This beef stew is made in the Instant Pot and literally melts in your mouth. Big chunks of beef mixed with bacon and mushrooms make this a perfect comfort food dinner choice for any busy weeknight!
When the colder weather starts to appear, I always like to cook more comfort food like this Steak and Ale Pie. It's how I remember dinners growing up and there's nothing better than a warm bowl of soup or stew when the rain (or snow) is pounding down outside.
Now that the Instant Pot has become such a valuable tool in the kitchen, you don't need to cook your beef stew for hours and hours to get it fork tender!
How long does it take to cook in my Instant Pot?
There's a little bit of prep before you actually have to put the lid on and set the timer, but with the sauté button you can still do all of that prep in the Instant Pot! Once all of your ingredients have been added, the beef stew should be ready in about 30 minutes.
Can I use a slow cooker if I have no Instant Pot?
Yes you can but the time will need to be adjusted. On high, I'd plan for the beef stew to take around four hours.
Is it okay to use red wine in my Instant Pot?
Yes, in fact you need the red wine to make this beef stew as tasty as it is. After cooking the bacon, the bottom of the pot becomes covered in crispy burnt bits of bacon and that's flavor you don't want to lose.
The best way to scrape it off the bottom is by deglazing the pot with the red wine. Deglazing is done by adding some red wine to the pot after the meat has been transferred to a plate.
Scrape the pot as the red wine simmers and the flavor will be absorbed into the wine after the alcohol cooks off.
How to thicken your beef stew.
Once the beef stew is ready, the sauce will be a little bit on the runnier side which is fine, but I prefer a thick, rich gravy and the easiest way to do that is by mixing equal parts of water and cornstarch together to make a slurry or a thin paste. Add to the stew, stir and simmer for an extra five minutes to cook out flavor of the cornstarch.
What can I serve with my beef stew?
This beef stew is so rich and filling that you can eat it just as it is, but on top of a bed of creamy mashed potatoes or rice makes this the ultimate comfort food!
How do I reheat my beef stew?
You can warm it through in a pan and add a little beef stock with it to loosen it up, or simply in the microwave for a few minutes depending on the amount your trying to reheat.
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