Description
Hearty Instant Pot Beef Stew brings robust flavors of tender meat and rich vegetables straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Comfort meets convenience in this simple one-pot meal that promises warmth and satisfaction with each delicious spoonful you savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1.5 pounds beef stew meat
Vegetables:
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 3 potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- Activate the Instant Pot’s sauté function and warm the olive oil to a shimmer. Methodically brown the beef chunks in multiple batches, ensuring a deep golden crust, then transfer to a separate plate.
- Introduce diced onions and minced garlic into the pot, sautéing until they become translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, paprika, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, stirring to create a rich, aromatic base.
- Carefully return the browned beef to the pot, nestling in chunky carrots, quartered potatoes, and aromatic bay leaves. Pour beef broth over the ingredients to create a robust liquid foundation.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid, positioning the valve to sealing position. Pressure cook on high for 35 minutes to tenderize the meat and meld flavors.
- After cooking completes, allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, followed by a quick manual release to prevent overcooking.
- For a luxuriously thick consistency, whisk cornstarch with cold water, then gently fold into the stew. Activate sauté mode for 2 minutes, stirring until the liquid reaches a desirable viscosity.
- Ladle the hearty stew into warm bowls, ready to be enjoyed with crusty bread or your preferred accompaniment.
Notes
- Keep meat pieces uniform in size for even cooking, ensuring tender and consistent texture throughout the stew.
- Brown meat in small batches to develop deep, rich caramelized flavors and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- Use a robust beef cut like chuck roast or bottom round for maximum tenderness and flavor absorption.
- Swap cornstarch with arrowroot for gluten-free thickening or skip entirely for a lighter, broth-based stew.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 47 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 305 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg