Instant Pot Beef Stew (2024)

This Instant Pot Beef Stew is the be-all and end-all when it comes to beef stew! It truly is the ultimate stew with melt-in-your-mouth, super tender beef and a rich and deeply flavored broth. It’s hearty, delicious, fast and super easy.

Beef stew is a classic yet simple dish. It’s the basic meat and and potatoes dish. Yet it is a favorite through and through. Not only is it economical, it is the epitome of comfort food!

Beef stew is all about the tender meat that just melts in your mouth, usually acquired through long hours of slow cooking. Enter: the Instant Pot. While the instant pot is a multi-cooker, there’s no doubt the the high pressure cooker is probably the most used feature. And why not? In minutes you can have any dinner you desire!

Instant Pot Beef Stew

• Quick & Easy Recipe
• Perfect Freezer Meal
• One Pot Meal – Easy Cleanup
• Simple Ingredient List
• Hearty & Comforting

Beef stew is the ideal dish to be made in the instant pot. While I admit, at first I was skeptical to just throw everything in there thinking the potatoes were going to be mushy if cooked for the same amount of time as the beef, I had no reason to be!

The instant pot prevailed, yet again. The beef was super tender, and the potatoes and carrots were cooked to perfection. It’s truly a simple dish to make, but one that’s loaded with tons of rich and deep flavors.

Ingredient Notes

• Beef –Stewing beef, cut in cubes (such as chuck or round). See “FAQs & Expert Tips” for more info.
• Flour – I usedall-purpose flour to coat the beef before searing.
• Olive Oil – Substitute sunflower, safflower or avocado oil.
• Beef Broth– I opt for low sodium. Water or chicken/vegetable broth can be used.
• Potatoes – Mediumpotatoes,peeled and cut into cubes. I prefer Yukon gold.
• Carrots – Largecarrots,peeled and sliced.
• Onion – A largewhite or yellow onion,chopped.
• Garlic– Fresh is best! Minced.
• Tomato Paste – Make sure to get tomato paste and not tomato sauce.
• Worcestershire Sauce – For added flavor.
• Bay Leaves– Dried. Essential for soups and stews!
• Seasoning – Cumin,Italian seasoning, salt& pepper.
• Parsley –Fresh parsley,for garnish.

How To Make Instant Pot Beef Stew

1. Prep Beef: Place the beef in a ziploc bag, add the flour and the 1 tsp salt and pepper. Close the ziploc bag and shake until each piece of beef is fully coated in flour.
2. Sear: Turn the Instant Pot to the high saute setting. (See your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot). Add the olive oil and once your instant pot reaches the desired temperature (the timer will start to count down) add the beef pieces and sear until brown on all sides. Do not overcrowd, you will probably need to do this in a couple batches. Should take about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer the first batch to a plate and repeat with the second batch. Press the keep warm/cancel button on your instant pot.
3. Add Ingredients: Add the rest of the ingredients to the instant pot and stir everything together. There should be more than enough liquid to cover all the ingredients.Close the lid. Set the Instant Pot to manual setting and set the timer to 35 minutes.
4. Finish & Serve: Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, wait until the natural release cycle is complete, should take about 15 minutes. Follow the manufacturer’s guide for quick release, if in a rush. Carefully unlock and remove the lid from the instant pot. Serve warm.

FAQs & Expert Tips

FAQs

Tips

1. Make sure you use the right cut of meat. Use the less expensive, tougher cuts. Because of the slow cooking or high pressure cooking, tougher beef cuts like chuck or round break down and become really tender.
2. Make sure to sear the meat! Searing the meat is essential when making stew to really lock in those flavors and start building deep and rich flavors. You must sear the beef until the bottom has a dark crust and make sure you sear the beef on all sides. Do not skip this step.
3. When you’re browning the beef, DO NOT put the lid on the instant pot.
4. I strongly recommend reading the manufacturer’s guide for instructions on how to use your Instant Pot before attempting this recipe.
5. Add any extra goodies you see fit! Whether it be seasoning, herbs, veggies etc.

Storing

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezing

This soup will also last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More Great Recipes To Try

• Instant Pot Beef Burgundy
• Easy Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Beef Bourguignon
• Ratatouille
• Instant Pot Chicken Thighs