Instant Pot Beef Stew

Name: Instant Pot Beef Stew
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 onion, sliced; 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1" cubes; 1 packet McCormick Beef Stew Seasoning ((*see notes for substitutions) ); 1 teaspoon thyme; 1 cup beef broth, low sodium; 1/2 pound carrots, sliced 1"; 1/2 cup celery, sliced 1"; 1/2 cup frozen peas

Make the best, tender, and savory comfort food using your pressure cooker with this Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe.

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Looking for an Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe that is easy to make and full of flavor? This pressure cooker beef stew is the perfect comfort meal for a winter night.

Made with chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and peas in a savory gravy, this Instant Pot Beef Stew will become a new family favorite.

The ultimate comfort food

Beef Stew represents the ultimate cold weather comfort food. After all, it’s warm and filling, perfectly rich and meaty.

The soup is thick and rich, with a slightly sweet flavor from the carrots. While the beef is perfectly cooked and tender, the potatoes still hold their shape.

Stew is easy because it cooks on the stove or in a slow cooker all day. But, what if you didn’t have all day to make a beef stew?

That’s where the pressure cooker comes in. You’ll love this Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi Beef Stew recipe for quickly cooking a hearty batch of stew in a fraction of the time.

Traditional beef stew recipes have all been made in a slow cooker, requiring little effort but several hours to properly cook.

Although slow cooking has its niche, it definitely takes more planning. It’s perfect for when you have some time in the morning to prep and want to come home to a good meal.

If you don’t have time for that – or have frozen beef that hasn’t gotten a chance to thaw – then this Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe is just right for you!

Become an Instant Pot Pro with my tips!

First, read your owner’s manual before using your pressure cooker.

Then, these linked articles discuss the basics of pressure cooking and how to use an Instant Pot. You’ll quickly be an Instant Pot Pro with my Top 10 Tips and Hacks for the Instant Pot!

TFN Tip: One of the biggest risks with pressure cooking comes from overfilling the pot. Pay close attention to the marks in the pot to keep from overfilling it. And, when making soups allow the pressure to naturally release for at least 5 minutes before initiating a quick release.

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Ingredients to make the Best Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

Olive oil
Onion
Beef stew meat
McCormick Beef Stew Seasoning Mix
Dried thyme
Beef broth
Carrots
Celery
Frozen peas

TFN Tip: For those of you who like making soups and stews: keep frozen stewing vegetable mixes in your freezer. They keep for months and it’s great to have them on hand.

Equipment Needed

Electric Pressure Cooker – Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi

How to Make Beef Stew in the Instant Pot

Beef stew is easily made in the Instant Pot. Pressure cooking speeds up the process while stewing the meat at the same time. I find that pressure-cooked meat is a little more flavorful.

In this recipe, the beef and onions are browned in the sauté mode of the Instant Pot. The sauté mode is my favorite feature. Not only does it give color to the meat and vegetables by browning them, but it adds flavor to the dish.

If using frozen beef in your Beef Stew, simply skip sautéing the meat beforehand. While this process certainly creates the juiciest and tender beef, it is not absolutely necessary. I do, however, suggest that you still sauté the onions for the best flavor.

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Deglazing the Instant Pot

TFN Tip: Browning meats and vegetables in the Instant Pot leaves a flavorful fond (or residue) on the bottom of the pan.

When liquids are added – like the beef broth used in this pressure cooker Beef Stew recipe, it releases the fond. That’s called deglazing and it adds great flavor to the food.

So, there’s a lot more reasoning to browning meats than just “browning” them. Deglazing also helps prevent getting that dreaded burned notice on your Instant Pot.

You definitely don’t want to skip this step!

Recipe Variations

Use baby potatoes instead of larger diced potatoes
Swap the sweet potatoes for regular potatoes
Use frozen corn in place of the peas
Try a different type of stew meat like chuck roast or round steak
Stir in some BBQ sauce for a smoky beef stew flavor
Add diced mushrooms to the mix
Top with shredded cheese when serving
Stir in some chopped fresh parsley, rosemary, or thyme before serving

What goes well with Beef Stew

Pressure cooker beef stew goes amazingly well with Mashed Potatoes. It gives the creamiest, richest taste to this dish. So, serve this over Mashed Potatoes as we do.

The stew is also perfect with Jasmine rice, loaded potatoes, biscuits, or even on its own. It’s a hearty and filling meal that will leave you feeling satisfied.

Storage and Reheating

To store, allow the pressure cooker beef stew to cool completely. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat, simply place the desired amount in a pot on the stove over medium heat. Heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally.

You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave. Just place the stew in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through.

Can I freeze Beef Stew?

Yes! This pressure cooker beef stew freezes beautifully. Simply allow it to cool completely then transfer it to an airtight, freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

When ready to eat, thaw the beef stew overnight in the fridge. Then, reheat it on the stove over medium heat until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen beef stew cubes in this recipe?

Yes, to use frozen cubes: sauté the onions first then add the frozen beef cubes and add other ingredients as directed in the recipe.

My stew broth is a little thin. Can I make it more gravy-like?

Sure! After adding peas, turn the Instant Pot to sauté (normal) and let the stew simmer until it is the consistency you like. This will probably take 5-10 minutes or so.

Do I need to use McCormick beef stew seasoning?

You can use any brand of beef stew seasoning. If you don’t have any beef stew seasoning, use 2 cubes of beef bouillon, 2 Tbsp of Better than Bouillon paste, or double the beef broth for the best flavor.

Get the Easiest Beef Stew Recipe Here