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I have the best, quick, easy, and cozy Wednesday dinner, Better For You Instant Pot Spicy White Bean Beef Stew.

Better For You Instant Pot Spicy White Bean Beef Stew | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Apparently this week is all about midwest..ish style comfort foods. With Monday’s Spaghetti Pie and today’s Beef Stew, I’m going back to my Ohio roots. Not sure what’s gotten into me, but I got this idea for a spicy white bean beef stew and really loved the sound of it. Normally, beef stew is not something I really have a strong desire to make. Anything beef and stew just doesn’t usually come to mind, but again, something came over me and this just sounded really good.

So I took the idea and went with it, which is something I’m trying to do more of, instead of sitting on it for days and then deciding it’s actually a bad idea. The way my brain works, it’s great and so awful at the same time.

Anyway, I went for it and since I’m on a quick and easy kick, I decided to try this out in the Instant Pot. I was nervous. I’ve had a few successes with the instant pot, see this chicken ramen (love, love, love this recipe so much) and these turkey meatballs (with spaghetti squash so it’s healthified!). But for my two successes, I’ve had countless fails. To say that figuring out the Instant Pot has been tricky would be an understatement. I gave up for a while, but I’m pretty happy I decided to give it another try because this easy beef stew is game changing.

Better For You Instant Pot Spicy White Bean Beef Stew | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Better For You Instant Pot Spicy White Bean Beef Stew | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Here’s how this goes. Add everything to the instant pot, set it to the meat and stew setting for thirty-five minutes. Transfer the stew to a baking dish, broil for a few minutes to caramelize the meat and veggies. EAT. With plenty of toasted bread and maybe some parmesan too. If you’re into that, which I am.

Okay. I realize that a lot of you are like, wait, why do we have to dirty another dish and broil this?

Here is why. The meat needs some caramelization on it to add flavor. Normally, I would brown the meat before cooking the stew, but I don’t love browning meat in the Instant Pot. It’s a little small and it’s hard to control the heat. Trust me, this broiling method makes life easy and makes for a delicious, non-chewy stew. Plus, it’s only one additional step, making this entire dinner a two-step process.

Guys you got that. You can do it.

Also, finishing the stew in a baking dish or a pretty cast iron dutch oven makes for a much prettier presentation. So, if you wanted to serve this as a holiday meal, no one would ever have to know that it did not actually slow cook all-day.

Better For You Instant Pot Spicy White Bean Beef Stew | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Seeing as this last week was heavy on the comfort foods, and just food in general (hello to all those Thanksgiving appetizers and pies), I though it might be nice if I also lightened this recipe up a bit. Meaning, I added a ton of carrots (mainly because carrots cooked in red wine are maybe one of my favorite things ever), lots of protein and fiber rich white beans, and a few large handfuls of greens. For the greens, I used spinach because it’s what I had on hand, but I’d use a hearty winter green like a chard or kale. These will hold up better in the stew. That said, the spinach was still delicious.

I also added some chili peppers to give the stew a little unexpected heat. The spice in the chili peppers is said to really rev up our metabolisms, making this the perfect post Thanksgiving week dinner.

Who says comfort food can’t be healthy too!Better For You Instant Pot Spicy White Bean Beef Stew | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Better For You Instant Pot Spicy White Bean Beef Stew | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Instant Pot Spicy White Bean, Beef, and Potato Stew

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 626 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • 1. In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the beef, onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, chili peppers, flour, and a large pinch of both salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Add the broth, wine, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaves, and season again with salt and pepper. Seal the instant pot and set to the meat/stew setting for 35 minutes. Preheat the broiler to high. 
    2. Once the instant pot has finished cooking, Transfer the stew to an oven safe pot. Stir in the white beans and greens. Transfer to the oven and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring 2-3 times throughout cooking, until the beef is browned and the sauce thickened. Remove from the oven. Remove the thyme and bay leaves. Divide the stew between bowls. Serve with bread. Enjoy! 

To make in Oven

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. 
    2. In a  large oven safe dutch oven, combine the beef, onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, chili peppers, flour, and a large pinch of both salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Add the broth, wine, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaves, and season again with salt and pepper. Transfer to the oven and cook 2 1/2-3 1/2 hours or until the meat is fork tender and falling apart. Preheat the broiler to high.
    3. Stir in the white beans and greens. Transfer to the oven and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring 2-3 times throughout cooking, until the beef is browned and the sauce thickened. Remove from the oven. Remove the thyme and bay leaves. Divide the stew between bowls. Serve with bread. Enjoy! 
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Better For You Instant Pot Spicy White Bean Beef Stew | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Guess it’s a cozy stew kind of Wednesday night.

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Comments

  1. If I don’t have the option to put this in the oven after cooking in the instantpot, should I just sear the meat in the instantpot before pressure cooking and then cook on saute at the end with the beans/greens?

    Also, how large of cubes would the meat be to cook at the same rate as the potatoes? Should I cut the meat about the same size as the potatoes?

    Also, can I sub chili powder for canned chilis? I’ve never had the canned ones, so I’m not sure if the taste is similar?

    Thanks!

    1. Hi Sarah,
      Sure, I don’t see why that wouldn’t work for you! I did about 1 inch cubes of meat. The chili peppers are just for heat, so you could use red pepper flakes:) I hope you love this dish! xx

  2. 2 stars
    not my favorite. after 3+ hours the meat was still tough and pretty tasteless. Had to omit peppers since my husband doesn’t do spicy food. Disappointed.

    1. Hey Cassandra,
      Sorry to hear this recipe was not enjoyed. Was there anything you may have adjusted in the recipe? Let me know how I can help! xx

    1. Hey Kelly,
      Sure, I would cook for 6-8 hours on low! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx

  3. If done in oven, I assumed it was without a lid, correct? Can’t wait to have this for a special dinner with friends!

    1. Hi Dan,
      I like to use a lid for this recipe! Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope this turns out well for you! xT

      1. Hey Dan,
        Fantastic!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xx

  4. 5 stars
    Made this in my Ninja Foodie, pressure cooked on high 25 minutes, natural release 5 minutes. Boiled on the Sear setting just to add in the kale and beans. Didn’t take time to broil as I started dinner late! Broth was thick enough without that step. Could only find Mezzetta hot chili peppers, used 4. Probably better without the vinegar influence but would make it this way again. Still yummy! Made your Beer Bread so loved having the extra broth with it!

    1. Hey Julie,
      Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Happy Tuesday! 🎄