A hot, steaming bowl of this Instant Pot meat and potatoes beef stew is just what you need on an icy cold day! Tough beef that typically requires hours of cooking quickly becomes fork tender in the Instant Pot, and red potatoes make it super satisfying...
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Were you one of the thousands upon thousands that ordered a new Instant Pot on Black Friday? And if so, have you actually USED it yet? I know they can be more than a little overwhelming with all of those buttons and functions. I get it — I was even an experienced stovetop pressure cooker user when I got mine, and the Instant Pot still intimidated me...
If this is you, too, I have some advice for you. First, don't worry about all of the specialized functions and buttons at first. Try a simple and easy to follow recipe, like these Instant Pot hard boiled eggs.
In this "recipe", I walk you step-by-step through using your Instant Pot to make hard cooked eggs that have perfect creamy and yellow centers. It's great for getting acquainted with your new Instant Pot, and you'll be amazed at how easily pressure cooked eggs peel!
How To Instant Pot
Second, pick up a copy of How To Instant Pot by Daniel Shumski! I've had the pleasure of previewing several new release cookbooks focused on cooking with your Instant Pot, and this is by far the best I've seen. It's filled with approachable and practical recipes with clear instructions that will help you master your Instant Pot in no time.
I love how each recipe is presented as a base recipe (called the Master Method) and is then followed by variations on that base, along with tips and suggestions for how to customize it further. How To Instant Pot isn't just your average cookbook filled with recipes — it actually teaches you how to cook by customizing and create your own recipes!
How To Instant Pot is smartly organized by function, with recipes for not only using your Instant Pot as a pressure cooker, but demonstrating how you can also use it as a slow cooker, rice maker, yogurt maker, and a steamer. I have yet to use mine as a yogurt maker, so I'm really looking forward to trying that method myself.
Instant Pot Meat and Potatoes Beef Stew
Our weather has definitely taken a turn for the colder, which always has me craving comfort food. So I pulled out my How To Instant Pot cookbook yesterday and made the Meat and Potatoes Beef Stew — and it was fabulous!
When it comes to tough cuts of beef, you simply won't believe the magic that happens in the Instant Pot. Stew beef turns out fork-tender in far less time than traditional beef stew recipes.
I do feel like a good deal of the prep work could have been cut out of this recipe. There's a lot of separately sautéing and removing the onions and beef, where I would typically just sauté everything together at once. I've provided the recipe as written in the cookbook, but just know that you may be able to condense some of the initial steps to save time.
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A hot, steaming bowl of this comforting beef stew is just what you need on an icy cold day! Serve it with a simple salad and a crusty baguette for a truly satisfying meal.
Tara's Tip: More Meals From One Batch
This recipe makes about 6 servings as written. Stretch it further by serving it over rice or cooked egg noodles!
Instant Pot Meat and Potatoes Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt plus extra as needed
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus extra as needed
- 2 pound stew beef cut into 2-inch cubes
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small white or yellow onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves or ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups beef broth
- 3 medium red potatoes unpeeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- fresh Italian parsley chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Place the flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and stir to combine. Add the beef and toss with the flour mixture until the beef is evenly coated. Set aside.
- Press sauté and select the middle temperature. Place 1 tablespoon of the oil in the inner pot, wait about 2 minutes for the oil to heat, then add the onion, rosemary, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, and balsamic vinegar. Cook with the lid off, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens slightly. Remove the onion to a bowl; set it aside.
- Place the remaining oil in the inner post, wait about one minute for it to warm, and then add half of the beef. Cook with the lid off, turning the beef occasionally, until it is browned on most sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer the browned beef to a plate and set aside. Repeat with the remaining beef.
- Place the beef broth in the inner pot and use a silicone spatula or wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the inner pot until most of the brown bits are released, about 1 minute. Add the reserved onion, browned beef, potatoes and Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine.
- Close and lock the lid. Set the valve to sealing. Press cancel then select high pressure and set the time to 20 minutes.
- When the cooking cycle ends, press cancel. Release pressure naturally, about 30 minutes.
- Remove the lid and taste the stew for seasoning, adding salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished with parsley.
- Meat and Potatoes Beef Stew will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Tips & Suggestions
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your Instant Pot beef stew turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
ShellyC says
Vegan chili is my instant pot go to meal.
Margot S. says
My favorite instant pot recipe is mac & cheese!
Kayla Klontz says
I've never tried these but the chili sounds amazing!
Juanita May says
I don't have an instapot but I would love to try a chicken and dumplings meal.
Jenny Ham says
Roast with potatoes carrots and onion
Stacey Roberson says
My favorite is Crispy Chicken Carnitas.
Eileen Boyce says
I don't have one yet but would make chicken and beef with veggies.
Rachel says
any soup is great!
Julie Terry says
I do not have an instant pot but I would love to try chili.
Jenny Ham says
Roast with potatoes carrots and onion
Molly says
I don’t have an instant pot yet but I’ve been seeing so many wonderful recipes. I would love to try to make sweet potatoes in one.
Vickie says
So happy I opened my email tonight..I've been so busy..and almost missed the big event!
Your recipe looks delicious..the rich broth in photo is wanting some crusty bread to sop up.
I have meat and potato eaters..who would,love it.
Instapot is on my wish list..first up to make for me will be my grandmas chicken and dumplings or my dads pot of beans.
Thanks!
Vickie says
So happy I opened my email tonight..I've been so busy..and almost missed the big event!
Your recipe looks delicious..the rich broth in photo is wanting some crusty bread to sop up.
I have meat and potato eaters..who would,love it.
Instapot is on my wish list..first up to make for me will be my grandmas chicken and dumplings or my dads pot of beans.
Thanks!
Patti says
I'm getting one for Christmas so I don't have a fav yet. But, I want to try chili in it!
Misty Swearingen says
I've done corned beef and cabbage in it! So good!
Leela says
Roast beef with vegetables and gravy.
Jessica Gipson says
Pork steak is my favorite instant pot recipe, YUM.
Marci says
I make a delish rice beef stew in mine!
Lindsay Bade says
Ribs are amazing
Cindy says
My favorite thing to cook in the instant pot is hamburger and rice
Dee Johnson says
Mine would be beef and broccoli.
Liz Newsome says
I love the way it prepares brown rice - not really a recipe, but super helpful to make large, fluffy batches and then freeze it!
Carly Williams says
My favorite Instant Pot recipe is pot roast!
Karen says
Guinness beef stew!
HS says
My favorite is instant pot beef curry.
carol clark says
well mine would be stew but ive never cooked in one
Samina says
I've got an instant pot, but I'm a bit intimidated by it. I made a corned beef recipe from Dad Cooks Dinner that was pretty good, but I ended up overcooking the meat, so it got a bit mushy.
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Yes, that can definitely be one of the tricky points! I made a ham in mine for Thanksgiving, and it was delicious but almost too tender. When I'm making a new recipe, often I will undercook it a little to check the meat. You can always re-pressurize it and cook it for longer if it's not done.
YVONNE LOPEZ says
Well I do not have an Instant Pot this recipe looks very good and would be my first. I am very interested in purchasing one since I saw a report on a women who lost 100 lbs using solely the instant pot...That peaked my interest a great deal..
bill says
I love my instant pot for cooking tender cuts of meat!
YVONNE LOPEZ says
Well I do not have an Instant Pot this recipe looks very good and would be my first. I am very interested in purchasing one since I saw a report on a women who lost 100 lbs using solely the instant pot...That peaked my interest a great deal..