Instant Pot Beef Stew

Name: Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
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

November 14, 2023 by Beth Pierce 71 Comments

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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.

Delicious and easy Instant Pot Beef Stew 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.

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.

This dish is the ultimate in comfort food and with an instant pot, it is done in no time at all.

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

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