DINNER

Instant Pot Beef Stew is a delicious and easy dinner recipe that tastes every bit as good as grandma’s, but so much easier! Just toss and go.

Do you love a hearty meal on a chilly day? It has been snowing like crazy here and so I have been making meals like this Beef Stew for dinner.

I love it because not only does it 100% hit the spot when it comes to good ol’ fashioned comfort food, but it is insanely easy to make and I don’t have to mind the pot all day long like in years past.

I mean, I have been making this beef stew recipe for at least 20+ years. Only back then the babies were babies, I was home caring for them and I was doing all the cooking on the stovetop.

But once the recent craze of pressure cooking came around – it was a game changer. No longer did I have to dedicate the whole day to dinner.

Making in the pressure cooker also basically guarantees that the meat will be “fall-apart-tender” – so that is a huge win!

Instant Pot Stew

Here are some commonly asked questions

Can this be made with another type of meat?

Sure – you can make this stew with a pork roast instead. Cooking time would be 20 minutes per pound of meat. You can also make it with boneless skinless chicken breast – cooking at 6-8 minutes per pound.

Can I add red wine to this recipe?

Of course, if you want to add a little red wine to this recipe – I recommend no more than a half-cup. It isn’t a carbonated beverage, so it will do just fine in the cooker.

Keep in mind that although it is believed that all of the alcohol cooks out when adding things like wine or beer to recipes. The reality is that only about 70% of the alcohol is removed in the cooking process. So keep that in mind depending on who will be enjoying this stew.

pressure cooker beef stew

Can this recipe be cut in half?

Oh of course! If you only need a handful of servings, this recipe can be cut to suit your needs.

Can I use a gluten-free flour?

You bet. This will work with Gluten-Free flour. I would recommend using a 1:1 flour like this one as it is the most like a standard all-purpose flour.

How do I properly measure the flour?

The official way is to spoon the flour into the measuring cup & level off. This makes sure the flour isn’t packed tightly into your measuring cup, adding more than you need.

However – if you fluff your flour with a spoon, then gently scoop the flour into the measuring cup, taking care to not pack the flour – that should work for this recipe.

Can I use yellow or russet potatoes?

Using another type of potato will work fine – they just yield a different texture and may need more or less time cooking depending on what you choose. Just be sure to cut them to about the same size as you would the red potatoes.

Is beef stew Irish?

I have heard that stew is actually the recipe of choice in Ireland when celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. But a true Irish stew contains just a handful of ingredients – mutton, onions, potatoes, and sometimes carrots, this is what distinguishes it from a stew made from beef that you typically find in the US.

You’ll also find that Irish stew is thickened with mashed potatoes instead of making a roux or cornstarch or flour slurry.

Can I add other vegetables?

Of course – more veggies can always be added. However, if you want to keep this as close to a traditional stew – just the potatoes and carrots are needed.

Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

What cut of beef should I use?

You can use already cut beef that is labeled “stew meat”. For this, I happened to have already purchased a large beef chuck roast and had other plans for it. But then I decided to make this stew and so I just cut that roast into the pieces here. You can use flank, shank, or chuck roast. That will work just fine.

Can I use water instead of broth?

Yes – water will work fine. It won’t have as much flavor and you will most likely need to add salt and other seasonings to make up for the lack of flavor.

Why is my stew meat tough?

This is where using the pressure cooker comes in handy – because I have yet to cook any meat in there and not have it turn out perfectly tender and juicy. The pressure cooker locks in the moisture and the high pressure helps to break down the fibers of the meat to make it tender.

If the meat isn’t tender it is possible that it either didn’t cook long enough or the wrong cut of meat was used. Make sure you are using flank, shank or chuck roast for this recipe.

Can this recipe be doubled?

Yes and no. You’ll notice that the recipe mentions that I have increased the beef to up to 6 pounds – but I left the remaining ingredients the same. This was extra meaty – which the family loves. I must say that it maxed out my 8-quart Instant Pot.

Due to the space constraints of the pot, I don’t recommend a full double batch. You can increase the meat by itself, but I would maybe keep it to 4 pounds instead of the 6 that I did if you have a smaller pot.

Instant Pot Beef

How can I thicken the stew?

If you want the base of the stew to be thicker than the broth consistency here – you can easily thicken it.

Just ladle out 2 cups of the broth into a bowl. Then whisk in 2 tbsp of flour until it looks like gravy. You can add more flour if you want it thicker or more liquid if it gets too thick. Then add it back to the pot and stir well. This should make the stew nice and thick.

Stew Meat Instant Pot

Can this be made in the slow cooker?

Yes, you can make this in the slow cooker. Just follow steps 1-3 using a skillet on the stovetop. Then transfer the browned meat to the slow cooker, add the other ingredients, cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 7-8 hours.

Can this be made on the stovetop?

You bet – I made it on the stovetop for decades. Follow steps 1-5 using a large Dutch oven or stockpot on the stovetop – cooking just the meat, leave the veggies for later. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2 hours 30 minutes or until beef is almost tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook for another 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender before serving. 

Instant Pot Stew Recipe

What to serve with beef stew

• artisan bread
• 20-minute cheddar biscuits
• 1-hour dinner rolls
• Irish soda bread
• cheesy spinach crescents
• beer bread

• Instant Pot
• wooden spoons
• cutting boards
• knives
• vegetable peeler
• ladle
• all-purpose flour
• beef broth
• Worcestershire sauce
• tomato paste
• minced onions
• minced garlic

If you love this Easy Beef Stew recipe, you’re going to love these other easy dinners too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Don’t miss these Instant Pot Beef Recipes!

Be sure to check out our Oven Roast Beef too! 

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pressure cooker stew

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Beef Stew Recipe Instant Pot