A Treasured Family Recipe – from My Hawaiian Grandpa’s Kitchen to Yours!
My Hawaiian Grandpa Clarence was one of the most influential and special people in my life.
Throughout my childhood, we only got to spend time with him every couple of years since he lived in Hawaii (where my Mom was born and raised) and we lived in Wisconsin. Every other summer we’d stay at Grandpa’s house in Honolulu, and he’d come to visit us in Wisconsin every Fall.
Though our visits were far and few between, time with Grandpa was always so special. He was an amazing cook and baker with the biggest heart. It’s one of the reasons he’s so dear to me – Grandpa truly embodied the spirit of aloha.
Many of the food memories center around him: warming up Grandpa’s famous banana bread muffins for a quick breakfast (then packing up extras to share with anyone we might run into throughout the day), dunking his prized cornbread into a warm bowl of chili, and absolutely begging him to make his famous Hawaiian Beef Stew for dinner.
This Hawaiian beef stew recipe was first published here on PWWB in 2019 as an Instant Pot version. Today, we’re revisiting it with a focus on stovetop preparation, which is how Grandpa always made it. But don’t worry – if you’re short on time or prefer a different method, you’ll still find Instant Pot, slow cooker, and oven-braised instructions in the Recipe Notes below.
To this day, there’s nothing more comforting to me than a cozy bowl of Grandpa Clarence’s beef stew and I’m so excited to share this special recipe with you.
A Taste of Hawaii at Home
18+ cherished family recipes, from my ‘ohana to yours.
Wait, what is Hawaiian Beef Stew?
You might be surprised to learn that Hawaiian beef stew is actually a thing. After all, it’s beef stew – not exactly what you’d call “island food,” right?
The truth is, comfort food is a huge part of Hawaiian food culture. Hawaii is a melting pot Pacific and East Asian influences, with each culture adding its own comforting dishes to the mix–think noodles, dumplings, fried chicken, and plates of rice and eggs smothered in gravy. And yes…Hawaiian-style beef stew is part of that delicious tradition.
Hawaiian-style beef stew is just as hearty and comforting as the classic beef stew you know and love. But unlike the beef stew you’ll find on the mainland (or here in the Midwest), it has a unique rich, savory twist. The combination of shoyu (i.e. Japanese soy sauce), Worcestershire, and tomato creates a tangy and umami-packed base that perfectly balances the richness of the beef. for a flavor profile you won’t find anywhere else!
Key Ingredients
Like any classic beef stew recipe, this Hawaiian beef stew recipe is made with humble, straight-forward ingredients plus a few local Hawaii staples that add a unique twist.
You will need…
- Beef – A good ol’ beef chuck roast is perfect for Hawaiian beef stew. If it’s more convenient for you to buy pre-cut stew meat, go ahead and do that.
- Celery, carrots, onion, and potatoes – As a lifelong celery-hater, I always go light on celery and heavy on carrot, though you can do whatever you prefer. I like using Yukon gold potatoes for their buttery flavor and texture. You can use whatever potatoes you like best.
- Tomato sauce and tomato paste – For a velvety body and rich, tangy flavor.
- Shoyu (Japanese soy sauce) – A staple ingredient in Hawaiian kitchens. You can find shoyu at any well-stocked Asian food store, or you can easily order it online. Aloha Shoyu is one of my trusted go-to brands. If you can’t find shoyu, feel free to swap it out with your favorite soy sauce or tamari.
- Worcestershire sauce – An addition that adds loads of richness and depth of flavor.
- Beef stock – Use low-sodium stock or broth in this recipe since the shoyu and Worcestershire add plenty of saltiness.
- All-purpose flour – Just a bit, to dredge the beef and thicken the stew.
Beef Stew Budget Tip!
While beef chuck roast isn’t too expensive, it’s not especially cheap either! During soup and stew season, I like to pick up a nice chuck roast whenever it’s on sale. I bring it home, trim it, cube it, and keep it on hand in my freezer for whenever a Hawaiian beef stew craving strikes.
Hawaii-Style Comfort Food Necessities
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Buy Now → How to Make Hawaiian Beef Stew
This Hawaiian beef stew is really simple to throw together. It’s a one-pot operation and it simmers for 2-3 hours, yielding beef stew with beautifully fall-apart tender beef and incredible rich flavor.
Season the beef with salt and black pepper, give it a quick dusting of flour, and cook until the surface is deeply browned. Why? ⇢ It’s a game-changer! First, browning the beef creates a delicious, crispy crust that locks in all the savory juices. This means your beef stays tender and juicy as it simmers away – no dry meat here! Plus, as the beef browns, it leaves those golden bits at the bottom of the pan (fond, if you want to get technical), which form the flavor-packed foundation for the whole stew.
Once all of the beef is browned, add all of the other beef stew ingredients into the pot, and let it simmer on the stovetop for 2-3 hours. Why? ⇢ Cooking low and slow is the secret to building deep, layered flavors in this Hawaiian beef stew. The beef becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender, and your kitchen? It’ll smell like absolute heaven.
Once the stew is ready, thicken it with a simple slurry. To make the slurry, just mix beef stock and flour, then stir it into the stew. In no time, you’ll have a thick, rich gravy that coats everything perfectly. Your house will smell incredible, and you’ll be one step closer to diving into a cozy bowl of classic Hawaiian comfort food.
Storage and Freezing
To store, transfer leftover Hawaiian-style beef stew to an airtight container and pop the cooked noodles in a separate airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Check the Recipe Notes, below, to learn more!
Grandpa Clarence will be so proud of you! I cannot wait for you to try this Hawaiian Beef Stew! If you do, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡
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Grandpa Clarence’s Hawaii-Style Beef Stew (Rich and Tangy!)
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes (includes inactive time)
- Yield: Serves 6-8 1x
- Category: soup, Stew & Chili Recipes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Description
My Hawaiian Grandpa’s famous Hawaii-Style Beef Stew is a treasured family recipe that brings the flavors of the islands straight to your table.
A tangy, rich tomato gravy simmers with onions, carrots, potatoes, and beef until perfectly tender.
Serve it over sticky rice for the ultimate comfort food experience – whether you use the stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot, this dish is a must-try!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup all-purpose flour, divided
- 2 pounds beef chuck, trimmed and cubed into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 stalks celery, finely sliced
- 4 medium carrots, peeled as desired and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 medium yellow onions, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (one) 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- ½ cup shoyu (or low-sodium soy sauce)
- ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 4 cups low-sodium beef stock, divided
Instructions
- Season the beef: Place ¼ cup of the flour in a medium bowl. Using paper towels, pat the stew meat as dry as possible, then season generously with the salt and ground black pepper. Dredge the seasoned stew meat in the flour, coating the meat well but shaking off any excess flour. Set aside.
- Brown the beef: Add the olive oil to a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat (I use a 5-quart Dutch oven). Once the oil and hot and shimmering, add in the beef, shaking off any excess flour before adding it into the pot. Brown 2-3 minutes per side, working in batches as necessary to avoid overcrowding the pot.
- Build the Hawaiian beef stew: Once the beef is browned, add the remaining ingredients into the pot: celery, carrots, onions, potatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, shoyu, Worcestershire, and 3 ½ cups of the beef stock. Stir to combine.
- Cook the Hawaiian beef stew: Increase the heat to high to bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fall-apart tender. Add the remaining ½ cup beef stock and ¼ cup all-purpose flour to a bowl or jar, whisking or shaking vigorously to combine until a slurry forms. While stirring, gradually pour the slurry into the beef stew. The stew should thicken almost immediately. Simmer 1-2 minutes longer to cook off the flour.
- Serve the Hawaiian beef stew island-style, over a bed of Calrose rice. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make-Ahead, Storage and Freezing:
- Storage Instructions: Hawaiian beef stew stores incredibly well – it’s the type of recipe that gets even more flavorful as it sits! Transfer cooled Hawaiian beef stew to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Easily reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.
- Freezing Instructions: Hawaiian beef stew is also incredibly freezer-friendly. To freeze, transfer cooled Hawaiian beef stew to a freezer container or divide it up between multiple freezer containers for smaller portions – These are my absolute favorite! Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the frozen Hawaiian beef stew the refrigerator overnight or submerge the freezer container in room temperature water for a quicker thaw. Easily reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.
- 10-Minute Meal Prep: While there’s lots of stove time involved in making this Hawaiian beef stew, you can eliminate all of the active work involved by chopping up the beef and veggies in advance. To meal prep, complete the following tasks, and at dinnertime, all you have to do is get cooking – easy!
- Trim and cube 2 pounds beef chuck. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Finely slice 2 stalks of celery, and chop 3 medium carrots and 3 medium yellow onions into 1-inch pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Alternate cooking methods:
- Oven-Braised Hawaiian-Style Beef Stew: Prep the recipe according to Steps 1-4, above. Rather than cooking on the stovetop, transfer the covered pot to a 325 degree F oven. Braise in the oven for 2 ½ – 3 hours, until the beef is fall-apart tender. Complete the recipe according to Step 4, above, and serve.
- Slow Cooker Hawaiian Beef Stew: Prep the recipe according to Steps 1-2, above. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker, along with remaining ingredients, as described in Step 3. Slow cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8 hours until the beef is fall-apart tender. Finish as directed in Step 4. If your slow cooker has a searing/browning feature, you can use it to cook this entire Hawaiian beef stew recipe (Steps 1-4) in the slow cooker.
- Instant Pot Hawaiian Beef Stew: Use the Instant Pot’s “Sauté” setting to cook the recipe according to Steps 1-3, above. Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Cook on manual high pressure for 35 minutes. Carefully quick release by flicking the valve to its “venting” position. Switch the Instant Pot back to its “Sauté” setting, and finish the beef stew as directed in Step 4.
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My bf is from the Big island! Me met in NC and I’ve been to Hawaii a few times to meet his family. I always try to learn Hawaiian/filipino dishes to bring a little bit of home to him. I can’t wait to make this for him tonight with some Hawaiian Mac salad! Also, where did you get your green dishes? Absolutely love them! Thank you for the recipe!
Oh thanks so much—hope he loves the stew and the mac salad!! I’m not sure which green dishes you’re referring to, but if you let me know where you saw them, I can find out the brand!
This is an easy and very tasty meal! Even without the pineapple (I hadn’t seen it in the picture before..) everyone loved it and I’ll be making it again this weekend.
Thanks so much for the kind words!
What? No pineapple? I have made a lot of stews in my cooking career but looked for a traditional Hawaiian version. Surprised not to find pineapple in the sauce. I will give this a try as it looks and sounds very appetizing! Bon Appetite!
Hi there! While a lot of foods labeled as “Hawaiian” contain pineapple, the fruit actually isn’t native to the islands, so many traditional Hawaiian or “local-style” Hawaiian recipes don’t use it. This stew is my grandpa’s local-style beef stew, and it is a great comfort food—even without the pineapple! 😉 Hope you enjoy it!
Great recipe! I’ve been trying to get a good local-style beef stew, but quickly realized many are family secrets. Mahalo!
Thanks, Steve, we’re glad you enjoyed it!
So yummy, all my family and co workers loved it. Definitely a keeper!
Love to hear that, Shery! Thanks for trying it!
If you like your veggies more crisp-tender, simmer the beef with the broth, tomato sauce, worchestershire sauce until tender. Then add the sauteed veggies one hour before serving. Amazing sauce! Thank you.
That’s a great tip, Denise!! So glad you enjoyed! 🙂
This recipe is winnahs! I don’t use Worcestershire sauce but it’s just fine. Made it three times now and it’s a surefire winner. Mahalo! 🤙
Love hearing that, Dara!! Thanks so much for making this cherished recipe!
This recipe is an absolute keeper! My manager, who’s a Hawaiian native, has made this for our office twice now because everyone raves about it. The flavors are rich, savory, and perfectly balanced. This is true comfort food that feeds the soul. Thanks for sharing!
That means so much to us, Annette! So happy you love this stew as much as we do, and thanks so much for the kind review!
Hand down best beef stew I’ve had and I’m happy tonhave the recipe. A big Mahalo to the ohana who made this recipe.
So thrilled you enjoyed this stew, Stef!! 🙂
If you are looking for a delicious, tangy, Hawaiian style beef stew, look no further! This is SO ono! I made mine in the instant pot and the meat and vegetables were so tender. Served over hapa rice and the whole family was happy.
So thrilled that your family enjoyed the stew as much as we do, Betsey! 🙂
Aloha! I made this in my instant pot and wow! So ono and yhe best comfort food. This is definitely going into our favorite recipes. Mahalo!!
Aloha!! We’re so happy you loved this stew as much as we do, Teresa! Thank you so much for the review! 🙂
Thank you so much for the recipe. I used my instant pot since I’m short on time. I sautéed the onions before adding the browned beef back into the instant pot. I put all the liquids (plus tomato sauce & paste) and pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. Then added the veggies and pressure cook for another 15 minutes. It turned out delicious!
The Instant Pot is a great shortcut! So happy to hear the stew turned out great for you, Aubrey! 🙂
I just made this, and it is fantastic! I am so happy. It did take longer to cook. Then the recipe said, and fortunately, I waited to add the vegetables so they didn’t turn to mush. It was totally worth the wait! Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
Hi Kate, so happy to hear you loved this stew as much as we do! The cook time can definitely vary, but we’re glad it still turned out great for you 🙂