Instant Pot Beef Stew
A comforting and hearty beef stew, rich in flavor and packed with healthy vegetables, made quickly in an Instant Pot.
Ingredients
For the stew
- 2 pounds stew meat
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 32 ounces low-sodium beef stock
- 2 ounces tomato paste
- 14 ounces tomato puree
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 5 medium Yukon gold potatoes, cut into quarters
- 1 large onion, chopped into 2-inch pieces
- 3 stalks celery, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
Preparation
- Turn the Instant Pot on to the sauté function. Season the beef with two teaspoons of salt and pepper.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the Instant Pot. Once it’s hot, add half of the beef. Let it brown for 3-4 minutes and then turn it to brown all sides. Remove the beef to a plate once it is fully browned.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the pot and repeat with the rest of the beef.
Cooking
- Pour the beef broth on top. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits at the bottom of the pot.
- Stir in the tomato paste, tomato puree, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and the remaining salt until the tomato paste is well mixed.
- Place all the vegetables except for the peas on top of the beef mixture.
- Cover the lid and set the Instant Pot to the HIGH manual setting for 25 minutes.
- Manually release the pressure on the Instant Pot once the cooking is done.
- After the steam releases, take off the lid and switch the Instant Pot back to the sauté function.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Slowly pour this into the beef stew, stirring as you go. Let it cook for another 3-4 minutes until it thickens.
- Add the frozen peas and cook until they are thawed. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley, if desired.
Notes
Make sure to brown the beef properly for a richer flavor. Don’t rush this step! Cut your vegetables into uniform sizes so they cook evenly. If you prefer a thicker stew, you can add more cornstarch mixed with water.