Whole30 Beef Stew (Instant Pot & Stovetop Recipe) (2024)

Published: Jan 4, 2022 · Modified: Jan 8, 2024 by Irena Macri · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

This gluten-free and Whole30 beef stew Instant Pot recipe is hearty and nutritious and can be done ahead of time and for the freezer. Made with a few special flavor twists for that extra umami hit, this stew is great on its own or with a side of cauliflower rice, vegetables or any other sides you like with a stew. A definite family favorite! Stovetop instructions included.

There are many beautiful meat stews that you can make in the Instant Pot such as Beef Stroganoff, Beef bourguignon, Beef Chili, or Irish Stew. Today's recipe is for a classic beef, carrots and potatoes stew that is a real crowd pleaser and very easy to make.

Instant Pot Whole30 Beef Stew

This Instant Pot beef stew is hearty and thick, made with chuck steak, white and sweet potatoes, carrots and celery for a complete, balanced meal the whole family will enjoy. It's Whole30 compliant and gluten-free, which means it has no added sugar, wheat flour or dairy and uses clean, natural ingredients.

With the addition of spices, coconut aminos (similar to soy sauce), and sun-dried tomatoes, this beef stew has more depth and flavor than the regular version. And, you can use grain-free, gluten-free flour alternatives such as tapioca flour or arrowroot starch, to thicken the stew right at the end.

This is a great make-ahead and freezer-friendly stew that you can store in individual portions for a quick meal. It will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge as well.

Whole30 Beef Stew Ingredients

• Meat. We used chuck beef steak cut into 1-inch pieces. It's a tougher cut of meat that requires a longer cooking time but is perfect for a pressure cooker stew and its marbling and connective tissues release all the collagen and fat into the stew for flavor and keep the meat tender once it's cooked. You can use round-cut, brisket, oxtail, short rib and other stew-friendly cuts (see a list below).
• Base vegetables. A delicious mix of onions, garlic, celery and carrots builds the stew's base flavors and are also nutritious.
• Potatoes. Not only do they add more substance to the stew, but potatoes are nutritious and the starch in them helps to thicken the cooking broth. Russet potatoes hold up well during prolonged cooking making them best for stews. We've added some sweet potato as well, which softens quite a lot during cooking but adds lovely sweetness and thickness to the finished stew. Make sure to cut potatoes into similar sized chunks so they all cook evenly.
• Seasonings & sauces: We used several pantry staple spices and herbs, as well as some umami-rich ingredients like coconut aminos, tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes to add tons of flavor to this beef stew. Coconut aminos is a Whole30 alternative to soy sauce but you can sub with Tamari gluten-free sauce or fish sauce if you can't get coconut aminos.

• Cooking broth: We are using tomato sauce (passata) and beef stock (or bone broth) as the base. You can use canned tomatoes but I find the flavor isn't as concentrated as in the pureed sauce. Olive oil is used to saute everything at the start.
• To finish. Once the stew is cooked, it will be quite thick already from the starch in the vegetables, however, it's even better slightly thickened. Normally, you would use cornstarch or regular flour mixed with a little water into a slurry. For a Whole30 version, we are using tapioca flour or you can use arrowroot starch. Mixed with water, add this slurry right at the end while the stew is still hot. Top everything with fresh parsley!

Which Cut Of Beef Is Best For A Stew?

The following are some of the best cuts of beef for stewing, yielding meat that's juicy and tender even after long cooking. What you're looking for is a little bit of marbling and fat that will keep the meat nice and tender.

• Chuck and round cuts
• Bone-in short rib
• Bohemian (Bottom Sirloin Flap)
• Oxtail
• Brisket ("point" or "second cut")
• Cross-cut shanks
• In some countries, you might be looking for 'stewing steak'

Lean cuts tend to end up drier and tougher after even prolonged cooking.

Normally, the best way to achieve a super tender meat stew while using tougher cuts of beef is hours of low and slow cooking but the Instant Pot speeds the process AND locks in the moisture during the pressure cooking process.

Cooking Beef & Vegetables In The Instant Pot

One tip for achieving a great Instant Pot beef stew is to cut the potatoes and carrots into large pieces so that they can cook with the beef at the same time and not get too soft. We also recommend keeping the vegetables on top of the meat, only stirring gently to dip them into the cooking broth.

How To Make Instant Pot Beef Stew

We used Instant Pot Duo 6-quart to make this Whole30 beef stew. You can follow these step-by-step photos for reference and find the full recipe, ingredients and nutritional breakdown in the recipe card just below.

• Step 1. Saute the onions and celery, then add the beef and cook for a couple of minutes on Saute setting.
• Step 2. Add all spices, herbs, seasonings and garlic, stir and follow with beef stock and coconut aminos. Stir and Cancel Saute.

• Step 3. Place potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots on top, scatter the sun-dried tomatoes. Press down to dip the vegetables into the broth but don't stir.
• Step 4. Spread tomato sauce and paste on top but don't stir to prevent the burn error.
• Step 5. Set to Meat/Stew setting or manually select Pressure Cook and adjust the time to 35 minutes on HIGH.
• Step 6. Whisk the tapioca starch and water to make the slurry, set it aside.

• Step 7. Once done, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Quick-release and open the lid, stir the stew. Pour the slurry and stir into the hot stew to thicken.
• Finish with fresh parsley and serve!

More Instant Pot Beef Recipes

• Instant Pot Beef Bone Broth
• Instant Pot Ground Beef Stew (Budget-Friendly, One-Pot)
• Instant Pot Beef Cheeks (Served 4 Ways)
• Instant Pot Mexican Beef Rice Casserole (For Nachos Lovers!)

What To Serve With Instant Pot Beef Stew

For a Whole30 meal, you can enjoy this stew as is or add some cooked broccoli, zucchini, cabbage or cauliflower rice on the side.
For a non-Whole30 version, serve with some toasted bread rolls or toast, rice, pasta or noodles and extra veggies if you like.

Storage Tips

• Fridge: Refrigerate this beef stew in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat, in the Instant Pot on Saute setting, or in the microwave.
  heat or gently in the microwave.
• Freezer: Cool the stew completely. Freeze in an airtight freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as above or remove from the container frozen directly into the Instant Pot frozen, add a little water and set to Pressure Cook for 5 minutes on HIGH. Then heat further on Saute if needed.

Related: How To Reheat Leftovers In The Instant Pot