Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

This hearty Instant Pot Beef Stew transforms tough chuck roast into melt-in-your-mouth tender beef surrounded by perfectly cooked vegetables in a rich, savory gravy. Ready in just over an hour, this comforting classic lets your pressure cooker do all the heavy lifting while you enjoy the incredible aromas filling your kitchen. It’s the ultimate one-pot comfort food that tastes like it’s been simmering all day!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Weeknight Wonder: Transform a traditionally slow-cooked meal into a weeknight possibility with your Instant Pot doing the heavy lifting.
• One-Pot Meal: Everything cooks together in the same pot, meaning less cleanup and more flavor as everything mingles together.
• Comfort Food Champion: There’s something deeply satisfying about tucking into a bowl of rich, hearty stew that warms you from the inside out.
• Better Than Stovetop: The pressure cooking method infuses flavors more intensely while keeping the meat incredibly tender and juicy.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Chuck Roast: The star of our stew, this cut has fantastic marbling that breaks down during cooking, creating tender, flavorful meat. Cutting into consistent 1-inch cubes ensures even cooking.
• Butter: Used for sautéing the meat, adding richness and depth to the stew’s foundation.
• Beef Stock: Forms the flavorful base of our stew. Choose low-sodium if you want better control over the salt level.
• Tomato Paste: Concentrated flavor that adds richness, color, and subtle acidity to balance the dish.
• Worcestershire Sauce: The secret weapon that adds umami depth and complexity.
• Paprika: Brings a subtle smoky warmth and beautiful color to the stew.
• Garlic: Essential aromatic that infuses the entire dish with savory notes.
• Thyme: This herb pairs perfectly with beef, adding an earthy, slightly floral note.
• Onions & Celery: The aromatic foundation of any good stew, providing depth and complexity.
• Potatoes: Choose a waxy variety that holds its shape during pressure cooking.
• Carrots: Adds natural sweetness and bright color to contrast with the savory elements.
• Bay Leaf: This unassuming leaf works quietly in the background, lending subtle complexity.
• Cornstarch Slurry: The final touch that transforms the cooking liquid into a velvety gravy.

Variations

Vegetable Twists

Add mushrooms for earthiness, sweet peas for color (add after pressure cooking), or parsnips for sweet complexity.

Flavor Boosters

Try a splash of red wine before pressure cooking, a dash of balsamic vinegar at the end, or swap regular paprika for smoked paprika for deeper flavor.

Dietary Adaptations

Make it gluten-free by ensuring your Worcestershire sauce is certified gluten-free. For lower carbs, replace potatoes with turnips or radishes.

Herb Variations

Rosemary makes a wonderful alternative to thyme, or try a bouquet garni (thyme, parsley, and bay leaf tied together) for complex herbaceous notes.

How to Make Instant Pot Beef Stew

Step 1: Brown the Meat

Set your Instant Pot to Sauté on High and melt the butter. Season the cubed chuck roast with salt and pepper, then work in batches to brown the meat on all sides. Don’t overcrowd the pot – this ensures proper browning instead of steaming. Transfer each batch to a bowl once browned.

Step 2: Create the Flavor Base

Return all the browned meat to the pot and turn off the Sauté function. Add beef stock, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, minced garlic, and thyme. Stir everything together, making sure to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot – that’s concentrated flavor!

Step 3: Add Vegetables

Add the diced onions, sliced celery, cubed potatoes, and sliced carrots to the pot. Stir until everything is well combined. Drop in the bay leaf.

Step 4: Pressure Cook

Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring the vent is set to “sealing.” Select Manual or Pressure Cook setting and set the timer for 35 minutes on high pressure. The pot will take about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before the cooking time begins.

Step 5: Release Pressure and Finish

When the cooking cycle completes, cover the steam release valve with a dish towel (to prevent spattering) and perform a quick release. Once the pressure has fully released, carefully open the lid away from your face. Remove and discard the bay leaf.

Step 6: Thicken the Stew

In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water until perfectly smooth. With the Instant Pot on Sauté mode, stir this slurry into the stew and let it simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens to a beautiful gravy consistency. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Don’t Skip the Browning: This step creates the Maillard reaction, developing deep flavor that makes all the difference.
• Cube Consistently: Cut meat and vegetables in similar sizes for even cooking throughout.
• Deglaze Thoroughly: After browning, make sure to scrape up all those flavorful brown bits from the bottom of the pot to prevent the “burn” warning.
• Natural Release Option: For even more tender meat, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes before quick-releasing the remaining pressure.
• Rest Before Serving: Let the stew sit for 5-10 minutes after thickening – the flavors will continue to meld and intensify.

How to Serve

Perfect Pairings

Serve this rich stew with crusty bread, homemade biscuits, or a simple green salad with vinaigrette to cut through the richness.

Garnish Ideas

Sprinkle with fresh parsley for color and freshness, or add a dollop of sour cream for additional richness.

Complete the Meal

For a full comfort food experience, serve with a side of buttered egg noodles or creamy mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious gravy.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

This stew actually improves with time! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavors will continue to develop and meld together.

Freezing

Freeze portions in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 3 months. Leave some space at the top as the stew will expand slightly when frozen.

Reheating

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth if needed to loosen the consistency. Alternatively, microwave in intervals, stirring between each to ensure even heating.

FAQs

Can I use different cuts of beef for this stew?
Absolutely! While chuck roast is ideal for its marbling and flavor, you can also use brisket, short ribs, or even stew meat. Just remember that leaner cuts may not be quite as tender. If using a different cut, you might need to adjust the cooking time slightly – more marbled cuts can handle longer cooking, while leaner cuts might need less time.

My stew isn’t thick enough. What can I do?
There are several ways to thicken your stew if the cornstarch slurry didn’t do the trick. You can make additional cornstarch slurry (using equal parts cornstarch and cold water), or try mashing some of the cooked potatoes against the side of the pot to release their starch. Another option is to set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes to reduce the liquid.

Can I add frozen vegetables to this recipe?
Yes, but with a caveat! Add sturdy frozen vegetables like carrots at the beginning with everything else. For more delicate frozen vegetables like peas or green beans, add them after pressure cooking when you’re thickening the gravy – the residual heat will cook them perfectly without making them mushy.

Why did I get a “burn” notice on my Instant Pot?
The burn notice typically happens when thick sauces or insufficient liquid are in contact with the bottom of the pot. Make sure you’ve deglazed the pot thoroughly after browning the meat, scraping up all browned bits. Also, don’t stir in the tomato paste until you’ve added some of the liquid first, as it can sometimes trigger the sensor when in direct contact with the pot’s bottom.

Final Thoughts

This Instant Pot Beef Stew is what I call modern comfort food – all the heartwarming satisfaction of a traditional recipe but adapted for our busy lives. The pressure cooker transforms humble ingredients into something truly special in a fraction of the time, proving that comfort food doesn’t have to be an all-day affair. Give this recipe a try on your next chilly evening – your kitchen will smell amazing, and your family will think you’ve been cooking all day!

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