37+ Best Instant Pot Stew Recipes | Beef, Chicken, Vegan and More

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Stew is the ultimate comfort food and a classic one pot meal. Making stew in the Instant Pot is a perfect way to reduce the cooking time without sacrificing any flavor. As the days get cooler choose some of these tasty stews to warm you up and fill you up.

Whether you are making beef stew, chicken stew, pork stew, vegan stew or something else completely different. Instant Pot Stew is a quick and easy way to make a rich and warm bowl full of deliciousness.

Why is a Pressure Cooker Ideal for Making Stew?

  • An Instant Pot can have a tasty stew ready to eat in as little as 30-45 minutes, much quicker than simmering it all day in a slow cooker or on the stove top.
  • A pressure cooker excels at making even thick cuts of meat tender and delicious.
  • Being able to saute and pressure cook all in one appliance means there is only one pot to wash.

If you are looking for the perfect recipe for a busy weeknight or a Sunday dinner check out my list of 37+ of the best Instant Pot stews below. The list is all stews and only stews. There are no soups or chilis or chowders!

And there are recipes from all over the world! Morocco, Brazil, Greece and Sweden are just some of the countries represented in this list of the best Instant Pot stew recipes. So jump down to the list or keep reading below for the answers to your most asked questions about making stew in a pressure cooker!

FAQ

What is the difference between soup and stew?

The main difference is the amount of liquid that is used in each. Stews are thicker, with just enough liquid to almost cover the ingredients. Soups have lots more broth.

Because stews are thicker and have less broth they seem more substantial and filling. In my house stews have always been a hearty dinner, while soups are more for lunch or when you are sick!

How do you thicken Instant Pot Stew?

Use tomato paste – If a soup has a tomato based broth adding tomato paste is an easy way to thicken the broth. 

Puree a vegetable – You can also use one of the vegetables in the stew to thicken the broth. Cauliflower or squash works very well for this because they puree easily. Just mash them after cooking to use as a thickening agent.

Add cornstarch or flour – These traditional thickening agents work best when they are added after pressure cooking the meat and vegetables. Mix either with cold water and stir it into the stew. Then use the saute function of Instant Pot to cook for a few minutes until it thickens.

What is the stew setting on an Instant Pot?

Some models of the Instant Pot have a specific setting for stew. This is a preprogramed button that automatically sets it on High pressure for 30 minutes. You can use this setting or just use the manual mode and set it on high pressure directly.

Why are my stew veggies mushy?

Some stew recipes call for adding the meat and most veggies all at once and then pressure cooking. This makes for quick and easy dump and go recipes. 

However if the veggies cook too long this can result in vegetables that are soft and mushy. One easy way to help with this is to cut the vegetables into bigger pieces if they are being added with the meat.

Other stew recipes call for pressure cooking the meat and broth, releasing the pressure, adding the vegetables and pressure cooking again. This results in vegetables which are firmer, since they don’t cook under pressure for as long.

But this is a little more involved and doesn’t allow as much of hands off cooking time. So which type of stew you decide to make depends on how much time you have and how picky your are about the texture of stew vegetables.

Instant Pot Stews

Instant Pot Beef Stews

When it’s cold outside, nothing beats a hearty beef stew. These recipes will have you sitting down at the table with a steaming bowl full of tender beef in your hands.

Instant Pot Chicken Stew

Chicken stew is a perennial favorite because it is delicious, healthy and budget friendly.

Instant Pot Pork Stew

Stews made from pork make a nice change from the more traditional beef and chicken recipes.

Vegan Instant Pot Stews

Stew doesn't have to include meat! Check out these plant and grain based stews or creative meal ideas.

Other Instant Pot Stews

Make stew with, lamb, venison, fish or sausage.

Yield: 4

Instant Pot Beef Stew

Instant Pot Beef Stew

This beef stew is easy to make in the Instant Pot!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 34 minutes
Pressure Time 10 minutes
Total Time 54 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound beef chuck, cubed
  • 2 Tablespoon flour
  • 1 onion, medium
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 cup apple cider (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
  • 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar (if using non-alcoholic cider)
  • 2 Tablespoon Tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 potatoes
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions

  1. Set the Instant Pot on saute and let it heat up.
  2. Put the oil in the Instant Pot and brown the beef cubes on all sides in the oil.
  3. After the beef is browned add the flour, onion, basil, oregano, cider, cider vinegar (if using non-alcoholic cider), tomato paste, broth, along with salt. Stir to mix.
  4. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and lock the lid. Switch it to the Stew/Meat setting and program it for 20 minutes. 
  5. While the stew cooks peel and dice the potatoes and the carrots.
  6. When the 20 minutes is done release the steam using the quick release. 
  7. Add the potatoes and carrots, and lock the lid back on the Instant Pot. Set it to the manual setting and program it for 8 minutes.
  8. Once the 8 minutes are up use either the quick release and then stir in the frozen peas. Let sit for 3 minutes or so and then serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 432Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 623mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 5gSugar: 12gProtein: 43g

Nutrition facts are estimates.

anne

Hi, I’m Anne!

I love to cook and I want to share my recipes with you. I believe cooking should be approachable and fun, not a chore. I want to make simple recipes using everyday ingredients that you can make again and again, whether it is for a busy weeknight, a summer cookout or a special dessert. Read more...

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