Classic Beef Stew

When cool weather tiptoes in, that’s a sign: find a recipe for beef stew, sure to warm you through and through. It’s traditional comfort food at its finest: meat, potatoes and carrots.

Traditionally made by slowly simmering the stew for hours, we can now make this old-fashioned meal with new-fashioned methods! I made it for many years using my slow cooker, letting it slowly cook the stew all day long while I was at work.

Now, I've adapted this recipe to the Instant Pot to make beef stew that is just as tender and delicious in a fraction of the time!

How to make beef stew in a crockpot/slow cooker

I’ve been using this beef stew recipe for at least 20 (of my 21 😀) years and for most of that time I have used a crockpot. For a weeknight meal I would prep it all the night before by browning the meat and cutting the vegetables. I put everything in the crockpot insert and placed it in the refrigerator overnight. Since I could use Blood Mary mix as an ingredient I would sometimes mix a beverage for myself. 😍

In the morning, the insert came out of the fridge and went into the crockpot. Using a low temperature setting, I let it cook all day. By the time I came home the stew was ready to be thickened. Delicious.

If you don’t have an Instant Pot yet, use this method. Oh, and then remember to put “Instant Pot” on your Christmas list.

How to make beef stew in an Instant Pot

Now – new and improved! - an Instant Pot makes it even easier. First, use the Sauté function to brown the meat, then add everything else. Set the cook cycle (meat/stew) and batten down the latches. This is an 18 minute cook time for my Instant Pot, and total time is about an hour with the pressurize/depressurize steps. Once the cycle is complete, thicken with flour and it’s ready to serve.

This is great on the day you make it, and an excellent leftover meal. It also freezes well. In fact, if all goes according to plan, I will be out of the country on vacation when this post goes live! A portion of this batch will be in the freezer for the carnivore to enjoy while I am gone. 😀

More Instant Pot recipes to try

Want some other ideas for your Instant Pot? Try some Split Pea Soup, another classic that is easy and delicious. And for a new twist on ribs, these Korean Instant Pot Short Ribs will please the palate for sure!

For lower carb version of this beef stew, try my keto beef stew.

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Beef Stew - Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

Use a Crockpot or Instant Pot to make this classic stew!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 15 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6

Calories: 285kcal

Author: Sula

Ingredients

• 1 TB olive oil
• 1½ pounds beef stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1½ cups Bloody Mary mix or vegetable juice cocktail
• 1½ cups beef broth
• 2 medium carrots peeled, sliced 1-inch
• 2 medium potatoes peeled, cubed
• 1 medium onion cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• ¼ teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ cup water
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Instructions

For Instant Pot:

• Turn Instant Pot to “sauté” setting. Add olive oil, then beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned (5 to 7 minutes).
• Add all remaining ingredients, except flour and water.
• Seal Instant Pot and set to “meat/stew” (18 minutes). Once cooking cycle is done, allow to vent naturally for at least 20 minutes.
• Stir together water and flour in a cup or small bowl until smooth.
• When Instant Pot has vented, remove lid and stir flour mixture into beef mixture, stirring constantly. If mixture does not thicken, turn the Instant Pot to Sauté and cook, stirring, for 3-5 minutes to thicken the sauce.

For Crockpot:

• Warm olive oil in 10-inch skillet until hot; add meat. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned (5 to 7 minutes).
• Place meat in slow cooker. Stir in all remaining ingredients, except water and flour.
• Cover; cook on Low heat for 8 to 9 hours, or High heat for 5 to 6 hours or until beef is tender. Uncover; remove bay leaf.
• Stir together water and flour in a cup or small bowl until smooth. Add flour mixture into beef mixture, stirring constantly. Cook on High heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened (8 to 10 minutes).
• TIP: Add more flour if a thicker stew is desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 439mg | Potassium: 946mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3895IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.