Name: Shipwreck Stew
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 3-4 large potatoes (washed, peeled, diced or thinly sliced); 1 small onion; 5-6 stalks celery; 1 15-16 ounce can kidney beans (drained and rinsed); 1 15 ounce can corn (with juice); 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (with juice); salt; pepper; 4-5 cups broth

Soup, just like this shipwreck stew, is such a comforting food to eat all year round. If you are looking for more soup recipes try out this Broccoli Cheese Soup, healthier than the traditional version. Or this family favorite, Tortellini Sausage Soup, that can be made in either the Instant Pot or the on the stove. Serve with any of them with these Air Fryer Dinner Rolls.

Shipwreck Recipe

This hearty ground beef stew is a simple combination of some chunky vegetables, ground beef, corn, and red kidney beans.

It is full of healthy ingredients and is thick and hearty.

This stew was a childhood favorite, that I am thrilled to be able to make and pass on to my kids. And also pass it on to you so that you can pass it to your family and friends.

While the ground beef is browning, I like to prepare the vegetables by washing them and chopping them.

One of the great things about this stew is that you can make it to suit your needs. I use lean ground beef, which is ground sirloin, typically in my cooking. But, you can use beef with more fat like ground round or ground chuck it just needs to be drained. You could even use ground turkey, the flavor just won’t be as rich.

Why is it Called Shipwreck Stew?

Shipwreck seems like a strange name for a soup especially since this stew is far from being a shipwreck. I think that the name comes from the fact that the ingredients all collide together into one pot kind of like a shipwreck.

It definitely doesn’t taste like a shipwreck though, it is quite tasty!

Why make this Delicious Stew Recipe?

Shipwreck stew is a dinner staple around my house. This is why you are going to love this recipe, too!

It makes a great dinner.
It’s easy to prepare.
Only need one pot.
It’s inexpensive.
Great meal for when you are sick (or have sick kiddos).

Do I Slice or Cube the Potatoes?

I grew up eating this stew with sliced potatoes, so that is how I prepare my potatoes for this stew. To me, it just wouldn’t be the same if I used cubed potatoes. I like to use a mandolin so that I can control the thickness, slice them nice and thin. When they are all the same size, they will all be done at the same time.

If you have large potato slices, you can cut them into halves or fourths to make them more bite-sized.

But, if you prefer chunky potatoes in your stew, then cut them into chunks instead. It will be helpful to keep the cubes about the same size so that they are all done about the same time. Keep in mind that this may add additional time to your cook time.

What to Serve with Shipwreck Stew

This chunky stew is great on its own, but I always like to add a little side to make the meal complete and choosing the right side can make this an unforgettable meal.

Cornbread
Dinner rolls
Salad
Baguette
Grilled vegetables
Fresh veggies
Biscuits

Shipwreck Stew Ingredients

Ground Beef: I use lean ground beef, which is ground sirloin that is 92% lean and only 8% fat.
Potatoes: Washed, peeled, and thinly sliced.
Onions: You will need a yellow or white onion.
Celery: Fresh celery, you will need 3-4 stalks.
Kidney Beans: One can of drained and rinsed beans.
Corn: Whole kernel corn in the can with the liquid.
Tomatoes: Diced canned tomatoes with the liquid.
Broth: I like to use vegetable broth, but chicken broth can also be used.
Salt & Pepper: To taste.

All of the ingredients to make shipwreck stew.

How to Make Shipwreck Stew

In a large pot, brown the ground beef.
Push the ground beef to one side of the side of the pot. Add in onion and cook until soft and translucent.
Stir together with the beef.
Add in the potatoes, celery, kidney beans, corn, tomatoes and broth.
Sprinkle in the salt and pepper.
Cook covered over medium-high heat until the stew is boiling. Lower the heat to medium-low, stirring occasionally. Simmer about 45-55 minutes until veggies are soft.

How to Cook Shipwreck Stew in a Crock Pot or Slow Cooker

It is super simple to make this stew in a crock pot instead of a dutch oven. Here are the directions to make it in a slow cooker.

Brown the ground beef in a skillet and add it to the slow cooker.
Next, sauté the diced onions in the ground beef grease in the same skillet that you cooked the ground beef. Add it to the crock pot.
Add all of the other ingredients into a slow cooker.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

How to Cook Shipwreck Stew in Instant Pot

If you prefer to cook your shipwreck stew in the pressure cooker instead of making it in a pot or dutch oven, here are the directions.

Brown the ground beef using the sauté setting.
Pull the ground beef to one side and add in the onions.
Sauté the onions in the ground beef grease trying to keep them separate from the beef.
Once onions are soft, add in all of the ingredients and stir together.
Lock the lid, set the valve to seal and set the instant pot to cook on manual high pressure. Cook for 10 minutes.
Once the soup is done cooking, do a quick release and remove the lid.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Shipwreck Recipe Tips & Variations

Use different ground meat. Instead of ground sirloin (lean ground beef), you can use ground beef with a little more fat or even ground turkey.
Add different vegetables. You can add 2-3 cups of canned or frozen green beans, chunks of carrots, red bell peppers, or peas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in shipwreck stew? There are between 4-6 servings of stew depending on the amount that gets served. Each serving is around 350 (for 6 servings)-530 (for 4 servings) calories.

Can shipwreck stew be frozen? Yes, shipwreck stew freezes really well. The directions are below under the storage instructions.

Storage Instructions

How to refrigerate shipwreck stew? Let the soup cool and put in an airtight container. It should last about 4-5 days in the fridge.

How do you reheat shipwreck stew? Heat soup on the stove, the exact cooking time will depend on how much soup you have left over. Try heating over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes. Check temperature, if it is not hot enough continue to heat.

How to freeze shipwreck stew? Let the soup cool completely before putting into an air tight, freezer safe container. It can be frozen for 3-6 months, just be sure to label with the recipe and date.

How to thaw frozen stew? Thaw frozen cooked stew in the refrigerator overnight until defrosted.

Above view of shipwreck stew in two bowls.

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