Easy Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

Name: Easy Instant Pot Beef Stew
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 Tbsp olive oil; 2 lbs beef stew meat (cut into ½ inch cubes); 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp pepper; 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tsp paprika; 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 8 oz can tomato sauce; 3 c. low sodium beef broth; 1 yellow onion (peeled and chopped); 3 c. potatoes (peeled and diced); 4 carrots (peeled and sliced); 3 Tbsp water; 3 Tbsp cornstarch; Parsley (optional)

4.84 from 18 votes

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By: Julie Evink25 Comments

Posted: 02/02/20 Updated: 09/06/22

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Craving a cozy, hearty meal? This Instant Pot Beef Stew is what you want. Loaded with tons of flavor, stew meat, potatoes and vegetables all cooked in your pressure cooker for a tender, delicious combination. Make it for dinner tonight!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Okay, so today’s post is just another reason I LOVE my Instant Pot – you can make a hearty homemade Beef Stew in 30 minutes. Yes, 30-minutes! And there’s no tricks or shortcuts involved with the ingredients.

It’s made with stew meat and lots of vegetables just like ones that takes all day to cook, but using a pressure cooker cuts the cooking time by a ton!

Normally, beef stew takes hours to cook so the beef breaks down and turns tender. Well, the Instant Pot makes quick work of it so you can make this delicious dinner during the week. The beef is so tender, the vegetables are perfectly cooked and your whole family will wonder how you managed to make it on Monday.

My family loves beef stew and for years I made my Crock Pot Beef Stew, which is so good, but sometimes I don’t even have time to get the ingredients in the slow cooker first thing in the morning, so this Instant Pot version is the one I turn to for those really crazy weeks. You can prep it all and have the Instant Pot locked and loaded in about 15 minutes. Then you just wait for it to do its thing and 15 minutes later you have an amazing one-pot dinner on the table.

If you have a meat-and-potato-loving family like I do, they are going to love this beef stew!

Contents show

Beef Stew Instant Pot Recipe Ingredients

The ingredient list might seem long, but half are pantry ingredients so you probably already have many of them on hand. Here’s what you need:

Olive oil
Stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
Salt and pepper
Minced garlic
Paprika
Worcestershire sauce
Canned tomato sauce
Low-sodium beef broth
Chopped yellow onion
Diced potatoes
Sliced carrots
Cornstarch and water

What is the best beef for stew?

You have a few choices:

You can buy a package of pre-cut “stew” meat which is usually chuck roast or beef round which are both tougher cuts of meat that are meant to be simmered or braised for a long time. As they cook the connective tissue breaks down and the meat turns tender. If you buy precut stew meat you can always check the package to see what cut of beef it is or ask the butcher. The pieces of meat are not always the same size so it’s a good idea to cut them into even-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
You can also just buy your own whole cut of the meat and cut it down into bite-sized pieces yourself.

What are the best potatoes for stew?

Waxy potatoes are best for stew because they hold their shape and don’t break down like starchier potatoes (like russets). Yukon gold potatoes are great but you can also use new potatoes and red potatoes.

How to make Beef Stew in Instant Pot

We’re using two different settings for this recipe: the saute setting and the manual pressure setting. I love that you can brown the meat right in the Instant Pot!

Prepare Stew Meat – First, turn on the saute setting and once the IP is warmed up add the oil. Brown the meat in the oil for three to four minutes on each side. Be sure to season the meat with salt and pepper while it browns.
Prepare Soup – Add all of the other ingredients except for the cornstarch and water. You’ll use those at the end to help thicken the stew. Stir everything together in the Instant Pot.
Cook Beef Stew – Then secure the lid, close the valve and set the manual pressure for 30 minutes. When the timer goes off, do a natural release for ten minutes. After ten minutes, open the steam valve and release any remaining pressure.
Thicken Stew – Turn on the saute setting again and bring the stew to a simmer. Mix the cornstarch with the water and add it to the stew. Stir and simmer the stew for three to five minutes or until the liquid starts to thicken.
Garnish – I like to garnish the stew with some chopped fresh parsley, but this is optional!

Instant Pot with ingredients for beef stew

Tips for Make Ahead Beef Stew in Instant Pot

This stew is so quick and easy I don’t usually make it ahead, but you can! It’s great as a make-ahead dinner or lunch if you like to meal prep. Store the stew in an airtight container and it will keep well in the refrigerator for three to four days. Or you can freeze it for up to three months!

Your stew might be a lot thicker after it’s been chilled so when you reheat it you can thin it by adding some beef stock or even water. If you use water just be sure to give it a taste and add a little salt if needed. I usually warm leftover stew on the stove but you can also just pop it in the microwave!

When it’s cold and wintery out there is nothing better than a bowl of this cozy beef stew! I hope you love it as much as we do – it’s one of our favorite cold-weather dinners. Looking for more Instant Pot recipe ideas? You have to give these a try, too!

More Amazing Instant Pot Recipes

My Pork Roast recipe is a complete meal you can make in your pressure cooker! The meat, veggies and sauce all cook together for a delicious dinner.
Swedish Meatballs are an easy dinner that my family loves! They are served with tender egg noodles and a savory gravy that cook right in the Instant Pot with the meatballs.
Once you try my easy Homemade Hamburger Helper you’ll never buy the boxed stuff again!
Make a batch of my easy Lentil Soup for a cozy dinner!

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Meet Julie Evink

I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!