Can you make air fryer beef stew? Yes! You can air fry beef stew with a few tweaks to classic beef stew recipes. In this air fryer stew recipe, we’re using air fryer steak bites in place of traditional stew meat. Stew is one of those things everyone says you cannot cook in an air fryer. However, this delicious beef vegetable stew air fryer recipe proves them wrong!
I recently had a reader ask if they could make air fried stew. I replied that the problem with a beef stew air fryer recipe is cooking air fryer stew meat.
Stew meat is usually chuck roast or another cheap, tough cut of beef. The stew meat benefits from a long braise cook time over low heat. This allows the collagen and connective tissue in the meat to break down, and the stew meat to tenderize.
A stew meat air fryer recipe would basically be doing the opposite. Air fryers cook fast with dry heat. Beef stew meat in the air fryer ends up unpleasantly tough as a result.
Thus, I don’t recommend cooking stew meat in the air fryer. However, you CAN still enjoy a beef stew in the air fryer with tasty, tender beef.
The secret is to use a quick-cooking cut of beef in the stew, such as steak. We’re also going to make and thicken the stew gravy before adding it to the beef and veggies. Though unconventional, the results are so good, you family won’t believe you made this stew in an air fryer!
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⭐ Air Fryer Stew Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for air fryer beef stew:
- 8 ounces ribeye steak
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder (or garlic powder)
- ½ carrot (2 ounces)
- ½ small peeled potato (4 ounces)
- ¼ onion (2 ounces)
- ½ rib celery (1 ounce)
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon double-concentrated tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon red wine
- ½ cup hot beef stock
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
- 5 small Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits from a can (optional)
- Cooking oil spray (optional)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
- Salt and pepper (optional, add to the beef stock if homemade)
Get a printable recipe card below!
I tested this recipe with a Kalorik Air Fryer Oven, a small air fryer, and I also made Ninja air fryer beef stew. (Yes, I tested it using 3 different air fryers!) You can make air fryer stew in a Ninja Foodi, Philips, Nuwave, Pampered Chef, Actifry, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Breville, or another air fryer too.
However, cooking times will need to be adjusted depending on the air fryer you use. Always check the food early the first time you try any new air fryer recipe. I'll give you tips on using everything from an air fryer oven to a small air fryer basket below.
Some other things that are helpful in this recipe are:
- Good knife
- Pastry brush
- Meat thermometer
- Baking dish for the stew
You need to find an oven-safe baking pan or dish that fits in your air fryer. I use an 8x8-inch aluminum baking pan in my air fryer oven, and a 2-cup ramekin in my small air fryer. (If you use a small ramekin, you won’t be able to fit all the optional biscuits on top.)
Can you air fry stew meat?
You can make air fryer beef cubes for stew, but they should not be traditional chuck stew meat. Instead, cook beef tips in the air fryer, steak, or another quick-cooking cut of meat for stew.
In fact, you don’t even have to use beef in air fryer stew. Make chicken stew in air fryer with meat leftover from air fryer frozen chicken thighs. Or try lamb stew in air fryer with cubes of leftover air fryer lamb chops.
➕ How to Make Air Fryer Stew
How long to air fry stew? What's the air fryer stew temperature? Once the meat and vegetables are air fried separately, you can finish the air fryer stew at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163C) for 3-5 minutes.
If you’re serving stew with optional biscuits, I recommend starting those first. Spray your air fryer basket or tray with non-aerosol cooking spray. Place the biscuits in a non-touching single layer on your air fryer tray.
Air fry biscuits at 325F (163C) for 6-8 minutes, carefully flipping them over halfway through cooking time. You want them to be about 1 minute underdone, as they’re going back in the air fryer later.
Note that some air fryers do not do a good job cooking biscuits and croissants. If your air fryer leaves biscuits doughy in the middle, either skip the biscuits in this recipe or cook them in the oven using the package directions.
After cooking the biscuits, set them aside. Now we’re ready to air fry the vegetables and beef in our stew.
How Long to Cook Stew Meat in Air Fryer
How to cook steak strips in air fryer? I adapted my easy air fryer rib eye steak recipe to use as meat in our stew. You need to air fry the meat for 13-20 minutes at 400F (200C). Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Combine the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and onion powder. Brush this mixture on the steak. You can marinate the steak in the fridge, or pop it right in the air fryer if you’re short on time.
- Air fry the steak at 400F (200C) for 10 minutes. Use the top rack position if you have an air fryer oven. Then flip the steak, and air fry 5-10 minutes more, checking after 3 minutes. Cook the steak to whatever doneness you prefer (I recommend medium-rare), using a meat thermometer to check it.
- After air frying, set the beef aside to rest for 10 minutes, then cut it into 1-inch cubes (2.54 cm). (We’re cutting the beef after air frying to keep it extra juicy.)
- While the cooked beef rests, work on the veggies. Cut the carrots, potatoes, onion, and celery into ½-inch dice (1.27 cm). Mix with the oil.
- Air fry the vegetables for 10 minutes at 375F (190C). Add additional time as needed to soften them. You’re not looking to brown them much. If you cut the veggies larger than ½ inch, they may take longer and cook unevenly. Set the cooked veggies aside.
- Whisk the tomato paste, red wine, hot beef broth, thyme, and xanthan gum together. This is our beef stew gravy, which we’re thickening with the xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is the perfect thickener for air fryer stew, since (unlike flour) it thickens at any temperature.
How Long to Cook Casserole in Air Fryer
Now that the steak cubes, vegetables, gravy, and biscuits are ready, we can assemble our air fryer beef casserole. Stir the beef, veggies, and gravy together and put in a baking dish. Top with the biscuits (if using), and brush the biscuits with butter. Air fry at 325F (163C) for 3-5 minutes.
This last step will finish cooking the biscuits and thicken the stew gravy a little more. Use the middle rack if you have an air fryer oven.
After the stew is finished, you can sprinkle with a little grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley. This air fryer recipe serves two, perfect for couples!
🌡️ How to Store Leftover Stew
You can store leftover beef stew in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep the biscuits in a separate container for up to one day. They’ll get soggy if left on top of the stew.
You can reheat the stew in the microwave (in a microwave-safe bowl) on high for 1½-2 minutes. Reheat the biscuits in the air fryer at 400F (200C) for 3-4 minutes. Top stew with biscuits and serve.
🥶 How to Freeze Stew
I don’t recommend freezing this beef stew recipe, because the potatoes become mushy when thawed. Stews without potatoes usually freeze and defrost nicely when stored in an airtight container.
🥗 What goes with stew?
Beef stew and biscuits is a delish one pot meal! If you’d like to add more, here are some side dishes for beef stew:
- Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
- Smoked Portobello Mushrooms
- Protein Cornbread
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- Costco Cauliflower Rice
- Canned Asparagus Recipe
FAQs
As mentioned above, typical stew meat (i.e., chuck steak) is better braised than air fried. If you’re using sirloin steak, chicken, or lamb for stew, yes, you can cook these from frozen.
Yes, you can make air fryer crispy beef strips! Check out the video here for a delicious-looking recipe for air fried crispy chili beef.
To make gluten free air fryer stew, skip the biscuits and substitute gluten-free tamari for the soy sauce.
Yes, you can air fry raw meat, including beef. We’re air frying raw beef steak in this air fryer stew recipe.
No, you don’t need to boil meat before air frying. Air fryers are essentially like a mini convection oven. They can cook meat similar to how a convection oven does, no boiling required.
📋Air Fryer Stew Calories
One serving of air fryer beef stew has 784 calories, 50 grams net carbohydrates, and 27 grams protein. If you skip the optional buttered biscuits, this air fryer stew has 509 calories per serving.
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). At almost 800 calories per serving, this air fryer stew is an energizing meal. To make a low calorie stew (or lower calorie), skip the biscuits. This will drop each portion to about 500 calories per serving.
Skipping the biscuits makes the stew somewhat low carb, but not keto. That’s because the stew still contains potatoes, a starchy vegetable.
The wine in the sauce doesn’t have a chance to cook off in air fryer stew. That’s why I used much less than I would in stovetop stew. Additionally, the flavors in the stew aren’t given much as a chance to meld with the fast air fryer cook times.
If you want to develop the flavor in the stew, make it ahead, and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days. After reheating, I think you’ll find it’s even closer to a stew made in the slow cooker, stove, or oven. (You can also get away with using a little more wine if you are making it ahead. 😊)
👨🏾🍳 Other Air Fryer Beef Recipes
Here are some more air fryer recipes for beef you may enjoy:
- Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Flank Steak
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Meatloaf in Air Fryer
- Frozen Hamburgers in Air Fryer
Don’t miss our collection of popular Air Fryer Recipes while you’re here!
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Beef Stew Recipe (Cooking Stew Meat)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ribeye steak (227 grams)
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ medium carrot (about 2 ounces or 57 grams)
- ½ small peeled potato (about 4 ounces or 113 grams)
- ¼ medium onion (about 2 ounces or 57 grams)
- ½ rib celery (about 1 ounce or 28 grams)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon double-concentrated tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon red wine
- ½ cup beef bone broth (hot; add salt and pepper if using homemade broth)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
- 5 small canned biscuits (optional)
- cooking oil spray (optional, non-aerosol cooking spray)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (optional)
- grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Spray your air fryer basket or tray with cooking spray. Place the biscuits in a non-touching single layer on your air fryer tray. Air fry biscuits at 325°F (163°C) for 6-8 minutes, carefully flipping them over halfway through cooking time. You want them to be about 1 minute underdone, as they’re going back in the air fryer later.
- Combine the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and onion powder. Brush this mixture on the steak. You can marinate the steak in the fridge, or pop it right in the air fryer if you’re short on time.
- Air fry the steak at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes. Use the top rack position if you have an air fryer oven. Then flip the steak, and air fry 5-10 minutes more, checking after 3 minutes. Cook the steak to whatever doneness you prefer, using a meat thermometer to check it.
- After air frying, set the beef aside to rest for 10 minutes, then cut it into 1-inch cubes (2.54 cm).
- While the cooked beef rests, work on the veggies. Cut the carrots, potatoes, onion, and celery into ½-inch dice (1.27 cm). Mix with the oil.
- Air fry the vegetables for 10 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Add additional time as needed to soften them. You’re not looking to brown them much.
- Whisk the tomato paste, red wine, hot beef broth, thyme, and xanthan gum together for the stew gravy.
- Stir the beef, veggies, and gravy together and put in an oven-safe baking pan or ramekin that fits in your air fryer. Top with the biscuits (if using), and brush the biscuits with melted butter. Air fry at 325°F (163°C) for 3-5 minutes. (Use the middle rack if you have an air fryer oven.)
- After the stew has cooked, sprinkle with a little grated Parmesan cheese if desired, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Carl Thornton says
Quick and easy great flavor.
Summer Yule says
So happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for the feedback and rating 🙂
Rassie says
I do not have a oven air fryer just 5.5lt air fryer can you do a stew in that
Summer Yule says
Hi Rassie, great question! I'm thinking you could if you could fit the ingredients in the air fryer, including a small pan to finish the stew at the end. If it's too much, you could try cutting this recipe in half. Small air fryers tend to cook faster than air fryer ovens, so I recommend watching the food closely if you experiment with this. I'd love to hear how it goes!