How To Make Instant Pot Pot Roast:
Why I Love Using The Instant Pot
If you havent jumped on the Instant Pot train yet YOU NEED TO! It is one of the most convenient kitchen appliances I have ever owned. This Instant Pot pot roast recipe is just one of the MANY Instant Pot recipes that I have incorporated into my regular meal rotations. Here are our top three reasons why we love our Instant Pots:
What Does Pulled Beef Mean
Well you could say shredded beef essentially because it is the same idea.
Pulled beef is a term that means a cut of meat that is slow cooked to the point of being able to be pulled apart easily.
Its cooked for several hours of normal cooking, or an hour of pressure cooking. It simply means a form of over cooking to make the meat tender.
How can you serve Instant Pot pulled beef?
Hawaiian sweet bread buns are great to use for a sweet and tangy flavor.
Tips to remember:
After your initial pressure cooking time of 90 minutes allow the pot to naturally release the steam for 10 minutes.
Quick release isnt the best when cooking large cuts of meat. You can maintain more of the juiciness and tenderness if you allow it some time to pressure release the steam slowly.
- Our roast was 3.5 lbs. If you were cooking a much smaller piece, about 2 lbs. then 60 minutes may be enough to get it to the tenderness you want it.
I shred the beef and remove all the large pieces of fat and bone at this time. Leaving it in the liquid will keep it tender and it will continue to soak up more of the flavor the longer it sits in it too.
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What Beef To Use For This Recipe
If youre wonder what kind of meat works best in a stroganoff, youre in luck because you have a lot of options. Youll notice in the ingredients list of this beef stroganoff recipe I suggest getting stew meat. Generally when you purchase this, its already cubed or cut for you and ready to go. Thats one less step when youre in a hurry to get dinner done.
But if you have beef in your freezer or you cant find stew meat or just prefer to cut it yourself, then the best kind to buy is a beef that is more tender. If you have tender meat, then that means you dont have to cook it as long. . These types of cuts include sirloin, steak tips, flank, tenderloin, or rib eye.
If you dont purchase your beef pre-cut, then youll want to cut it into small chunks or thin strips.
Instant Pot Best Beef Stew
“This beef stew is the ultimate, hearty, melt-in-your mouth comfort food of all, and so easy to make in the Instant Pot® for a simple midweek dinner,” says Fioa.
Shauna explains why the Instant Pot is the key to delicious homemade pho. “The secret to pho, the deeply fragrant Vietnamese noodle soup with meat and flavorful toppings, is all in the stock,” says Shauna James Ahern. “And nothing makes a better stock than a pressure cooker. Fairly quickly, a pressure cooker brings together all the flavors of meat bones, aromatics, and, in this case, fish sauce and toasted spices, to make a heady broth. With an Instant Pot®, you can boil the bones, saute the aromatics, and finish the dish with 1 pot. To serve, put small bowls containing thinly sliced onion, bean sprouts, limes, and Thai basil on the table. Give your people each a bowl of pho and let them top the soup as they wish.”
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Cooking Frozen Pot Roast In Instant Pot
The ingredients for instant pot frozen pot roast, are simple everyday ingredients that you can source, without having to go grocery shopping.
- Frozen Chuck I recommend Butcher Box for the best frozen chuck roast, but you can use any shop bought chuck. Or you can swap chuck for another cut of beef if you prefer. When we made our air fryer pot roast, we used top round beef.
- Carrots I love lots of carrots in my pot roast and it does an excellent job of soaking up the gravy juices.
- Potatoes You can peel or not peel the choice is yours. Then load the potatoes into the instant pot with the carrots and let them cook in the juices from your beef.
- Beef Stock A good beef stock is essential when cooking beef pot roast. We recommend Kettle & Fire if you dont have any at home. It is also created with beef bones and gives you a health kick at the same time.
Any electric pressure cooker will do a good job at instant pot frozen pot roast, though we are using our Instant Pot Duo 8 Quart.
*what’s The Difference Between A Pot Roast And A Chuck Roast
So heres the thing. A chuck roast is a cut of meat and a pot roast is a style of preparation. Any cut of meat that comes from the chuck, or the shoulder part, is a chuck roast. A pot roast doesnt have to be chuck, it can be any cut of meat thats prepared by slowly braising it with a little liquid until its juicy and tender. Although quite frankly, some of us believe that a well-marbled chuck roast does, indeed, make the most magnificent pot roast.
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What If My Pot Roast Is Tough
If after cooking the pot roast, it is still tough, all you need to do is cook it longer. If the beef is still tough, it just needs more time for the braise to do its magic and break down the connective tissues in the beef.
Since we are using a pressure cooker, if after our suggested cook time, the beef is not as tender as youd like, you will need to place the lid back onto the pot, seal it, and then cook at high pressure for additional time .
What Kind Of Beef To Use
Chuck Roast– This is what I used and have tested the recipe with this cut of beef. I trim some of the excess fat, if theres a lot, but keep most of the fat on for flavor and moisture.
Ive tested this recipe leaving the chuck roast whole, and slicing it into big chunks.
If the chuck roast is under 3 lbs and will fit in the pot, you can leave it whole. Otherwise, slice it into large chunks.
Most chuck roast portions found in the store are about 3 lbs. Here are the cook times for the Instant Pot and the weight of the chuck roast.
Chuck Roast Weight and Instant Pot Cook Times:
- 3 lbs- 65 min
- 4 lbs- 70 min
- 5 lbs- 75 min
Once the timer goes off, I turn the instant pot off and leave it alone for another 15 minutes. Then with a towel or wooden spoon I turn the valve to venting over my kitchen hood.
Other options for the cut of beef included: Beef Roast, Rump Roast, Eye Round Roast, Stew Meat, or Chuck Shoulder. Any of these tough meats will work since we are cooking it for a long time to break down the tough tissue.
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Cooking A Roast From Frozen In An Instant Pot
I recommend thawing your chuck roast if possible, since you wont be able to brown a frozen roast and will miss out on the flavor that searing adds to the pot roast. If you dont have time to thaw, you can cook a frozen roast in your pressure cooker. You will just have to increase the pressure cooking time and skip the step of browning the meat.
Pressure cook a frozen 3 pound beef chuck roast for 90 minutes, followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release. Then add your potatoes and carrots and pressure cook for 5 minutes more. If your roast is larger than 3 pounds, add 10 minutes per pound to the pressure cooking time.
Can I Use Frozen Beef For This Recipe
You wouldnt think that youd be able to go from freezer to Instant Pot in this recipe, but, just like using frozen chicken breasts, you can also use frozen beef for this recipe. Because the meat cooks with steam and pressure, it will thaw and then cook all at the same time.
The only difference is in the cooking time. Add about 20-30 minutes to your pressure cooking time if going with a frozen roast. No need to sear it either, just rub the spices on the roast and then put the frozen roast in the pot and go to the pressure cooking step.
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Ideas To Use Up Leftover Pot Roast
I love having leftovers to pull a quick and easy meal. More often than now, I use it to make sandwiches. When I want to switch things up a little, I make
- Pot roast pasta
- Stews or soups like this Instant Pot beef and barley soup. You can find instructions for the same in the link.
- Casseroles
What are some of your favorite ways to use up leftovers? Id love to know!
Ninja Foodi Beef Roast Recipes
Some cuts of meat you just dont know what to do, like a beef arm roast. But using a pressure cooker you can make it taste great every time. I swear, everything comes out amazingly tender with tons of flavor sucked right in.
You can use any brand you have at home to make these. I have them all including a Crockpot Express and use them to make several easy Ninja foodi recipes throughout the month too.
Lets start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then PRINT this > Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet that will help you understand how long meat, vegetables and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have and use for all recipe creations.
So Instant Pot shredded chicken was one of our first recipes, and simple too.
I just added bottled sauce and some pineapple then but this time I wanted to make a homemade barbecue sauce of sorts with TONS of flavor.
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Instant Pot Beef Recipes
There’s nothing better than Instant Pot Beef Recipes!
My favorite dessert to serve with roast beef recipes is this mini pavlova recipe. It’s the perfect ending to a great meal.
Try more of the best beef cuts according to your needs and budget by following my guide on the Best Cuts of Beef and our Popular Beef Dishes!
Substitutions For This Instant Pot Chuck Roast Recipe
- Chuck roast- You might be able to use a beef brisket or a round bottom roast, but I havent personally tried them in this recipe. If you try either, instead of a chuck roast, you may need to add a few more minutes of cooking to achieve the same tenderness.
- Water- Many readers asked if they can use beef broth as a substitute for the water. You absolutely can, you just might need to pull back on the salt used, depending on how salty your broth is.
- Red wine If you abstain from alcohol, you can most definitely use a non-alcoholic red wine, or substitute with beef broth.
- Fresh herbs Ive been enjoying all the fresh herbs this summer, and how easily accessible they are. However, come the harsh winter in Alaska, fresh rosemary and thyme will become harder to find. You can definitely substitute with dried herbs .
- Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce Worcestershire sauce imparts a deep-bodied umami flavor in this gluten-free pot roast recipe. There really are no substitutes however, if I had to recommend one, Id probably pick beef broth.
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How To Serve The Mexican Pot Roast
This Mexican Pot roast turns out so flavorful and tender. We love eating it with white rice and black beans, which is how Ropa Vieja is served.
Tacos or Burritos– This beef is also great ontacos and topped with cilantro and diced onion. You could do a larger burrito and add rice, beans, and the Mexican Pot Roast.
Salad or Bowls– A great healthy option is a taco salad using crisp romaine or iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and jalapenos for spice. You can also make a low carb bowl with cauliflower rice and avocado slices.
Leftovers taste even better the next day, and the Mexican Pot Roast can be frozen in an airtight bag up to 3 months.
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Instant Pot Roast Gravy
Making gravy in the Instant Pot is a breeze. The easiest method is to remove the pot roast and vegetables when they are done cooking then switch the cook setting to saute. If there arent enough beef drippings to make a gravy, add some beef broth. Combine a little water and some corn starch in a liquid measuring cup to form a cornstarch slurry. When the drippings and broth start to simmer, whisk in the cornstarch mixture a little at a time until it becomes a gravy consistency. Simmer about 3 minutes adding more beef broth to thin if needed. Add salt, black pepper, and a little garlic powder to taste.
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Instant Pot Frozen Chuck Roast
We cook instant pot chuck roast from frozen. That is because when you cook meat in the instant pot, it is easy to grab it from the freezer and load it straight up into the instant pot.
There is no difference in the tenderness from frozen chuck roast than thawed. Plus, it reduces food waste if dinner comes directly from the freezer into the instant pot.
Why We Love This Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
This Instant Pot Roast is so tender it falls apart when you try to take it out. It has such great flavor, that you can even skip the searing if you want .
One thing it is missing? Mushy vegetables.
Vegetables in the Instant Pot cook very quickly, often just a few minutes or less, so its better to leave them out while the roast cooks, and add them later at the end.
I know that this is an extra step and you might be wondering if its worth it.
Trust me on this one.
This way, you will have a perfectly juicy and tender pot roast, and perfectly cooked but still totally appetizing veggies.
You know Im not into any extra unnecessary steps , but the potatoes and carrots will cook in just a few minutes and if you buy small, pre-washed potatoes, you dont even need to chop them.
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What Is The Best Cut Of Beef For Pot Roast
Chuck roast is the most commonly used cut of beef for pot roast. Chuck is from the front part of the animal and the different cuts will be labeled as blade, boneless cross rib, top blade, bottom blade, and shoulder. There can even be different names for the same cut from store to store. I know how confusing this can be! Certified Angus Beef has detailed information on the specific cuts of beef that are best for braising.
Here are the details on my favorite cuts to use for pot roast.
