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
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
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Oli
I tried this for our family dinner and it turned out perfect! They all loved it thanks to your recipe.
Beth Pierce
Awesome!
Blair Villanueva
My hubby loves a good beef stew, especially during colder and rainy days. Thanks for sharing your beef stew recipe, definitely something that we would love to try!
Caroline
This happens to be one of my favorite food. And you’ve cooked it just the way I like it with carrots, potatoes.
Neely Moldovan
One of our favorite things to make! We make it at least once a week!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Neely!
Bryan
Beef is my favorite meat so naturally I love beef stew! I like mine with homemade biscuits.
Bob
Wow, this looks so good. And you can make it fast which is something I want since I can’t spend hours cooking. Thank you for sharing!
Tracy
I love Beef Stew for Autumn/Winter months for sure. I wish I had an Instant Pot. I have always been afraid of the high pressure element of using one which is why I still don’t have one. I am going to have to try one out at a friend or family members house and see how I feel. I use my air fryer more than anything else at this point as I am single!
Anosa Malanga
Such a tasty and quick stew. It was the perfect weeknight stew. I garnished it with chopped fresh rosemary! So delicious!
Jasmine Martin
I am a huge fan of beef stew and I love this recipe. Actually, the whole family loved the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Kat
I have cooked beef stew before, but this recipe has a different twist to it. My family loved it so much that they wanted more to take home with them.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kat! I am so glad that they liked it!
Ntensibe Edgar
I love this instant pot beef stew! I love it with some bread and or rice, for my Sunday dinner.
Dominique
I love beef stew but have never tried it in the instantpot! It was so good!
Melanie E
I’ve never made stew before but I’ve always worried about how much work goes into it. I do love that this can all be done in one pot. Great for the husband as it’s one of his favourites.
Sonia Seivwright
I love beef stew. My grandma made this best. Those veggies were so tender. The best.
Tammy
This was so comforting and delicious…a perfect stew for the season! I will make this again and again!
Rose Ann Sales
Wow! This was absolutely delicious and easy! It is a real keeper!