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Easy Instant Pot Venison Stew (slow cooker friendly)

Rich and tender Easy Instant Pot Venison Stew comes together quickly for the perfect rustic, comforting dinner to use up your harvest in the freezer.

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I honestly don’t know how to fully describe how impressed I was with this instant pot venison stew the first time I made it. Most of the time, I like to make venison stew on the stovetop, and you can never go wrong with this Irish Stew. But when I’m in a pinch and don’t have 2 hours to wait for the meat to get tender, this is the trick. If you love cooking in your Instant Pot and are looking for some more recipes, I recommend trying my Instant Pot Venison Shepherd’s Pie and my Instant Pot Venison Roast Recipe, too! They are both easy to whip up and are sure to be a hit.

For this IP Venison Stew recipe, I quickly diced up a mirepoix, or onions celery, and carrots. That’s the base of any good French soup or stew. I kept the rest of the ingredients simple because I didn’t want anything fancy. I added a French spice blend called herbs de Provence. It’s lovely and Wal Mart actually has a great organic variety for under $3. So sorry, no substitutions there. So, get you some herbs de Provence, friends.

This is the most tender piece of venison I’ve ever had in maaahhhh life, friends, because of the Instant Pot. I KID YOU NOT. This stew is honestly beautiful. It’s rustic, simple and even the most staunch venison opposer would probably fall in love with it. Instant Pot:1 Allie: 1 (I call this a win win situation).

venison sauteed in an instant pot with a wooden spoon

INGREDIENTS AND KITCHEN TOOLS | DEER MEAT, VEGETABLES, HERBS,

Ready to satisfy your hunger with the irresistible flavors of this Instant Pot Venison Stew! This hearty and comforting dish is the perfect way to warm yourself up on a chilly, snowy evening. Imagine tender chunks of succulent venison, mingling with a medley of colorful vegetables, all simmering in a rich and savory broth. The aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water! So, gather your ingredients – fresh venison, aromatic herbs, hearty vegetables – and let’s dive in! Here is what you are going to need:

Olive oil
Venison stew meat, diced with all sinew removed – I used leg meat*
Herbs de Provence
Salt
Black pepper
Diced potatoes, I left the skin on (I bet sweet potatoes would work here too!)
Diced carrots
Diced celery
Onion, diced
Garlic cloves, minced
Diced tomatoes
Unsalted beef stock or venison stock (you could also use vegetable broth or chicken broth here)
Worcestershire sauce

Kitchen tools:

You don’t need much to complete this quick and easy venison roast recipe. Just some simple kitchen tools that I always recommend having on hand:

STEP BY STEP | INSTANT POT VENISON STEW RECIPE

Step 1: Dice the potatoes, carrots, celery and onion. Mince the garlic. Set aside in a bowl.

Step 2: Dice the venison into bite-sized chunks, being sure to remove any of the silvery sinew tissue. Leaving this on makes the meat tough.

Step 3: Add the olive oil to the bottom of the pot and add the cubed venison. Add the spices and seasoning.

Step 4: Turn the Instant Pot to “Saute” for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Allow the venison to saute for 5 minutes and add the bowl of vegetables. Saute until the cycle ends with the lid off.

Step 6: Add the tomatoes, broth and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well, secure the lid, and seal the valve.

Step 7: Select “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” on high pressure and adjust the time to 30 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to do its thang. Go pour some wine, do your nails, whatever.

Step 8: When the cycle finishes, allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes before turning the knob to venting according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 9: Allow the Instant Pot to vent fully, remove the lid and serve!

NOTES:

Beef would work well, too! You can use any cut of venison, backstrap would be lovely. Leg meat is tough, so this recipe helps it to be tender and delish!
Herbs de Provence is a French spice blend. It’s lovely and Wal Mart actually has a great organic variety for under $3. If you have to substitute, use Italian seasoning.

vegetables and venison in an instant pot all diced up

Cooking Tip

If you want to make this in the slow cooker, saute the venison in a pan and add it to the slow cooker with all of the other ingredients. Let it cook for 4-5 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

HOW TO SERVE

Instant Pot venison stew is a delicious and nutritious meal that combines the modern convenience of the Instant Pot with the rustic charm of this lean and flavorful meat. You don’t need much to serve up this delicious dish. To serve this delightful dish, ladle a generous portion of the piping hot stew into your bowl, serve with a slice of crusty bread, biscuit, cornbread, whichever you prefer, and enjoy!

STORING AND REHEATING

If you have some leftover roast and are wanting to pack it away for lunches throughout the week. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. You can reheat in the microwave or stove top until warm.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How Do You Get Venison To Be Tender In Stew?

This is one of my most frequently asked questions. And for you, I have two tips.

Remove all sinew.
Sear and braise – low & slow

What is sinew, you ask?

Sinew is the silvery connective tissue that you see running through your venison. When it isn’t removed, it causes venison to curl up like a rubber band and get really tough.

I love stew because you can cut venison into small, bite-sized pieces and remove the sinew as you go. This helps each bite of venison to be ultra-tender.

OTHER INSTANT POT VENISON RECIPES

If you love this recipe, you’ll LOVE my Instant Pot Venison Shepherd’s Pie. Make sure you also check out my Instant Pot Venison Roast Recipe, too! They are both easy to whip up and are sure to be a hit.

If you are looking for more amazing venison recipes, make sure you grab a copy of my cookbook, Venison Every Day!