This is the BEST Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe! Filled with tender chunks of beef and potatoes in a thick gravy, made in a fraction of the time.
Serve this stew with my Homemade Rolls for the perfect comfort meal.
No dried out beef in this deliciously easy beef stew recipe! We’re using chuck roast in the instant pot to make it ultra tender and easily falls apart… you’ll be blow away!
Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe
Using the pressure cooker allows you to have the classic beef stew recipe in a fraction of the time, with optimal results.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s the basic list of ingredients you’ll need in order to make this Beef Stew in the Instant Pot. As always, you can find the full list of ingredients located in the recipe card below.
- Chuck Roast or preferred cut of beef (see notes below)
- Garlic – freshly minced
- Onion
- Beef Broth – low sodium
- Tomato Paste
- Worcestershire Sauce – gives the stew a nice savory punch
- Baby Gold Potatoes
- Baby Carrots
- Celery
- Thyme – fresh or dried
- Bay Leaf
- Frozen Peas – no need to thaw
- Corn Starch – used to thicken the beef stew
How To Make Instant Pot Beef Stew
SEAR BEEF Start by searing your chunks of beef in the pressure cooker to give them a nice golden brown crust. Remove the beef to a bowl and add some diced onion and garlic to the pot and sauté until tender.
ADD VEGETABLES Deglaze the pot by adding in beef broth and then add in the remaining ingredients (diced potato, carrots, celery, tomato paste and the beef with any juices that collected at the bottom of the bowl).
PRESSURE COOK Toss in some herbs and seal the pot. Cook on HIGH pressure for 35 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of natural pressure release before you release the pressure manually.
THICKEN STEW Stir in a simple cornstarch slurry to thicken the gravy, then add in some frozen peas and cook until heated through.
What Is The Most Tender Meat For Beef Stew?
Beef Stew is typically cooked in the slow cooker to or stew pot for hours and hours on a low heat, which allows a tough cut of beef to become more tender. Using the pressure cooker cuts the time drastically, while still producing a tender beef (more tender in my opinion). Any of these cuts of beef can be used for beef stew:
- Chuck Roast (this is my preferred, but you’ll want to trim as much fat as possible), Chuck, Chuck Shoulder, Top Chuck, Chuck-Eye Roast
- Stew Meat
- Bottom Round Roast, Rump Roast, Top Round
- Pot Roast, English Roast
PRO TIP: When searing your beef in the instant pot, DON’T TOUCH IT! Let it sit for a good 3 to 5 minutes to achieve a nice golden brown crust. If you try to move it and it still sticks to the bottom, leave it alone until it pulls always effortlessly.
How Long for Beef Stew Instant Pot?
Beef Stew in the Instant Pot only takes 35 minutes on HIGH Pressure with a 15 minute NPR (natural pressure release).
The beef stew should only take a few minutes to reach pressure since the ingredients will already be warm from sautéing first.
After the 35 minutes is done counting down, leave the pot alone for 15 minutes (this is what Natural Pressure Release means), then after 15 minutes flip the valve to the open position and let the rest of the pressure release.
What Size Instant Pot Should I Use?
I get this question a lot! This recipe for beef stew was tested in an 8 quart instant pot, but should also work perfectly in a 6 quart Instant Pot. Anything smaller than that and you might need to adjust the amount of ingredients.
If you don’t have an instant pot or pressure cooker, check out my Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe!
Can You Freeze Beef Stew?
Yes! You can easily freeze stew for up to 3 months.
- Let the beef stew come to room temperature, then ladle into gallon-size freezer bags.
- Lay flat if possible in the freezer until stew is frozen, then you can store upright.
- Let beef stew defrost in the fridge, then reheat on the stove top or microwave.
Since this recipe makes enough for 8 servings, we usually have plenty of leftovers. I like to freeze the leftovers in individual size bags so I can quickly heat up myself a bowl of beef stew for lunch!
What To Serve With Beef Stew
Beef stew is the ultimate comfort food. It’s like a warm hug on a chilly night. Here are a few of my favorite side dishes to serve with this cozy stew.
- Homemade Rolls
- Cornbread
- Garlic Breadsticks
- Simple Caesar Salad or Garden Salad
You’re going to be making this super easy recipe for Beef Stew all winter long!
Best Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 to 2.5 lbs. Chuck Roast, cut into bite-size pieces (trim fat)
- salt and pepper
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 4 cups low sodium beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 lb. dutch baby gold potatoes, cubed
- 1/2 lb. baby carrots, cut in half
- 4 large stalks celery, cut into slices
- 2 sprigs fresh Thyme, or 1 tsp dried
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper to taste. Heat the Pressure cooker* to Sauté Mode and add the olive oil, enough to coat the bottom of the pot. Once hot, add the beef in an even layer (you may have to do this in batches). Let the beef cook until it forms a golden brown crust on all sides. Remove from pot to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the onions and garlic to the pot and cook, until fragrant about 3 minutes. Stir in the beef broth and use a wooden spoon to gently scrape any stuck on bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, potatoes, carrots, celery and beef (along with any collected juices from the bottom of the bowl). Place the thyme and bay leaf on top (do not stir) and close lid.
- Set pressure cooker to HIGH pressure for 35 minutes (make sure the valve is set to the sealed position). After the 35 minutes is up, let the pressure cooker naturally release pressure for 15 minutes, then flip the valve and release any remaining pressure.
- Remove the thyme leaves (if using fresh) and bay leaf and discard. Turn the pressure cooker to Sauté Mode. In a small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water, creating a slurry. Pour into the beef stew and stir until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Turn off heat and stir in the frozen peas until they're heated through and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Jan Richardson
This sounds yummy. Can I leave out the peas, celery and carrots because I don’t like those.
Carol
Thanks for the crock pot tips. I just have not decided if I want a insta pot yet.
T
I feel like 35 Min for veggies is a bit long
Shawn
You’ll want to cut your carrots a bit thicker for this recipe if you want them to have a crunchier consistency. But otherwise, it should be perfect!
Patty
OMG!` This is scrumptious! I hate to fuss in the kitchen and this was super easy and tasted like I slaved all day! I sub’d small red new potatoes and left the skins on and just cut them in half – I’m a little lazy! I also have a chopper I bought from Williams Sonoma that chops up the onion in seconds! Wow, my husband ate like a king tonight! I’ll be making this often! Try it! You’ll be oohing and ahing!
Shawn
I’m sooooo glad you enjoyed the Beef Stew, Patty! Thanks for your review!
Audra
Made this last night and everyone loved it! I made it with venison meat and added a can of fire roasted tomatoes and black eyed peas and it turned out great! Will definitely be making this again
Shawn
That sounds great! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and I love the modifications you made.
Whitney
Omg…first time using my instant Pot ❤️
It is incredibly good…
I followed the recipe exactly.
Wow…
Shawn
That’s great to hear Whitney! So glad you enjoyed it!
Kathie
I cooked the meat in the pressure cooker for 30 minutes, then released the pressure & added the vegetables & pressure cooked them and the meat for 10 more minutes. The vegetables turned out perfectly. Next time I’ll take the meat out before I cook the vegetables. It was a little overcooked but still delicious.
Shawn
Hi Kathie, if you follow the directions in the recipe next time I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how it turns out. 🙂 Thanks for giving it a try!
Charlotte
This is what I need in rainy days like today. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
Shawn
You’re very welcome! Hope you enjoy it!
Gil Sprague
Substitute apple cider for the beef broth or at least half and half
Joe
Excellent dish. Made it tonight and it was delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Shawn
You’re very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Cat
Made this tonight and followed the instructions exactly. It tasted great but the carrots and celery turned to complete mush and broke apart as I stirred it. Has anyone been successful cooking for 15min pressure/15 NPR instead of 35/15?
Shawn
Can you cut your carrots and celery a little bigger? I think you’d be fine to reduce the cook time to about 25 to 30 minutes, but your beef might not be as tender.
Anita
Have you tried in a Crock-Pot
Shawn
I have not tried this in the slow cooker, but I’m sure it would be great. Just sear the beef before adding to the slow cooker!
Jen
Cook for how long in slow cooker?
Shawn
I haven’t finalized my slow cooker instructions yet, but I would cook at least 4 to 6 hours in the slow cooker.
Y8 Unblocked
A good choice for dinner today! I can smell it. It’s detailed and tasty.