Super Easy Instant Pot Beef Stew + Video

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Instant Pot Beef Stew is an easy recipe, perfect for the novice pressure cooker user! The secret to a rich, flavorful beef stew from the Instant Pot is a bottle of beer. Add that to simple, fresh ingredients and a few seasonings, and you can have a delicious meal on the table in under an hour.

titled: Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe


 

Instant Pot Beef Stew

This beef stew recipe for the Instant Pot yields meltingly tender bites of meat in a rich, flavorful broth that’s loaded with tasty vegetables and herbs.

Simply brown the meat, stir in the remaining ingredients, and set it to cook! You’ll have all that “simmered all day” flavor in a fraction of the time.

Recipe Video

To see us make beef stew in the Instant Pot from start to finish, watch the video in this post!

If you don’t want to make pressure cooker beef stew, I have a stovetop version that’s just as delicious.

Or, try one of my other Instant Pot stew recipes, like creamy Zuppa Toscana or hearty lentil.

Actually, we have a whole list of our favorite soups and stews that are easy and delicious!

ingredients to make beef stew in instant pot

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Chuck Roast – This turns out far more tender than pre-cut, packaged stew meat, which can contain a variety of beef cuts.

    You can also use chuck shoulder, chuck-eye roast, or top chuck when making this beef stew recipe in the Instant Pot.

    Any of these will result in tender bites you can cut with your spoon!
  • Veggies – Use the classic trio of carrots, onion, and celery for this beef stew Instant Pot recipe.

    Individually, the flavors may seem mild, but they really enhance the final dish!
  • Beer – I used a darker Belgian ale, which adds a more robust flavor than a white or pale ale.

    Any dark ale is usually a good choice for pressure cooker beef stew, or you can try a stout for something bolder.
  • Fresh Rosemary – While dried rosemary can be used in a pinch, you’ll end up with tiny bits floating in your bowl.

    Instead, toss in a few springs to infuse Instant Pot beef stew with that herbal flavor, then remove them before serving.
  • Beef Stock and Base – The stock is your flavorful cooking liquid, while Better Than Bouillon base adds extra concentrated flavor.

    Don’t mix the base with water as directed — use it straight from the jar.

Prep Ahead

  • Cut beef into cubes
  • Peel and chop vegetables
beef stew ingredients in instant pot

Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Pressure Cooker Beef Stew

  • Brown the meat first.

This creates a lovely crust on the meat and adds extra flavor to the entire dish as well!

And you can do it right in the Instant Pot, keeping this a true one pot recipe.

  • Don’t cut the veggies too small.

Larger chunks will hold their shape, while smaller pieces may turn to mush by the time the pressure cooker beef stew is done cooking.

  • Need an alcohol-free version?

Simply replace the ale with extra stock. Or, substitute an equal amount of mushroom stock for another layer of flavor.

hearty beef stew in pressure cooker

Serving Suggestions

Thick slices of crusty bread are the perfect pairing for soups and stews, and this Instant Pot beef stew is no exception!

For a lighter meal, pair a small bowl with a side salad or some roasted vegetables.

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

Beef Stew Instant Pot FAQ

Can I use frozen stew meat?

Yes, but you’ll need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes or thaw it in the refrigerator first.

I like to grab a few chuck roasts when they’re on sale and stash them in the freezer. Then, I can decide to cook them whole or chop one up for this Instant Pot stew!

My IP isn’t coming to pressure. What do I do?

Check out this post — until you get the hang of what to check, it’s a great place to start.

The most common mistakes are forgetting to turn the vent to the sealed position and not having the sealing ring on correctly.

How can I thicken stew after cooking?

If your beef stew looks a bit thin, switch the IP to Saute and stir in a packet of brown gravy mix.

Or, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water until dissolved and stir that in instead.

Let it simmer for a few minutes until it reaches the desired consistency!

Storing and Reheating Instant Pot Stew

Once cooled, transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.

Instant Pot beef stew also holds up really well in the freezer. Leave some room at the top of the storage container for the liquid to expand as it freezes.

Use within 3 months and thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

close up: simmering beef stew in IP

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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bowl of beef stew topped with rosemary sprig

bowl of stew with vegetables

Super Easy Instant Pot Beef Stew + Video

Donna Elick
Instant Pot Beef Stew is the perfect recipe for the novice pressure cooker user! Have a comforting meal on the table in under an hour.
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main
Cuisine American
Method Instant Pot
Servings 8 – 10

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 – 2 pounds chuck roast, cut into 1” cubes
  • 2 tablespoons steak seasoning
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 12 ounce bottle Belgian Ale
  • 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1” lengths
  • 5 stalks celery, cut into 1” lengths
  • 1 large onion, cut into 8 wedges
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 package beefy onion soup mix
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 tablespoon Better than Bouillon Beef Base
  • 3 springs rosemary
  • 1 packet beef gravy mix, optional

Instructions
 

  • Select the sauté setting and adjust to HIGH. Insert the inner pot and add olive oil.
  • Season the cubed chuck roast with steak seasoning. When the Instant Pot is heated, add the beef to the pot. Brown on all sides. Sprinkle the flour over top and stir to coat the beef. Cook for 1-2 minutes further.
  • Add the ale, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, soup mix, beef base, rosemary and beef stock to the pot and stir to combine.
  • Place the lid and lock. Set top valve to “Sealing,” and select the “Meat/Stew” setting and adjust time to 40 minutes.
  • After the timer runs out, let naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release. If stew is too thin for your liking, you can add a package of brown gravy mix to thicken it further.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 442cal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 465mg | Sugar: 3g | Fiber: 2g | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 5mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled image (and shown): instant pot beef stew

Originally published January 2018, updated and republished January 2024

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6 Comments

  1. This sounds delicious! I have not yet used my instapot so I am try to figure it all out. I have the 8 quart model. Would I be able to make a double batch of this? Would it work in an 8 quart? Thank you:)

    1. This recipe was made in the 6 quart, we have not tested it as a double batch in the 8 quart. Give it a go and let us know. Enjoy!

  2. This was my first recipe that I tried in my new 8 qt. Instapot. I was a little hesitant and proceeded very cautiously. The stew came out very tender, and the gravy was delicious. I made it again for a neighbor. This recipe is a keeper.

    1. Thank you so much for your help! So did you try a doubled recipe (doubling all the ingredients) or did you just make a single recipe as stated in the original recipe? I am just trying to figure out if a doubled recipe would work in the 8 quart pot or not and if I would still use the same timing or if it would have to be adjusted due to the ingredients being doubled? Also, what kind / brand of Ale did you use?
      Thanks! 😊

  3. 5 stars
    This was amazing, and so easy to make. The meat was extremely tender and juicy while the stew itself had such a great flavor. This recipe is a keeper!

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