You'll love this Hawaiian Beef Stew if you're a fan of any hearty stew recipe! I allow it plenty of time to simmer so that the meat becomes succulent and falls apart with each bite. The potatoes are soft but not mushy, too. I enjoy serving it traditionally over rice or with air fryer dinner rolls to dip in the rich broth.
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Main Dish
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 1 Hour & 40 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 6
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Savory-sweet and comforting with tender beef, soy sauce depth, and subtle sweetness from vegetables.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Steamed white rice or mac salad for a classic Hawaiian-style meal.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, it tastes even better the next day and can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for later.
Summarize and Save This Content On
I like to call this Hawaiian stew recipe a labor of love because it takes some time to cook. However, the time spent waiting is worth it for the result, and the smell that fills your kitchen is pretty great, too. Whether you're cooking for 10 people or 2, this Hawaiian-style beef stew is always a winner.
This crockpot Hawaiian chicken and slow cooker Hawaiian pork chops are lovely options if you enjoy traditional Hawaiian flavors.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's comforting: This Hawaiian stew is the kind that sticks to your ribs and keeps you warm. It's like a cozy hug with every bite! I also recommend this glazed Hawaiian pork roll as another comforting Hawaiian recipe.
- It's easy to make: The meat takes some time to cook, but there's minimal work you'll have to do once the stew is ready to simmer.
- It's budget-friendly: I love that the ingredients are affordable, too. There are so many delicious meals you can make on a budget, and this is one of them.
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Ingredients
The essential ingredients needed to make this Hawaiian stew recipe are listed below. The tomato sauce and sugar are what give this style of stew its signature sweetness.
- Beef: Chuck roast is my favorite cut because it's not too lean and becomes tender when cooked low and slow, making it perfect for stews and crockpot meals. Avoid super lean cuts because they dry out easily.
- Veggies: The base consists of celery, onions, and carrots (also known as mirepoix), which is used for many dishes, including soups and stews, to provide the first layer of flavor.
- Tomato sauce and paste: One of the most important ingredients in making a Hawaiian stew is tomato sauce or paste. I use a combination of tomato paste and sauce to add depth.
- Sugar: A little bit of sugar is key to achieving the subtle sweetness of Hawaiian beef stew. Adjust it to taste if needed!
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Pineapple: Include some tropical flavors in your stew with some crushed pineapple or use fresh pineapple syrup in place of the sugar.
- Mushroom: Add more veggies and earthiness with sliced mushrooms.
- Beer: Use a dark beer to braise the beef for more depth and malt flavor.
How to Make Hawaiian Beef Stew
Here are the instructions you'll need for this Hawaiian-style beef stew recipe. There are very few steps; most of the time is waiting for the stew to simmer so the flavors develop and the beef becomes juicy.
Step 1: Brown the beef. Start by heating a large pot over medium-high heat with some oil. Add the stew meat pieces and brown them on all sides. Then, take them out and set them aside.
Step 2: Sauté the veggies. Add the onions, celery, and carrots, and let them cook for 5 minutes before adding the garlic. Cook for another minute and then stir in tomato paste. Let it cook for 2 additional minutes.
Step 3: Simmer. Pour in the tomato sauce, broth, sugar, beef, spices, and bay leaf. Bring it to a boil, reduce it to a simmer, and allow it to cook for about an hour.
Step 4: Add and cook potatoes. Next, stir in your chunks of potato and cook them in the stew for about 30 minutes or until they are fork-tender. Remove the bay leaf and serve!
Recipe Tips
- Thicken with a slurry: If the broth of the stew is too thin, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Allow the stew to simmer for a couple of minutes to allow it time to thicken.
- Skim fat if needed: Sometimes, you'll notice some fat rising to the top. This will depend on how fatty the cut of beef is. Use a spoon to skim the fat off the top of the stew if needed.
- Brown the beef well: When searing the chunks of beef, allow them enough time to get a brown crust on all sides. This helps seal in juices as well as adding texture and depth of flavor.
If you love hearty beef stew, I highly recommend this old-fashioned crockpot beef stew.
If soups and stews like this are your go-to thing during the winter to keep the cold at bay, then you really need to check out this new totally delicious recipe that we've created. Our creamy chicken stew is out of this world good...give it a try and you'll be a believer!
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftover stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Pour the Hawaiian stew into a saucepan over medium-low heat for about 8-10 minutes, or place a bowl in the microwave and heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make Ahead: You can chop the veggies and brown the beef up to 24 hours in advance in the fridge. The prep can make dinner easier the next day.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve this Hawaiian stew traditionally over white rice. You can get creative and make red-red rice or spinach rice instead.
- Enjoy a simple, sweet treat like coconut candy for dessert.
- Make a beef sandwich from the leftovers using this homemade white bread recipe.
- A refreshing side like jalapeno coleslaw works great with this hearty stew.
Recipe FAQs
Add a little Worcestershire sauce to help balance the sweetness of the stew if you find that it leans too sweet for your liking. It has a savory, umami flavor that contrasts with the sugar and tomato.
Sure! After you brown the stew meat and vegetables, transfer all the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook it on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.
Overcooked or beef that is too lean can be tough and chewy. Cook it low and slow, and it will be perfectly tender!
More Delicious Stew Recipes
Do you like stew recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Hawaiian Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat chuck, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 med onion diced
- 3 carrots diced
- 3 celery sticks diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 15 ounce tomato sauce
- 4 cups beef broth
- 3 potatoes peeled and diced
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 teaspoon water optional slurry
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and brown the beef on all sides, then remove and set aside.
- Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring to coat the vegetables.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, sugar, beef broth, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and the browned beef.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
- Add the potatoes and continue simmering for 30 minutes or until tender.
- If desired, stir together the cornstarch and water, then mix it into the stew and simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken.
- Remove the bay leaf and serve the stew hot in a bowl on its own or over rice.
Notes
- Try making this Hawaiian beef stew in your slow cooker instead of on the stovetop.
- If your stew is too sweet when you taste test it, adding a bold umami ingredient like Worcestershire sauce can help balance it.
- Sear all sides of all of the pieces of stew meat for a perfectly even brown crust. It adds so much flavor and texture to the finished stew.
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