excellent recipe. I’ll be adding this to the winter rotation and keeping it in my pocket as a meal to WOW guests!

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 10/14/2020

Reply to Savanna H

Love your modifications! Yes, the veggies and meat can suck up a lot of broth, so adding more is totally a-okay!

1

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (39)

Savanna H.

Posted on 10/13/2020

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (40)
I know it’s a bit counter-intuitive to the recipe, but any thoughts on how this could be converted to a slow-cooker stew? I like to set things up before I go to school in the morning so there’s no fuss when I’m tired at the end of the day. Would I follow the same beginning steps with the browning and deglazing, then toss everything together, set it to low, and go?

It looks AMAZING and is by far the most appealing beef stew recipe I’ve found! Can’t wait to try it.

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 10/14/2020

Reply to Savanna H.

We have a slow cooker beef stew on the content calendar for later this year! We haven’t tested yet, but look out for it!

2

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (42)

Caroline

Posted on 10/12/2020

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (43)
This was BY FAR the best beef stew I’ve made! I’m always a little iffy on trying beef stew recipes because the meat has a tendency to be tough and the broth is not always as flavorful as I’d like, but this one is spot on. So yummy!

1

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (45)

Posted on 10/12/2020

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (46)
My son came home from college for a mental health break and some mom- cook in’ and this recipe fit the bill! He approved! Delicious! Therapy in a bowl. My only disappointment is there aren’t more leftovers. Printing this and giving it an honored spot in my folder of favorite recipes.

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 10/12/2020

Reply to Kristina

WOW he is one lucky guy! So glad you guys loved it!

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (49)

Lindsay F.

Posted on 10/11/2020

Recipe Rating :

Instant Pot Beef Stew (50)
This was the absolute best beef stew my family has ever eaten. You know how some beef stew is just a bland concoction of root vegetables and tough sinewy beef you have to floss out immediately after leaving the table? Not this recipe! The meat was oh so tender, and all of the ingredients complimented each other. My husband is a notoriously picky eater, as is my youngest son, and both of them asked for more! In fact, my husband may still be eating in the kitchen!

I added extra beef broth because we don’t have wine in the house (long story) and nixed the celery because no one really likes celery anyway. You won’t be disappointed with this delicious stew. I know I’ll be making it again and again.

1

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 10/11/2020

Reply to Lindsay F.

Heck to the yes!!! Glad you loved it, Lindsay 😀

Reply

Instant Pot Beef Stew (2024)

FAQs

Why is my stew meat tough in Instant Pot? ›

Yes, you can overcook stew meat in the Instant Pot if you're not careful. While beef stew does get more tender the longer it cooks, there's a fine line between tender and overdone. Make sure to slice your meat cubes to the recommended size in the recipe instructions and follow the cook times closely.

What is the trick for tender beef stew? ›

Place a lid on top, turn heat down to low, then simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove lid then gently simmer for another 1-1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender and stew has thickened, stirring occasionally. If the stew begins to reduce too quickly before the meat is tender, place the lid back on top.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook beef stew? ›

More From Good Housekeeping. Taste: For overall taste, the pressure cooker was the hands-down winner. Beef, carrots, and potatoes all retained their rich flavors. After 8 hours in the slow cooker, they emerged bland and seemed to need salt.

How to use meat stew setting on Instant Pot? ›

Instant Pot Instructions: Place everything in the Instant Pot. Select the stew/meat setting (about 35 minutes, high pressure). After it's done, let everything mellow out for about 10 minutes before releasing the steam. Technically at this point, it's done.

Does beef get more tender the longer you stew it? ›

Chuck meat is your best bet for beef stew, but it's also a pretty tough cut so it needs time to break down and become tender. Rush the cooking process and the beef will be tough and chewy. Follow this tip: For really tender meat, cook the stew low and slow, for approximately two hours.

Do you have to brown stew meat before Instant Pot? ›

Searing the beef cubes first creates all those tasty browned bits that make the finished sauce that much more delicious, but you don't have to spend a lot of time searing the cubes all over.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

The Five Most Common Beef Stew Mistakes
  1. Choosing a meat that's too lean. Stew is not meant for all cuts of meat. ...
  2. Putting too much flour on the stew meat before sautéeing them. ...
  3. Not using wine. ...
  4. Putting the meat and vegetables together in one pan. ...
  5. Not cooking it enough.
Jun 28, 2020

What is the best tenderizer for stew meat? ›

The choice becomes easier when you realize that simple baking soda can be an ideal meat tenderizer that helps to bring out all the aromas and flavors in every sizzling beef stew or charburger.

How long does it take for beef stew meat to get tender? ›

Cook over medium-high heat, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the beef, beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Cover and cook, skimming broth from time to time, until the beef is tender, about 1½ hours.

What is the most tender meat for beef stew? ›

Next time you're shopping for stew beef, look at your options and see what cuts of meat will work best for your recipe. For example, chuck is a lean and tender cut of beef that works well in stew. However, if you would prefer a thicker and more flavorful stew, short ribs or oxtail may be better choices for you.

Can you overcook beef in beef stew? ›

What emerged was beef that dissolved into a dry, pulpy mass in your mouth as soon as your jaw moved. The flavor was there, all right, but the beef was totally destroyed (along with my mom's dreams of stew, and my ego). Turns out you definitely can overcook beef stew.

Can I leave stew in pressure cooker overnight? ›

Expert Response

There would be a problem if they turned off the instant pot and left it over night. As long as the food stays warm out of the danger zone (40-140 degree F.) it should be safe to eat.

Why does my Instant Pot burn stew? ›

Here's what may be triggering the burn notice and the precautions you can take to prevent it.
  1. Your steam valve isn't sealed. A pressure cooker can't pressure cook without steam. ...
  2. There isn't enough liquid. ...
  3. You added ingredients at the wrong time or in the wrong order. ...
  4. Something's up with your Instant Pot.
Jun 16, 2021

Why is my stew meat tough pressure cooker? ›

If your meat seems a little chewy after pressure cooking, return the lid and cook at High Pressure for another 3 to 5 minutes before adding the vegetables. (Once you add the veggies, you're limited on how long you can pressure cook things before the veggies turn to mush.)

How long to soften meat in Instant Pot? ›

I like to assume 20 minutes for every pound of meat. So, for my 3-pound beef chuck, I will need to cook at high pressure for 1 hour. After the hour, I release the pressure and shred the tender beef.

What to do if meat is tough in Instant Pot? ›

Otherwise, if your meat ends up tough due to undercooking, that's easy to fix; just return the beef to the pot and let it cook a little longer.

How do you fix tough stew meat? ›

Simmer in liquid. Just like for burnt meat, if your meat gets tough and dry then you can simmer it in a little bit of broth for a couple minutes. Don't allow it to overcook again but just allow the liquid to penetrate the meat.

Does a pressure cooker tenderize stew meat? ›

Conventional cooking calls for long, slow braising to ensure a melt-in-your-mouth outcome. The pressure cooker cuts the cooking time but yields fork-tender meat. That was the case with two pounds of cubed beef chuck that cooked to juicy and soft in just 20 minutes.

Can you overcook meat in an Instant Pot? ›

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat. Earlier, I explained how ingredient size affects the cooking time.

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