Perfect Instant Pot Beef Stew
User Reviews
4.7
Perfect Instant Pot Beef Stew
Description
This stew recipe starts by sautéing onion in oil in the Instant Pot, then cooking it briefly with tomato paste to deepen flavor. Beef broth, soy sauce, instant tapioca, bay leaves, and black pepper are added before introducing cubed stew meat. The pot is sealed and pressure cooked for 18 minutes, ensuring the beef turns tender.
After pressure cooking and a natural release, diced carrots and potatoes are added, and the pot is sealed again to finish cooking the vegetables without overcooking meat. Peas are stirred in near the end to retain their freshness and color. The instant tapioca thickens the broth smoothly without altering flavor or texture.
The stew balances savory and umami notes from soy sauce, with hearty vegetables and well-browned beef pieces. Bay leaves and pepper add fragrant background spice without overpowering. This stew provides comforting warmth and richness, making it suitable for family meals or batch cooking.
Optional substitutions include replacing part of the soy sauce with Worcestershire sauce for additional flavor complexity. Omitting browning steps and using onion powder can simplify preparation with only minor changes to taste. The recipe advises against substituting tapioca pearl types but suggests experimenting with alternative thickeners at your own discretion.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- ½ cup onion chopped, yellow or white
- 1 (6-ounce) (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 3 cups beef broth low-sodium
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce see note
- 2 tablespoons instant tapioca see note
- 2 bay leaf
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper I use coarsely ground
- 2-3 pounds stew meat or a chuck or arm roast, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 to 2 ½ to 2 ½ cups carrot about 1/2-inch pieces, chopped
- 2 to 2 ½ to 2 ½ cups potato any variety, about 1/2-inch pieces, peeled and chopped
- 2 cups peas frozen
Instructions
- Select the Saute function on the Instant Pot (use the + or - button to adjust the heat to the normal setting). Add the oil and onions, and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until the onions start to turn translucent. Add the tomato paste, stirring it into the onions, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the beef broth, soy sauce, tapioca, bay leaves and black pepper. Whisk or stir to combine.
- Add the stew meat and give a quick stir. Secure and lock the lid with the vent in the closed position. Cook on high pressure for 18 minutes (select "manual" or "pressure cook" and dial up or down to get to the right number, the IP will start on its own).
- When finished cooking, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes and then quick release the remaining pressure. Add the carrots and potatoes. Wipe the seal and inside of the lid dry and make sure the ring is pressed down all the way (if the ring is out of place or too wet, the IP may not come back up to pressure). Secure and lock the lid with the vent in the closed position. Cook on high pressure again for 3 minutes.
- Quick release the pressure (or naturally release for 10 minutes and then quick release the rest). Take out the bay leaves. Stir in the frozen peas to heat through, and add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed. The stew will thicken a bit as it cools.
Notes
- Substitute half the soy sauce with Worcestershire sauce for added depth if desired.
- Instant tapioca (granulated) thickens the stew smoothly; avoid using small or large tapioca pearls.
- For a quicker preparation, omit sautéing and substitute onion powder with liquid ingredients, noting slight flavor differences.
- Use this recipe to make a minimally fussy yet flavorful beef stew in an Instant Pot.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 Serving | |
| Calories | 416kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 38g | 13% |
| Protein | 43g | 86% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 94mg | 31% |
| Sodium | 1076mg | 45% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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