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Instant Pot Beef Stew (Homemade Pressure Cooker) makes for a super comforting dish on a cold winter day. This warm and hearty one-pot meal is full of tender meat with carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and celery.
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A HOMEMADE BEEF STEW CROCKPOT RECIPE
There’s something about the arrival of fall that makes all of us crave for hearty comfort food.
To me, nothing screams comfort more than a big pot of soup or stew. My mom used to make a big batch of homemadebeef stew for us on the weekends as soon as the weather got cooler.
It was the ultimate cold weather food and we’d always go for seconds and thirds throughout the day.
Homemade Beef Stew is still one of my favorite lazy Sunday meals I make for my own family now and they love it just as much as we did.
3 POPULAR BEEF STEWS:
I already have two incredibly popular beef stews on my site:
If you’re a fan of beef stew, we’ve got 3 delicious versions you can find here:
- this classic homemade beef stew made on the stove
- a slow cooker beef stew
and now that I have an Instant Pot, I could not wait to try making my some classics like oatmeal, rice, pasta, chicken, hard boiled eggs, soup and of course, this Instant Pot Beef Stew.
And you know what? Instant Pot Beef Stew was an instant hit with my family and is now another big time reader favorite along with my other two versions above.
The great thing about soups and stews is that you can customize them by adding whatever vegetables you prefer or have on hand.
I’ve even included options to keep this beef stew paleo, gluten free and low carb / keto-friendly.
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT BEEF STEW
Start off by combining the flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning into a large zip-top bag. Add meat and shake until well coated..
BROWN THE MEAT: (if you’re in a pinch – you can skip to step 5 and add all the ingredients together instead). Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE, add cooking oil and brown the meat on all sides. The meat will not be cooked through which is okay – we just want to add that crispy caramel coating. (Be sure not to crowd the pot – you may have to work in batches). Transfer browned meat onto a large plate.
Place the inner pot back in the instant pot pressure cooker and add onions and garlic and sauté for a minute or two. Add the balsamic vinegar and tomato paste until just hot enough to deglaze the pot, about 1 minute.
Add the browned beef back into the pot along with potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, celery, Worcestershire sauce, the remaining 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, bay leaf, beef broth and (star anise if using). Stir to combine. If there is not enough liquid to cover the vegetables, add water – only as much as needed.
Cover and seal the lid and set to 20 minutes with High Pressure on Manual mode. Allow the pressure cooker to release naturally for at least 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper if necessary (discard star anise if used). Serve hot with fresh parsley.
TO THICKEN THE STEW (OPTIONAL) Make a slurry by whisking 3 tablespoons of cool water with 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch or flour (all purpose, gluten free or arrowroot powder). Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE and allow the stew to come to a boil and thicken up.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST BEEF STEW:
- What type of meat do I use for beef stew? We prefer using beef chuck since I find it produces the most tender beef but if you are in a pinch, you can use beef stew meat
- What is the best pressure cooker for making beef stew? (Affiliate link) Be sure to use at least a 6 quart Instant Pot pressure cooker for this recipe. I use the 6 Quart DUO PLUS.
- Can I skip browning the meat before? While you can skip this step, I would definitely brown the beef in the Instant Pot prior to adding the other ingredients. It’s an extra, more involved step but completely worth it for that caramelized and hearty depth and extra layer of flavor you get. On those days you are pressed for time, you are totally free to skip the browning if you’d prefer an easy dump and go recipe.
- What vegetables do you use in beef stew? Be sure to use a combination of aromatics like onions and garlic plus vegetables. I used carrots, celery, potatoes and a sweet potato. Feel free to leave that out if you’re not a sweet potato fan and you can also add some green peas or mushrooms if you like. And for low carb / keto use turnips or cauliflower instead of potatoes.
- What other key ingredients do I need to make the best beef stew? Add some tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar and a star anise for a punch of flavor. If you can’t find a star anise or are not a fan, feel free to leave it out.
MAKE AHEAD AND MEAL PREP TIPS FOR THIS INSTANT POT BEEF STEW
- chop the carrots and celery the day before and add them to a zip-top freezer bag in the fridge
- peel and chop the potatoes and onions and store them in a zip-top freezer bag in the freezer. This prevents the potatoes from changing color and the onions from spreading odors in the fridge.
- cut the beef into chunks and place in zip-top freezer bags. Store in the fridge.
This Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe makes a big batch with enough for LOTS ofleftovers.
In fact, I think I love the flavors even more the next day. So you can make it ahead for a freezer friendly recipe to the next time you are craving beef stew. Or prep it the night before on your Sunday meal prep – and portion it out for work or school lunches.
All those thick rich and deep flavors get a chance to build even more overnight.
So delicious and the perfect meal for busy weeknights or a cozy Sunday dinner.
MORE INSTANT POT RECIPES:
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal
One Pot Teriyaki Rice with Chicken
Instant Pot Recipe Index
MORE BEEF STEW RECIPES:
Slow Cooker Beef Stew – Video
Homemade Beef Stew (Stovetop)
FIND MORE POPULAR INSTANT POT RECIPES HERE:
3.98 from 482 votes
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Instant Pot Beef Stew (Homemade Pressure Cooker) makes for a super comforting dish on a cold winter day. This warm and hearty one-pot meal is full of tender meat with carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and celery.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef stew made in crock pot, beef stew recipe for crock pot, best beef stew recipe, classic beef stew recipe, crock pot beef stew, easy beef stew recipe, easy crockpot stew, healthy crock pot recipe, homemade beef stew, how to make stew
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 175 kcal
Author: Kelly
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 - 2 pounds beef chuck roast , trimmed and cut into 1 - 2 inch chunks (OR beef stew meat if you can't find chuck roast)
- 1 -2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning , divided
- 1/3 cup flour , use gluten free as needed or 2 tablespoons almond flour for keto
- cooking oil
- 1 medium onion , cut into large chunks
- 3-4 cloves garlic , minced
- 6 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar or red wine
- 4 medium Yukon potatoes , peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks (sub with turnips (or large cauliflower florets for low carb / keto)
- 1 large sweet potato peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks (sub with pumpkin for low carb / keto)
- 3 medium carrots , peeled and cut into thick slices (leave out for low carb / keto)
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 4-5 cups beef broth , homemade or low sodium
- water as needed to cover the vegetables
- 1-2 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley for garnish
- 1/2 star anise , optional but adds SO much depth and flavor
- salt and pepper to taste
TO THICKEN STEW (OPTIONAL):
- Make a slurry with 2 tablespoons cornstarch or flour , use arrow root powder (or 2 teaspoons xanthan gum for low carb) + 3 tablespoons cool water
- Instant Pot , I have the 6 Quart DUO PLUS
Instructions
In a large zip-top bag, combine flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Add meat and shake until well coated.
Browning the meat: (feel free to skip to step 5 and add all the ingredients together instead). Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE, add cooking oil and brown the meat on all sides. Meat will not be cooked through. (Be sure not to crowd the pot - you may have to work in batches). Transfer browned meat onto a large plate.
Place the pot back in the pressure cooker and add onions and garlic and sauté for a minute or two then add the balsamic vinegar and tomato paste until just hot enough to deglaze the pot, about 1 minute.
Add the beef back into the pot along with potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, celery, Worcestershire sauce, the remaining 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, bay leaf, beef broth and (star anise if using). Stir to combine. If there is not enough liquid to cover the vegetables, add water - only as much as needed.
Cover and seal the lid and set to 20 minutes with High Pressure on Manual mode. Allow the pressure cooker to release naturally for at least 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper if necessary (discard bay leaf and star anise if used). Serve hot with fresh parsley.
TO THICKEN STEW (OPTIONAL):
Make a slurry by whisking 3 tablespoons of cool water with 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch or flour (all purpose, gluten free, arrow root starch or 2 teaspoons xanthan gum for low carb). Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE and allow the stew to come to a boil and thicken up.
Recipe Video
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 175
% Daily Value*
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 4g8%
* Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy using the WPRM recipe calculator. It is best to make your own calculations to ensure accuracy. We expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
