Rating: 3.78
(194)

45-Minute Beef Stew

August 30, 2023

Stew is the kind of dish that’s synonymous with cozy comfort food, but traditionally, it can take hours to develop the rich flavors that make it so satisfying. Enter this 45-minute beef stew, a quicker, weeknight-friendly version that doesn’t skimp on flavor or warmth. It’s the perfect balance of tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a savory broth, all simmered together to create a comforting, soul-warming dish that’s ready in a fraction of the usual time.

The secret to this speedy stew lies in how you prep and cook the ingredients. Using a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot, you can cut the usual cooking time by more than half, allowing the beef to become meltingly tender while maintaining that depth of flavor that makes stew so special. A good sear on the beef before adding the broth enhances the richness of the final dish, while the vegetables, carrots, potatoes, and onions, add the perfect amount of texture and sweetness.

The broth itself is a simple mix of beef stock, garlic, herbs, and a splash of red wine or balsamic vinegar for depth. You don’t need hours to let the flavors develop; the pressure cooker works its magic in just 20 minutes, ensuring that every bite is as flavorful as it would be after a long, slow simmer.

This 45-minute beef stew isn’t just quick, it’s flexible, too. You can easily swap out vegetables, adjust the seasoning, or even add in a handful of peas or corn at the end to add another layer of texture. It’s a no-fuss, one-pot meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights but impressive enough to serve when you want to treat yourself (or your family) to something hearty and satisfying.

Serve it with a slice of crusty bread or over a bed of rice to soak up all that rich, flavorful broth, and you’ve got a comforting, filling meal that feels like it took hours, without the wait.

45-Minute Beef Stew
45-Minute Beef Stew
3.78 from 194 votes
A hearty and flavorful beef stew that can be ready in just 45 minutes!
Servings 6 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 2 carrots peeled and sliced
  • 2 potatoes peeled and diced
  • 1 tsp thyme dried
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, toss the beef stew meat with flour until evenly coated.
  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the coated beef stew meat and cook until browned on all sides.
  • Remove the beef from the pot and set aside.
  • In the same pot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook until the onion is tender.
  • Pour in the beef broth and red wine, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits.
  • Add the browned beef back into the pot, along with the sliced carrots, diced potatoes, dried thyme, and bay leaf.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover the pot.
  • Simmer for 30 minutes, or until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
  • Remove the bay leaf before serving.
  • Serve the beef stew hot and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 40gFat: 12gFiber: 3g
Calories: 350kcal
Meal Type: Lunch
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: beef stew, French cuisine
Cooking Method: Boiled
Time: 30-45 Min
Level: Easy
Tried this recipe?Mention @coolinarco or tag #coolinarco!
Join the Conversation
  1. 4 stars
    Didn’t have red wine, so I used white, and it was still good! But I think the red would be better.

  2. User avatar jonathon.huels65 says:

    3 stars
    I guess it was okay, but mine turned out a bit bland. Maybe I needed more seasoning?

  3. User avatar dorcas.ratke35 says:

    4 stars
    Very good recipe but I forgot to buy the red wine 🥴. Still turned out okay with just beef broth.

  4. User avatar mikel.parisian80 says:

    3 stars
    The garlic + onion smelled amazing. However, mine turned out kinda thin, like more soup than stew. Maybe I under-floured the beef? Still tasted good.

  5. 3 stars
    Beef stew?! This ain’t no stew, it’s like soup! More meat please

  6. User avatar ali.jerde67 says:

    5 stars
    I made this yesterday, and I swear, it was better than my mom’s. No joke!

  7. 2 stars
    My kids didn’t eat it. They just picked out the potatoes. Not their favorite.

  8. User avatar darrel.jacobi says:

    5 stars
    This beef stew is amazing! My family loved it. Definitely making again!

  9. 2 stars
    Honestly, I’m skeptical about red wine in stew. It’s like, is it gonna make it fancy or just taste like wine?

  10. User avatar gerardo.franecki64 says:

    2 stars
    Too oily for my taste. I think less oil next time.

  11. 5 stars
    This stew is absolutely delicious! My family loved it!

    1. User avatar april.ebert says:

      5 stars
      So glad to hear that! I made it last week and felt the same. It’s such a comforting dish!

    2. User avatar donovan.corkery61 says:

      2 stars
      I dunno, the wine part feels weird for stew. Can’t you just use more broth? Seems like a waste.

  12. User avatar javier.corwin63 says:

    3 stars
    I don’t know about the red wine part, seems unnecessary to me. Can I just use more broth?

  13. User avatar dion.pfannerstill4 says:

    2 stars
    Wait—salt and pepper “to taste” but no amount? lol also 4 cups broth for 2 lbs beef seems too much to me. Could be bland if you don’t season right.

  14. User avatar cedric.cremin47 says:

    5 stars
    This stew is so delicious! I added some celery, and it turned out great. My family loved it!

  15. User avatar Oolon Colluphid says:

    1 star
    For stew, I prefer my mom’s recipe. This one ain’t it. Sorry.

  16. User avatar rochell.borer says:

    1 star
    Who has time for all this? 45 mins?? Rn I’m busy. Gonna skip this one.

  17. User avatar cristi.waters says:

    3 stars
    Not bad, but mine turned out a little thin. I think I needed more flour or a longer simmer to thicken the broth.

  18. User avatar melba.heller31 says:

    5 stars
    Yum! This is exactly what I needed on a cold night. Tastes like home.

  19. 3 stars
    I messed up step 1 and didn’t coat evenly… still turned out tasty though. Kinda rustic looking, but flavor was there.

  20. User avatar hosea.ortiz17 says:

    4 stars
    I don’t usually cook with red wine, but I tried it anyway. It gives this nice richness—although my partner said it smelled ‘fancy’ 😄

  21. User avatar Emily Saunders says:

    5 stars
    This reminds me of my grandma’s stew! So comforting and warm. Love it!

  22. User avatar milford.bartoletti says:

    3 stars
    45 min?? lol it took me way longer. Still, was tasty. I’m giving it 3 ‘cause my onions were not tender in 5 minutes

  23. User avatar lamont.considine says:

    4 stars
    Really simple and quick! I was skeptikal at first about the wine, but wow! It added a nice depth of flavor.

  24. User avatar garland.kassulke says:

    5 stars
    This beef stew was amazing! So hearty and delicious, perfect for a cold night. Will definitely make again!

  25. User avatar liberal.hero says:

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and it was honestly so comforting. Browning the beef step really matters—my stew had great depth. I used a dry red wine and it came out perfect. Will make again.

  26. User avatar lyman.cassin says:

    5 stars
    The step where you brown the beef—do not rush it. I tried to skip some browning and it tasted flatter. Lesson learned.

    1. User avatar belen.hegmann2006 says:

      5 stars
      So true! Browning is where the flavor actually builds. When I rushed it once, the whole stew tasted kind of “gray” compared to normal.

  27. User avatar xavier.ebert2003 says:

    4 stars
    Took me longer than 45 minutes, maybe I’m just slow? But it was worth the wait. The flavors were good.

    1. User avatar kary.satterfield says:

      5 stars
      Hey, don’t worry! Cooking times can vary based on so many things. It sounds like you did a great job if the flavors were good! 😋

    2. 2 stars
      45 minutes? Really? I don’t believe it’s possible. My last stew took forever, and it wasn’t even worth it.

  28. User avatar norine.kuphal2011 says:

    2 stars
    I tried this recipe but it was too salty for my taste. Maybe cut back on the salt? idk.

  29. User avatar maisha.white1975 says:

    4 stars
    I didn’t have thyme so I used oregano instead. Still pretty good!

    1. User avatar tawnya.yundt84 says:

      5 stars
      Oregano works too! I think it adds a nice twist. Glad it turned out good for you!

  30. User avatar Sandy Reichel says:

    5 stars
    Best stew ever! Didn’t expect the wine to make that much difference. Totally recommend this recipe.

    1. User avatar anderson.murazik85 says:

      5 stars
      I agree! The wine really adds that extra flavor. I never thought about using it in stew before, but now I can’t ignore it! Yum!

3.78 from 194 votes
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