The Best Instant Pot Beef Stew

If you’re craving a hearty and soul-warming meal without spending hours in the kitchen, I’ve got just the recipe for you: my Instant Pot Beef Stew. This flavorful concoction will not only satisfy your taste buds but also keep you wondering, “What’s that secret ingredient?” Spoiler alert: it’s fish sauce! Buckle up, because we’re about to whip up a beef stew that’s Super easy and extremely delicious.

I must admit…

This is hands down the best beef stew I’ve ever had. There’s so much flavor from the fresh rosemary, balsamic, and fish sauce. My husband begs me to make this all the time!

I love using the Instant Pot because it makes this recipe incredibly easy, there’s no babysitting necessary. You can kick back and relax, maybe with a glass of your favorite wine while the instant Pot does all the hard work. Not to mention, I love how tender the meat comes out from the pressure cooker, it basically melts in your mouth! I’m currently using the Power Pressure Cooker XL, which I’m not sure if they make this model anymore because I had a hard time finding it online to link for you all. Anyways, most Instant Pots are pretty standard and this Instapot Beef Stew can be used with most all brands.

Now before you get sceptical with my secret ingredient, just TRUST me! Fish sauce adds so much umami to many dishes and you can’t even taste any fish. This ingredient is optional so you can leave it out if you don’t have it or just can’t bring yourself to try it. It’s a staple in my kitchen so I always have it on hand. There are many brands out there, Lucky Brand Fish Sauce is easy to find and is the one I currently have in my kitchen.

Ingredients!

Stew:

• 2 pounds of beef stew meat (cubed and pat dry and salt and peppered to taste)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion (chopped into 1 inch chunks)
• 3 stalks of celery (sliced thin)
• 5 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 1 box of beef broth (about 32 oz)
• 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 3 potatoes (cubed)
• 3 carrots (sliced)
• 1 cup of peas (frozen or fresh)
• 1 tablespoon of fish sauce (our secret weapon)

Cornstarch Slurry:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons room temp/cold water.

*My recipe makes a large pot that lasts us a few days, half the ingredients if you want to make a smaller batch.

Instructions:

1. Sear the Beef: Start your Instant Pot by setting it to sauté mode. Add a little oil, then toss in your beef cubes. Sear those chunks until they’re nicely browned on all sides. This step locks in the flavor and gets your stew off to a bold start! If you’re making a large batch like me you’ll need to cook the meat in two batches to not overcrowd the pot.
2. Add the aromatics: Once the beef is golden and irresistible, add the onion, garlic, celery, tomato paste, and give it a good stir.
3. Deglaze with Balsamic Vinegar: Pour in the balsamic vinegar and give it a good stir. This step is all about scraping up those flavorful bits from the bottom of the pot. We’re talking about layers of taste, folks!
4. Rosemary Magic: Toss those sprigs of fresh rosemary into the pot. Rosemary adds a touch of earthiness and just a hint of pizzazz.
5. Broth & Fish Sauce: Pour in the beef broth and add our secret ingredient—fish sauce! This umami-rich liquid gold is a game-changer. Just a tablespoon of it will elevate your beef stew to a whole new level of deliciousness. tir everything together. Make sure to get that tomato paste fully dissolved into the liquid. Now, your stew has its base, and it’s time for the Instant Pot to work its magic!
6. Stir and Start Instapot: Stir everything together, making sure the tomato paste is fully incorporated. Close and lock the Instapot lid, making sure the pressure release cap is set to “closed”. Set mode to Soup/Stew for 30- 40 minutes. If you’re not in a hurry I suggest 40 minutes because the meat comes out even more fall apart tender! Once the time is up, let the instapot naturally release the pressure, this takes about 10 minutes.
7. Potato & Carrot Party: Now, it’s time to add the potatoes and carrots. These hearty veggies will soak up all that flavor and become tender in no time. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to stew for another 10 minutes.
8. Cornstarch Slurry & Peas-licious Finish: While the potatoes and carrots are cooking, let make a cornstarch slurry. This add a little thickness too the broth. Add 2 tablespoons of water to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix to combine. After the timer goes off, manually release the pressure this time. Remove the rosemary stems and add the slurry and the peas. Give them a gentle stir and let them warm up in the stew. No need to cook them for long; we want them to stay bright and vibrant.

And there you have it, my Instapot Beef Stew with a secret umami twist. The rich, savory flavors of this stew are off the charts, thanks to the subtle, but game-changing, fish sauce. Serve it up with a smile, and watch your family and friends gobble it down, all while trying to guess what that secret ingredient is!

So, get ready to impress your taste buds and add a little pizzazz to your mealtime. Who knew stew could be so delicious? Enjoy!

How to serve:

• Over warm rice
• With toasty bread like french bread or sourdough
• By itself!

Bon Apetit!

The Best Instapot Beef Stew

If you're craving a hearty and soul-warming meal without spending hours in the kitchen, I've got just the recipe for you: my Instapot Beef Stew.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Equipment

• Instant pot
• Knife and cutting board

Ingredients

  

Stew:

• 2 pounds of beef stew meat cubed and pat dry and salt and peppered to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion chopped into 1 inch chunks
• 3 stalks of celery sliced thin
• 5 cloves of garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 1 box of beef broth about 32 oz
• 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 3 potatoes cubed
• 3 carrots sliced
• 1 cup of peas frozen or fresh
• 1 tablespoon of fish sauce our secret weapon

Cornstarch Slurry:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons room temp/cold water.

Instructions

 

• Sear the Beef: Start your Instant Pot by setting it to sauté mode. Add a little oil, then toss in your beef cubes. Sear those chunks until they’re nicely browned on all sides. This step locks in the flavor and gets your stew off to a bold start! If you’re making a large batch like me you’ll need to cook the meat in two batches to not overcrowd the pot.
• Add the aromatics: Once the beef is golden and irresistible, add the onion, garlic, celery, tomato paste, and give it a good stir.
• Deglaze with Balsamic Vinegar: Pour in the balsamic vinegar and give it a good stir. This step is all about scraping up those flavorful bits from the bottom of the pot.
• Rosemary: Toss those sprigs of fresh rosemary into the pot.
• Broth & Fish Sauce: Pour in the beef broth and add our secret ingredient—fish sauce! Stir everything together. Make sure to get that tomato paste fully dissolved into the liquid.
• Stir and Start Instapot: Stir everything together, making sure the tomato paste is fully incorporated. Close and lock the Instapot lid and set mode to Soup/Stew for 30 minutes. Once the time is up, let the instapot naturally release the pressure, this takes about 10 minutes.
• Potato & Carrot: Now, it’s time to add the potatoes and carrots. These hearty veggies will soak up all that flavor and become tender in no time. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to stew for another 10 minutes.
• Cornstarch Slurry & Peas: While the potatoes and carrots are cooking, let make a cornstarch slurry. This add a little thickness too the broth. Add 2 tablespoons of water to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix to combine. After the timer goes off, manually release the pressure this time. Remove the Rosemary stems and add the slurry and the peas. Give them a gentle stir and let them warm up in the stew. No need to cook them for long; we want them to stay bright and vibrant.

Keyword beef stew, comfort food, easy recipes, how to make beef stew, instant pot beef stew, instant pot recipes