Instant Pot Beef Stew

Quick and easy Instant Pot Beef Stew combines chuck roast, onions, potatoes, and carrots with paprika and thyme in a tasty beef sauce that is thickened right inside the instant pot. This dish is the ultimate in comfort food and with an instant pot, it is done in no time at all.

How to make Instant Pot Beef Stew

First, season the beef chunks generously with salt and fresh ground black pepper. Press the saute button on the instant pot. Add just enough olive oil to cover the surface of the pot once the pot reaches temperature. Let the oil get good and hot. Add the beef chunks and cook until the meat browns. Then flip and cook until the other side is seared and browned. Work in batches removing the beef to a plate as it browns.

Heat just a little more olive oil in the pot. Saute the onion until soft, and then cancel the sauté so the pot starts cooling. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and fresh thyme. Cook with the residual heat for 1 minute while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits off the bottom.

Then, add the cooked beef back to the pot along with the carrots, potatoes, and beef broth. Seal the instant pot and pressure cook on high pressure for about 24 minutes. It takes instant pots about 5-15 minutes to come to pressure. Let the instant pot naturally release pressure for just 10 minutes before pressing the quick-release button and removing the lid.

Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water. Stir into the instant pot and continue gently stirring for a couple of minutes or until thickened. Top the stew with fresh chopped herbs like rosemary and thyme.

Pressure Cooker Beef Stew Recipe tips

• For optimal flavor, I like to use chuck roast for this recipe. I trim it up and cut it into bite-size pieces. You can also purchase pre-cut beef stew meat. It might be a chuck roast, or it might be a hodge podge of pieces and ends from different cuts. Read here on why stew meat may not be the best choice for your stew.
• Peel the carrots so that the beautiful orange color bursts through. It makes the whole dish look more aesthetically pleasing.
• Don’t add the oil to the instant pot until the pot is hot. Don’t add the beef until the oil is hot.
• When browning the beef, work in batches and don’t crowd the instant pot.
• If the beef and the vegetables are not tender when you finish cooking, then simply lock the lid and cook for 3-4 more minutes, followed by a quick release.
• Only let the pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, as going too long may cause the veggies to be too soft.
• Each instant pot cooks slightly differently, and you may know enough about yours to increase or decrease certain times.
• Other vegetables to add include celery, sweet potatoes, parsnips, and peas. If adding peas, use frozen peas and add them at the end with the cornstarch slurry. 
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at a reduced power.

What to serve with beef stew

• Crusty bread with soft cream butter
• Simple garden salad
• Corn muffins
• White rice or brown rice
• Dinner rolls
• Homemade biscuits
• Popovers

More soup and stew recipes

Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

This delicious and easy Beef Stew recipe is comfort food at its best with tender beef, onions, sweet carrots, and potatoes all in a tasty tomato beef sauce seasoned with paprika and thyme.

5 from 29 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: main meal beef

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 741kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 2 ½ lb. boneless beef chuck roast trimmed and cut in bite-size 1-inch pieces
• Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme plus more for garnish
• 4 medium carrots peel and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces
• 3 medium Yukon gold potatoes chunked
• 1 cup low sodium beef broth
• 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 ½ tablespoons cold water

Instructions

• Season the beef cubes generously with salt and fresh ground black pepper.
• Press the saute button on the instant pot.  Once the pot reaches temperature add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pot.  
• Once the oil is real hot. Add the beef chunks and cook until seared and browned. Flip and cook until the other side is seared and browned. Work in batches removing the beef to a plate as it browns.
• Add just a little more olive oil to the pot. Saute the onion until soft and then cancel the saute so the pot starts cooling. Add the garlic, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and fresh thyme. Cook with the residual heat for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
• If needed add just a little more olive oil to the pot. Saute the onion until soft and then cancel the saute so the pot starts cooling. Add the garlic, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and fresh thyme. Cook with the residual heat for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
• Add the cooked beef back to the pot along with the carrots, potatoes, and beef broth. Seal the instant pot and pressure cook on high pressure for about 24 minutes.  Let the instant pot naturally release pressure for just 10 minutes before pressing the quick release button and removing the lid.
• Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the instant pot and continue gently stirring for a couple of minutes or until thickened.  Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. 

Notes

• I like to use chuck roast for this recipe. I trim it up and cut it into bite-size pieces. You can also purchase pre-cut stew meat. It might be chuck roast or it might be a hodge podge of pieces and ends from different cuts. Read here on why stew meat may not be the best choice for your stew.
• Peel the carrots so that the beautiful orange color bursts through. It makes the whole dish look more aesthetically pleasing.
• Don't add the oil to the instant pot until the pot is hot. Don't add the beef until the oil is hot.
• When browning the beef work in batches and don't crowd the instant pot.
• If the beef and the vegetables are not tender when you finish cooking then simply lock the lid and cook for 3-4 more minutes followed by a quick release.
• Only let the pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes as going too long may cause the carrots and potatoes to be too soft.
• Each instant pot cooks slightly different and you may know enough about yours to increase or decrease certain times
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at a reduced power. 

Nutrition

Calories: 741kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 59g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 566mg | Potassium: 2014mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 10689IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 8mg

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