Warm, hearty, and made with everyday ingredients, this Hamburger Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food. It’s a budget-friendly, family-approved twist on the traditional beef stew—swapping tough stew cubes for lean ground beef that cooks up fast but still delivers deep, savory flavor. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or looking for a cozy one-pot dinner, this recipe is guaranteed to hit the spot.
🛒 Ingredients
This recipe yields about 6–8 generous servings.
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Olive oil | 2 tablespoons |
| Lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) | 2 pounds |
| Yellow onion | 1 large, chopped (about 1.5 cups) |
| Garlic | 4–5 cloves, minced (1.5 tbsp) |
| Carrots | 3–4 medium, sliced (about 2 cups) |
| Celery | 3 ribs, sliced (about 1.5 cups) |
| All-purpose flour | ¼ cup |
| Beef broth (low sodium) | 6 cups |
| Diced tomatoes (undrained) | 1 can (14.5 oz) |
| Tomato paste | 2 tablespoons |
| Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes | 1.5 lbs, peeled and cubed (4 cups) |
| Worcestershire sauce | 2 tablespoons |
| Dried thyme | 1 teaspoon |
| Dried rosemary (crushed) | ½ teaspoon |
| Bay leaf | 1 large |
| Frozen peas | 1 cup |
| Frozen corn (optional) | 1 cup |
| Salt | 1½ teaspoons (adjust to taste) |
| Freshly ground pepper | 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste) |
| Fresh parsley | ¼ cup, chopped (for garnish) |
💡 Optional: Add mushrooms, parsnips, or sweet potatoes for variety.
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Brown the Beef
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 7–10 minutes, breaking it apart as it browns. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1–2 tablespoons in the pot.
2. Sauté the Veggies
Add chopped onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 more minute until fragrant.
3. Thicken the Base
Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stirring constantly for 1–2 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook for another minute to enhance depth.
4. Deglaze & Add Broth
Pour in 1 cup of broth and scrape the bottom to release flavorful bits. Stir in remaining broth, diced tomatoes (with juice), and Worcestershire sauce.
5. Add Potatoes & Seasonings
Add cubed potatoes, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
6. Simmer
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to low. Cover partially and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are fork-tender.
7. Add Peas & Corn
In the final 5–10 minutes, stir in frozen peas and corn. Simmer just until heated through.
8. Taste & Adjust
Remove bay leaf. Adjust seasoning to taste. For a thicker stew, mash a few potatoes or stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water).
9. Serve
Let the stew rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
🥄 How to Serve
- Classic: In bowls with fresh parsley and crusty bread
- Topped with: Sharp cheddar, a dollop of sour cream, or crispy fried onions
- Over:
- Mashed potatoes
- Egg noodles
- Rice
- Creamy polenta
- Cauliflower mash (low-carb option)
🧊 Storage & Meal Prep Tips
| Storage | Duration | Reheat Method |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge | 3–4 days | Stovetop on low or microwave |
| Freezer | Up to 3 months | Thaw overnight, reheat gently |
✅ Freezer-safe and meal-prep friendly! Flavor improves overnight.
🧠 Expert Tips
- Boost Flavor: Add a splash of red wine before the broth for a richer stew.
- Thicken Naturally: Mash a few potato chunks into the stew or blend a cup of the broth and stir back in.
- Veggie Flexibility: Swap in mushrooms, sweet potatoes, green beans, or parsnips. Adjust cook times accordingly.
- Go Gluten-Free: Use cornstarch instead of flour. Double-check Worcestershire and broth for hidden gluten.
🥘 Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Adaptation
Slow Cooker:
- Brown beef and sauté veggies as above.
- Transfer to slow cooker with flour, tomato paste, broth, tomatoes, potatoes, and seasonings (except peas/corn).
- Cook on LOW 6–8 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours.
- Add peas/corn in final 30 minutes. Thicken if desired.
Instant Pot:
- Use “Sauté” to brown beef and veggies. Turn off.
- Stir in flour, tomato paste, 1 cup broth. Scrape bottom.
- Add all remaining ingredients (hold peas/corn).
- Cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. Natural release 10 min.
- Stir in peas/corn; use “Sauté” if needed to heat through.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different meat?
Yes! Ground turkey, chicken, bison, lamb, or Italian sausage work well. Adjust seasoning and fat accordingly.
How do I make this gluten-free?
Skip flour and thicken with a cornstarch or arrowroot slurry at the end. Use gluten-free broth and Worcestershire sauce.
What if the stew is too thin?
Let it simmer uncovered longer, or use a cornstarch slurry. You can also mash some potatoes or blend 1 cup of stew and return it to the pot.
Can I prep this ahead?
Absolutely! It’s better the next day. Store in the fridge or freezer in airtight containers.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Hamburger Stew
- ✅ One-pot and weeknight-friendly
- ✅ Kids love the ground beef texture
- ✅ Cheaper than classic beef stew
- ✅ Big flavor without long cooking times
- ✅ Freezer-friendly for meal planning