Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew

This lightened-up Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew is a warm and comforting meal packed with flavor, vegetables and nutrients from velvety butternut squash that melts into the broth for a thick and delicious stew.

After relishing the warm, sunny Florida weather during our spring break last week, we were smacked in the face with temperatures in the upper 40s and lots of rain in Charlotte on Monday. Just when I thought my Instant Pot and slow cooker might find themselves tucked away for a while with the onset of spring and summer, I found myself craving a warm and comforting meal.

Instant Pot Butterut Squash Beef Stew

Oh hello, Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew!

If I were a better food blogger, I would’ve shared this recipe with you guys in the fall because it definitely screams cozy, cold weather meal, but here I am, making Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew and sharing the recipe with you guys in April. Maybe this one will appeal to you to make on the next dreary day in your area so it won’t be a total loss?

I always find myself craving soups, stews and Instant Pot meals on rainy days and continue to use my slow cooker and pressure cooker year-round for this very reason. Well, that and the fact that they make getting dinner on the table for our family of 5 much easier!

This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew is a recipe I first made eight months ago and it found its way into our regular meal rotation ever since. It is packed with veggies and flavor and gets its thickness from butternut squash that melts into the broth, resulting in a velvety beef stew that always has me going back for seconds. It’s a stew that has all the makings of a rich and hearty meal but somehow doesn’t leave you feeling heavy.

Oh and one time-saving tip: Use pre-cubed frozen butternut squash in this recipe if you have it available at a grocery store near you. It makes this recipe a million times easier and the flavor is identical! No need to use any extra elbow grease chopping up the squash for this recipe!

Beef and Butternut Squash Stew Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to make this easy butternut squash beef stew:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 onions, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, diced
• 3 large carrots, chopped
• 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1 inch cubes
• sea salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 16-ounce bag frozen diced butternut squash (fresh butternut squash may also be used)
• parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot using the sauté mode. Add onion, garlic and carrots and cook until onions start to become soft and translucent.

Step 2: Add the beef in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Brown the beef, cooking it for approximately 4 minutes on each side.

Step 3: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for one minute.

Step 4: Add the beef broth, oregano, thyme and bay leaves. Add the buutternut squash. Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes. Quick release and stir everything together, using a spoon to mash up any large chunks of butternut squash. The butternut squash will break down and melt into the broth, resulting in a thick and hearty stew.

Step 5: Spoon into bowls and top with parsley, serve with crusty bread and enjoy!

If you decide to give this recipe a try, I’d love to know what you think! I also always appreciate any reviews and star ratings you’d like to leave, as this helps other people find and trust my recipes, too!

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew Recipe

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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 14 reviews

• Author: Julie
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Category: dinner, beef
• Method: Instant Pot, pressure cooker
• Cuisine: American

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Description

This lightened-up Instant Pot Butternut Squash Beef Stew is a warm and comforting meal packed with flavor, vegetables and nutrients from velvety butternut squash that melts into the broth for a thick and delicious stew.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 onions, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, diced
• 3 large carrots, chopped
• 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1 inch cubes
• sea salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 16-ounce bag frozen diced butternut squash (fresh butternut squash may also be used)
• parsley, for garnish (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in the Instant Pot using the sauté mode. Add onion, garlic and carrots and cook until onions start to become soft and translucent.
2. Add the beef in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Brown the beef, cooking it for approximately 4 minutes on each side.
3. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for one minute.
4. Add the beef broth, oregano, thyme and bay leaves. Add the buutternut squash. Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes. Quick release and stir everything together, using a spoon to mash up any large chunks of butternut squash. The butternut squash will break down and melt into the broth, resulting in a thick and hearty stew.
5. Spoon into bowls and top with parsley, if desired, and enjoy!

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Can I Use Chuck Roast For Beef Stew?

• Sear first: Always sear your cubed chuck roast in a hot pan with a little olive oil before adding liquids to lock in the flavor.
• Low and slow: Give it time! If you’re not using a pressure cooker, chuck roast needs at least 1.5 to 2 hours of simmering to get completely tender.
• Add veggies late: Add your butternut squash and other vegetables during the last 30 to 45 minutes of cooking so they don’t get mushy if you’re cooking on the stovetop.

What Meat Goes Well With Butternut Squash

If you happen to have a lot of butternut squash on your hands and are looking for more ways to put it to use, here are are few different proteins that pair well with butternut squash:

• Pork: Hands down the most classic pairing. The natural sweetness of the squash beautifully complements savory, herby pork chops.
• Spicy Italian Sausage: The heat and fennel notes in sausage offer a perfect savory contrast to the sweet squash. I love browning it up and tossing it into a skillet dish.
• Chicken Thighs: Juicy, bone-in chicken thighs roasted right alongside squash cubes make for the easiest sheet-pan dinner. You can even combine them into an Instant Pot Butternut Squash Chicken Curry.
• Bacon or Pancetta: Crispy bacon bits add a salty, smoky crunch. Sprinkle them over a squash puree or soup to instantly elevate the flavor.
• Ground Beef or Turkey: Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. A Ground Beef Skillet with Butternut Squash is highly customizable and always a crowd-pleaser.