Instant Pot Cheater Beef Stew–if you’re looking for the easiest beef stew recipe you may have found it! This recipe is made quickly in your Instant Pot and requires little to no prep and only 5 ingredients. No sauteing, chopping or browning. And best of all it tastes great!
Get the SLOW COOKER cheater beef stew recipe here
Instant Pot Cheater Beef Stew
I love stews and soups a lot! But they can take a while to make because of all the peeling and chopping of the vegetables. For this cheater beef stew I found a product that is a major time-saver. I found a bag of frozen stew vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions and celery) at my grocery store and decided to give them a shot. They worked really nicely in this stew. I will definitely use this time-saver again. Of course if you don’t want to buy frozen vegetables you can just cut up your own potatoes, carrots, celery and onions.
I also decided to cheat on the browning step. I didn’t do it. I just threw the meat in raw. The meat still was very tasty and tender. Plus I used a package of stew meat instead of buying a roast and cut it up myself.
The third cheat on this recipe was using a packet of onion soup mix and brown gravy mix. No measuring of ingredients, just throwing it all in. Everything was seasoned nicely.
If you’re in a hurry but still want to have dinner on the table tonight this is a great recipe for you! Pick up some crusty bread to serve with it and you’re set.
More Instant Pot Beef Recipes…
What Pressure Cooker Did You Use?
To make Instant Pot Cheater Beef Stew I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. I love this Instant Pot because it has the yogurt making function which I use almost weekly. It has two pressure settings (high and low), and there are also little slots in the handles so that you can rest the lid there instead of putting it down on your counter-top.
Instant Pot Cheater Beef Stew
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes (plus NPR)
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
If you’re looking for the easiest beef stew recipe you may have found it! This recipe is made quickly in your Instant Pot and requires little to no prep and only 5 ingredients. No sauteing, chopping or browning. And best of all it tastes great!
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups water
- 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat
- 1 (1 oz) packet onion soup mix
- 3 Tbsp brown gravy mix
- 1 (24 oz) bag frozen stew vegetables (see note)
- Cornstarch (optional)
Instructions
- Add water to the Instant Pot and then add in the stew meat. Sprinkle the onion soup mix and gravy mix over the top of the meat. Don’t stir.
- Cover the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure the valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 20 minutes (on high pressure).
- When the time is up quick release the pressure by moving valve to venting. Remove the lid. Add in the frozen veggies on top of the meat. Don’t stir. Cover the pot and move valve to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 5 minutes. Once the pot is done cooking allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes (longer if you have time). Move the valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Stir the stew. If you’d like it thicker then make a cornstarch slurry. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Add 2 Tbsp cornstarch to a small bowl and stir in 2 Tbsp cold water until smooth and creamy. Stir the mixture into the pot. Stew will thicken fairly quickly. Turn off saute setting and serve.
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can make this in your 8 quart pot with no changes. You can make this in your 3 quart pot increase the initial cooking time to 25 minutes.
Look by the frozen vegetables at your grocery store to find a bag of stew vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions and celery). If you don’t want to buy frozen vegetables you can just cut up your own potatoes, carrots, celery and onions.
To make this recipe gluten free: use a gluten free brown gravy mix and a gluten free onion soup mix
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Ronie Barron says
Love your recipes….this sounds nice & easy too! In the past few years I have started canning….and was wondering if you could put together some recipes (or throw a note in the ones you post) that you can also use canned meats with the directions. I have beef chunks/beef tips that I could use in this so obviously it wouldn’t take all that cook time for the meat since it really is “cooked” from pressure canning it. It seems there are a lot of people that are getting into home canning of meats and that would be a great way (and quick way) of putting together a meal for the family with items on the shelf! Beef, chicken, pork recipes would be great. Thanks for the great recipes!
Ronie B
Karen says
Good idea! You’ll want to figure out the ingredient that needs the longest time to cook and cook it for that amount of time. For example, cubed potatoes need 4 minutes so if it was a stew with your canned meat and potatoes you’d cook it for 4 minutes. Hope this helps!
Hillary says
What would you do if you have everything but the onion soup mix…how can I be without onion soup mix…LOL
Kim B. says
Hillary,
Here’s the URL that Karen’s posted before on how to make your own:
https://www.spendwithpennies.com/homemade-onion-soup-mix/
Karen says
oh no! haha! Can you make your own from scratch? https://www.spendwithpennies.com/homemade-onion-soup-mix/
Kim B. says
Yes, you sure can, Sweet Pea! I saved it from your recipe ‘Instant Pot 3-Ingredient Rump Roast’, along with the one to make your own Au Jus mix. Can’t thank you enough for all the recipes you’ve shared with us AND all the little “side goodies”, like the ones above. They all save us time & money!! You my hero-girl!
Kandis Fay says
Sorry, I reread it and found I don’t have to make any changes. No need to post my comment lol.
Kandis Fay says
I have a 8 quart instant pot. Does that change the cook time?
Anahid says
My picky 3 year old loved this stew! I ended up using fresh veggies. Everything came out great!
Karen says
Thanks for the 5 stars!
brinda says
Made this just now, I used raw veggies I had, sweet potato (which I cut in big chunks for the five minute cook) onion, celery, carrots (just cleared what I had in the fridge); I don’t think I will ever make beef stew any other way! Truly amazing!!
Karen says
Yay! Thanks for the 5 stars Brinda!
Jessica says
I am wanting to make this but without the veggies.. just the meat and gravy mix. Also, I have 2.4 pounds of stew meat.. what do you recommend?
Karen says
I’d follow these instructions:
Add water to the Instant Pot and then add in the stew meat. Sprinkle the onion soup mix and gravy mix over the top of the meat. Don’t stir.
Cover the Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure the valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 25 minutes (on high pressure). Once the pot is done cooking allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes (longer if you have time). Move the valve to venting and remove the lid.
Stir the stew. If you’d like it thicker then make a cornstarch slurry. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Add 2 Tbsp cornstarch to a small bowl and stir in 2 Tbsp cold water until smooth and creamy. Stir the mixture into the pot. Stew will thicken fairly quickly. Turn off saute setting and serve.
I would possibly add a little more water and a little more onion soup mix and gravy mix with the extra meat.
Laura Palmer says
Chicken Stock vs. Water. Growing up in N MN, Duluth, they tend to thicken everything , gravy, and add seasonings that enhance what is being prepared. It is one area, food related, I haven’t come to terms with. Separate veggies, boiled in plain water. So no flavor. Then the beef or poultry. Then put on a plate. After which everyone poor’s on butter and salt. This includes fresh corn from the garden.
My husband, again is po’d.at me for telling him, again of the proper way to prepare beef, and other related. But properly take advantage of veggies and seasonings’.
Michelle L Butler says
I found this recipe due to the 50 things to do with ground beef. Can this recipe be made with ground beef? has anyone tried that?
Karen says
I haven’t tried that but I bet it would be tasty. I would brown the ground beef first.
Lynne says
Hi Karen, I love this recipe! I couldn’t find any stew vegetables at the supermarket, so I got tiny round potatoes and small carrots and cooked it for 7 minutes. It was perfect and delicious. The flavor was great. Everything tasted delicious. I can’t say enough positive comments. We love, love loved it.
Karen says
Ahhh, thanks Lynne!!!
faye larter says
can you use real vegetables instead of frozen and would you put it in the pot the same tinme as the meat
Karen says
yes you can use real vegetables. I would add them in the same time you would have added in the frozen.
Gaylene Weil says
Ohhhh yum! I’ve been wanting some stew for so long, and I just happened to have a couple pounds of stew meat languishing in the refrigerator, AND all the other ingredients (I used fresh potatoes, carrots and celery). I also added a can of corn, green beans and topped it with a can of stewed tomatoes (because my Momma did!) and it is absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to have it for dinner again! Thank you so much for all the awesome recipes!!!
Karen says
I love it when that happens!
Lisa says
Hi, I just made the stew tonight and it’s definitely a keeper. I’m new to the Instant Pot world and this was my very first recipe. I have a few questions. The recipe didn’t seem to yield 6 servings, more like 4 with a lot of liquid. I followed everything as written except I had to use two bags of frozen veggies and that equaled 28 ounces. I didn’t feel like this had enough meat. I did cut my stew beef into small bite size pieces. Could this of caused the meat to shred up some of the smaller chunks? If I were to change the recipe and use 2# of stew meat would I change the liquid or the cook time? And last question. If I double the recipe as written will it fit in a 6 quart Instant Pot? Thank you so much in advance 😊
Karen says
Hi Lisa, you could easily use 2 pounds of stew meat with no changes to cooking time or liquid. And yes you can fit it in the 6 quart if doubled.
Lisa says
Thank you so much for replying back to me. I will try either 2 pounds of meat or double the recipe next time. My husband is a big eater and he likes a big bowl of leftovers for the next day also. 😋
Missy F. says
Do you think I can double the recipe in an 8 qt.?
Karen says
Yes you could do that
george e basden says
Question Karen. In your recipe you show initial cooking time as 25 minutes. But the in your note you say if using a 3-quart pot adjust cooking time to 25 minutes?
Karen says
The time is supposed to be 20 minutes for 6 quart and 25 for 3 quart.
Sharon says
I cut the recipe in half since I didn’t have enough meat. Used your brown gravy mix recipe. Added a bit of ketchup, worcestershire sauce and small amount of cabbage. Next time will add garlic and fresh thyme.
Karen says
Love all those additions!
Kimberly says
Amazing flavor with so little effort. The gravy was on point.
Karen says
Great! So glad you enjoyed it Kimberly!
Jenna says
Karen —
This recipe has been on my “to make” list for a long time, and now that it’s September, I decided that it’s close enough to fall to make it! I used beef broth instead of water, and a can each of green beans and corn instead of the frozen veggies. I also doubled the cornstarch slurry because I love a really thick stew. It turned out AMAZING! Tender beef, delicious veggies, flavorful stew.
All of the other beef stew recipes I’ve looked at have such long ingredient lists and seem really difficult. This one was so easy, and I don’t think I’ll ever make beef stew a different way!
This is my first time making one of your recipes but I guarantee it will not be the last.
Thank you Karen!!
Karen says
YAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!! This is fun to read. Thanks.
Amy Lampert says
I made this tonight I used a can of beef broth instead of water. I used an envelope of brown gravy versus measuring it because I somehow missed that description. I used 2 16 oz. bags of frozen stew vegetables because what would I do with just part of one? I thickened it with the cornstarch slurry, and that worked nicely. I have to admit that I thought it was a bit under seasoned. I added salt and pepper at the table, but to me, it was still missing something so I added a healthy squirt of ketchup to my bowl and mixed it in. That did the trick for me. I didn’t adore the consistency of the vegetables, but they weren’t awful. The celery totally disappeared. Not bad overall. Couldn’t possibly have been easier!
Karen says
I like those ideas Amy!
Jami Brothwell says
What store did you find the cheater veggies at. I have looked at a couple of stores and can’t find them.
Karen says
I think I found them at Walmart 😊
Nelson says
I just made this, Awesome! I really haven’t been cooking lately. Soooooooo, I haven’t been shopping. I had a couple of potatoes, canned corn and canned green beans, no carrots. Turned out great. And you’re right, not all stores have frozen stew veggies. They have them at ShopRite.
Karen says
👏👏👏
Mary Westerlund says
This looks delish! Any input on how many potatoes, carrots, onions to use if I cut up fresh. Speciality frozen veg sometimes hard to find here. Just as an aside, 1 1/2 pounds of stew meat! We could eat this into next year LOL. Good thing neighbors love your recipes.
Karen says
Hi Mary, I would just cut up a combination of veggies to equal 24 ounces. That might be 2-3 potatoes, 2 carrots, 1 onion, 1 celery rib.
Jodie Rowden says
I tried this tonight. I didn’t have brown gravy mix and wasn’t going back out in the snow for some, so I used 2 tablespoons broth mix and a tablespoon of flour. I am more of an eyeballer, as far as measuringanything else goes. It turned out great and was super easy after a 10 hour day. Thank you! This was my first time getting a recipe from your blog, but definitely not the last!
Melanie says
I made this today and used a beef stew seasoning packet instead of the gravy and onion soup mix. It turned out amazing!
Jeremy says
I use all 3 and dump some Cajun seasoning in there too. It never disappoints! I’ll be enjoying it again in 15 mins after the NPR.
Karen says
Great idea!
Jane Kiley says
I made this tonight and it was a hit! Didn’t have beef gravy so I threw in a beef bouillon cube along with a squirt of ketchup and a tsp of Worcestershire. After 50 years of stew making, I have finally found a winner!
Thank you for this and many other recipes.
Karen says
Wow 50 years! That’s awesome Jane!
Renee Miller says
I have an 8qt and would love to double or even triple this recipe. I’m fairly new to the instant pot world so forgive me for asking but do I have to increase liquid I’d doubling or tripling the meat and veggies? What about other ingredients? Thank you in advance!
Karen says
I would double all ingredients and keep the cooking time the same.
Jocelyne Comeau says
Thank you so much for the instant pot cheater beef stew I tried it yesterday and it was delicious I didn’t have frozen vegetable so I cut my own vegetable and I also added cabbage it was great hubby love it to. I will be making this more often.
Jocelyne
Karen says
Yum I love the idea of cabbage.
Tracy says
If I cut up the potatoes myself do I cook them first or add them at the beginning with the meat since that are raw?
Karen says
Add them at the same point you’d add the frozen veggies.
Kelly Smith says
Karen please stop, just stop haha posting amazing looking soups and stews it’s driving me crazy…lol I want to make them so bad! But with triple digit temps here in Texas nobody wants soup, stew, or chili but me : ( in the family. This looks so good, and I love how easy it would be after work, I can already taste it with some warm buttered cornbread!!! With your recipes the dreaded question “What’s for dinner?” is no longer an issue for me! Thank you Karen!
Karen says
Haha!!! I feel for you! It is the first week of cooler temps here and I am soooo excited. I love the fall! But not when it’s 100 degrees 🙂
Heather K says
This looks fantastic and I can’t wait to try it once the weather cools off a bit. I bet it’d be great with some homemade bread.
Karen says
Love me some crusty bread!
Kim says
I have made this several times. I always use fresh veggies and follow the recipe as written. So yummy.
Karen says
Cool! glad it works well with fresh veggies. That is good to know!
Cindy K Cody says
I’m new at the Instant Pot love it already. I made the beef stew the other day very good. But now the rubber ring smells like it. Can I do something to get rid of the smell?
Karen says
Watch this: https://youtu.be/spI9UPvz0Xg
Wanda says
I think this has been answered already, but if I’m using fresh veggies do I alter the cooking time? My guess they will take a little longer to cook than frozen veggies? (My Wal-Mart didn’t carry the pre-cut frozen stew veggies. Time to get out the knife!)
Karen says
5 minutes of pressure cook time plus the NPR should be plenty of time for cubed potatoes and the carrots.
Mary Laughland says
Really good. I used a whole packet of brown gravy mix, fresh carrots, celery, & onion; canned white potatoes; and frozen green beans. I’ll definitely keep this recipe as a favorite. Thank you!
Karen says
Sounds great! Did the beans get mushy?
Jenn McFarland says
Wow this was so easy and so good. I let my 7 year old make it. The only changes I made was i used a whole 4 oz package of brown gravy mix and a 32 oz bag of stew veggies.
Karen says
Way to get the kids involved! I love it
Ed Rigby says
Did you start with frozen stew meat?
Karen says
Mine was fresh. But you could use frozen. Same cooking time.
andy Bailey says
I can’t wait to try this! I like using frozen vegetables now that I can’t stand for long to chop them manually.
this recipe looks easy enough for me to do!
Karen says
It’s sooo easy. that’s why I like it!
Suzanne says
Hi Karen, I just want to say thank you for all your work on this blog. I am new to insta pot land and had no idea. I then found your site which I consider the best on the net. Everything is so well put together and easy to understand. I appreciate your time and effort.
Best wishes,
Suzanne (Australia)
Karen says
Wow thanks so much Suzanne!!! It’s fun to “know” someone from Australia.
Katie says
Thank you Karen. I enjoy your blog. Keep up the AWESOME work!
Karen says
Thanks Katie, I appreciate it!
Debi says
I love easy recipes! I only had 2 tbsp of brown gravy mix, but it didn’t ruin the taste. My husband made several good remarks, but when he got up for seconds I knew it was a keeper! I did use the cornstarch to make a thicker gravy, and used 2 bags of veggies for a total of 36 oz. Thanks for a great recipe!
Debi says
PS… serving size portions would be awesome to help with counting WW points 🙂
Karen says
Wow Debi! Your are ON it! I just posted this today. I’m glad for your review. Thank you!
Katie says
Hi Karen. I have an 8 qt and a 6.5 qt pressure cooker. I would love it if you could put the doubling directions on your recipes and the ‘new’ cook times (if it changes). Im new to your blog and would be so thrilled if you could do that😊 Thanks in advance…
I was looking at the Bbq chicken recipe and the 3 ingred pot roast and this stew one (of course-and others) and want to double the meat, etc. to make for my family on Sundays for dinner.
Karen says
Hey Katie,
I’m in the process of writing a post on how to double recipes. Basically even if you double the food the pressure cooking time will be the same. Sometimes if it’s tender foods like pasta you will decrease the pressure cooking time. Hope this helps!
Coleen says
Hi. I’m excited to try this but I want to use fresh potatoes veggies. Do I wait and add them after like you suggest with the frozen veggie or add them with beef ? Does liquid amounts change if it’s not frozen veggies
Karen says
I’d add them the same time you would have with frozen. Keep the same liquid time.
Coleen says
Loved this stew ! Thank you for your quick reply regarding fresh veggies.
Used fresh veggies. It was exactly like you said.
Add them like you would the frozen veggies and they cooked in the 5 min –
Karen says
Great! I’m so glad it worked well. I bet a lot of other people will find this helpful too.