Instant Pot Poor Man’s Beef Stew is an easy and delicious beef stew recipe made with ground beef, carrots, potatoes and a tomato-based sauce.
This recipe can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. Both instructions are listed in the recipe card.
Instant Pot Poor Man’s Beef Stew
This is a meaty and delicious stew! Even though it is the “poor man’s” version (because it is made with ground beef instead of stew meat) I actually think I liked it better! It’s basic and simple but really tasty and cozy. It’s a thick stew thanks to the tomato paste and goes perfectly with freshly baked bread.
This recipe can easily be doubled. Just double all the ingredients but keep the cooking time the same. If you want to halve the recipe you can do that too. Pro tip: Freeze your leftover tomato paste in one tablespoon increments to use for future recipes. I use my cookie scooper and scoop the paste onto a parchment lined pan and freeze. Once frozen, I pop off the blobs and freeze in a ziplock bag.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Ground beef–or ground turkey
- Onion–or 3 Tbsp of dry minced onion
- Kosher salt
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Italian seasoning
- Beef broth–or water and Better than Bouillon Beef Base
- Russet potatoes–you can also use red or Yukon gold potatoes
- Carrots–you can also use baby carrots
- Worcestershire sauce
- Tomato paste
Steps
- Brown ground beef: Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder and Italian seasoning.
- Deglaze the pot: Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking.
- Layer in the ingredients: Add in the potatoes, carrots and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon the tomato paste over the top of the potatoes so that it isn’t touching the bottom of the pot (this will prevent the burn error message). Don’t stir.
- Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 4 minutes (if you don’t have the soup button use the pressure cook/manual button). When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Serve: Gently stir. Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with buttered bread. I love homemade French Bread.
- If you’re a celery lover add in a cup of chopped celery when you add in the carrots.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- This recipe can be gluten free if you use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with Russet potatoes are Potato Lasagna and My Man’s Casserole.
6 More Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipes…
Instant Pot Wyoming Stew
Tender chunks of beef (or elk or deer) in a creamy gravy sauce with veggies and then topped with biscuits. A beef pot pie type of recipe that is ultra comfort food.
Instant Pot No Peek Stew
An easy beef stew recipe with only 6 ingredients! Tender chunks of beef, carrots, celery and potatoes in a savory sauce. Perfect comfort food.
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!
Instant Pot Nana’s Beef Stew
A beef stew with lots of flavor and only a few ingredients. It tastes wonderful with fresh baked bread.
Instant Pot 3-Item Beef Stew
The fastest, easiest beef stew recipe around! With only 3 ingredients you’ll be surprised at how tasty this soup is!
Instant Pot Apple Cider Beef Stew
A cozy stew with beef, carrots, celery and onions. The broth has a subtle sweetness that is a fun change from your usual savory stew.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Instant Pot Poor Man’s Stew
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 4–5 servings 1x
Description
An easy and delicious beef stew recipe made with ground beef, carrots, potatoes and a tomato-based sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 pound Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 3 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder and Italian seasoning.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking.
- Add in the potatoes, carrots and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon the tomato paste over the top of the potatoes so that it isn’t touching the bottom of the pot. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 4 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Gently stir. Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder and Italian seasoning.
- Add meat into slow cooker. Add in the broth, potatoes, carrots, Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste. Stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or until potatoes and carrots are cooked through.
- Gently stir. Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot
*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.
I don’t have tomato paste on hand. what else can I use instead?
I’d add in a can of tomato sauce
Leave out the beef if you want to save even more money
Hello Karen,
Like this recipe and will be making it soon. I love your site and enjoy your recipes.
My question is this: Can I use ground chicken instead and what modifications would I need to make. I have n abundance of ground chicken in my freezer and need to use it before soon.
Many thanks,
Sam
Yes you can in the place of ground beef. No adjustments are needed