Best Instant Pot Pot Roast (2024)

This Instant Pot pot roast is unbelievably delicious. It has melt-in-your-mouth tender beef and a gravy that’s out of this world. I cannot wait for you to try this easy recipe!

Watch the Video

Best Instant Pot Pot Roast (1)

I’ve fallen hard for this Instant Pot pot roast recipe. I use my 6-quart Instant Pot, but any electric pressure cooker works for this recipe.

The beef in this pot roast is so tender. I love shredding it and serving it over mashed potatoes (which I make with potatoes cooked in the Instant Pot with the beef). Delicious!

Best Instant Pot Pot Roast (2)

Key Ingredients

  • Chuck roast:I use beef chuck for this Instant Pot pot roast. You really want to use a tough cut of meat like chuck, rump roast, or brisket.
  • Beef broth and bouillon:I use good-quality beef broth and add more flavor with beef bouillon cubes or mix. This makes the gravy extra rich and beefy.
  • Herbs and spices:We pack in lots of flavor with onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, fresh garlic, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, and a bay leaf.
  • Veggies:We keep things classic with onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes. The onions melt into the gravy, which I love. I use baby potatoes, which you can serve whole or mash before serving. Since they are cooked with beef, they taste amazing.
  • Cornstarch and cream:These are optional, but I love using them to thicken and finish the gravy to serve over our tender beef.

How to Make Instant Pot Pot Roast

I’m so excited for you to make this Instant Pot pot roast! You’ll do everything in your pressure cooker for this recipe. Start by using the sauté function and sear your seasoned beef on all sides until golden brown then transfer to a plate.

There will be some rendered beef fat left from searing the beef, so that’s what we will use to cook the vegetables (hello flavor!).

You’ll notice a bunch of browned stuck bits at the bottom of the Instant Pot, so we want to scrape them up before adding back our beef. Remove the veggies, then pour in beef broth, bouillon, and apple cider vinegar and simmer with a wooden spoon to scrape everything off the bottom of the pot. This step is building even more flavor!

Best Instant Pot Pot Roast (3)

It’s time to return the beef and veggies to the pot. Then add the fresh herbs and potatoes. Seal the Instant Pot and cook at high pressure.

The cooking time depends on how much beef you have. I like to assume 20 minutes for every pound of meat. So, for my 3-pound beef chuck, I will need to cook at high pressure for 1 hour. After the hour, I release the pressure and shred the tender beef.

Best Instant Pot Pot Roast (4)

When the beef is done, you can make our optional gravy. You’ll remove the beef, veggies, and herbs from the pot and use the sauté function to simmer the liquid until it reduces a bit. Then, you’ll whisk in a simple mixture of cornstarch and water and a splash of cream.

Best Instant Pot Pot Roast (5)

More Instant Pot Recipes

  • Easiest Bone Broth
  • Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
  • Ultimate Pulled Pork – slow cooker recipe, but Instant Pot instructions provided
  • Instant Pot Eggs
  • Homemade Applesauce
Best Instant Pot Pot Roast (6)

(52)

Leave a review

Print

Best Instant Pot Pot Roast

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

This easy Instant Pot pot roast recipe creates incredibly tender, flavorful beef. It’s perfect for the whole family. I use my Instant Pot, but this recipe works with any pressure cooker.

For this recipe, use tougher cuts of beef, such as chuck, brisket, or round. In the pressure cooker, these become melt-in-your-mouth tender. I love adding baby potatoes. They become very soft, so I mash them to serve with the pot roast. We also add carrots, celery, and garlic for extra flavor. Since they get soft during cooking, we consider them flavor additions rather than side dishes. If you’d like to serve this with carrots, I highly recommend these roasted carrots.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Watch Us Make the Recipe

You Will Need

For Pot Roast

3 pounds beef chuck, brisket, or round, see notes

Salt

1 ½ teaspoons onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 large onion

5 medium carrots (12 ounces)

4 celery stalks

5 to 6 garlic cloves

1 ½ tablespoons high heat cooking oil

3 cups beef broth, try homemade beef broth

1 to 2 bouillon cubes or use bouillon mix, optional, see notes

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

4 rosemary sprigs

4 thyme sprigs

1 bay leaf

12 ounces baby potatoes, optional

For Optional Gravy

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons corn starch

2 tablespoons cream, optional

Directions

  • Cook Pot Roast
  • 1Season beef with salt (I use 2 to 3 teaspoons). Then, let it rest at room temperature for 1 hour.

    2Meanwhile, stir the onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper together.

    3Peel and cut the onion into large chunks. Peel the carrots and remove the ends. Slice the carrots and celery into thick, long sticks. Smash garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife and peel away the skins.

    4Pat the beef dry the beef with paper towels, then rub all over with the spice mixture.

    5Heat the oil in your Instant Pot with the Sauté setting on high heat. Brown the beef on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Remove beef to a plate.

    6Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic cloves to the pot. Cook until softened and lightly browned in spots, about 6 minutes. Remove to a plate.

    7Add the beef broth, bouillon, and cider vinegar, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. (This adds flavor and prevents an error from the Instant Pot while cooking at pressure).

    8Turn the Sauté function off. Return the beef and vegetables to the pot. Add rosemary, thyme, bay leaf, and potatoes (optional). It’s okay if the liquid does not cover all of the beef and vegetables.

    9Cook at High Pressure for 60 minutes (adjust time for your meat’s weight, assuming 20 minutes for every pound).

    10Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick-release the rest (be careful to keep your hands and face away from the venting steam).

    11Remove the beef and shred it to your desired size on a cutting board. Then serve with the potatoes (whole or mashed). I find the carrots and celery too soft, but you can serve them if you’d like.

  • Optional Quick Gravy
  • 1Remove vegetables and herbs from the cooking liquid. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté (high heat). Boil until the liquid reduces by about a quarter.

    2Whisk cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Slowly whisk this into the reduced liquid, simmering until thickened.

    3Turn off the heat. Season to taste with salt, pepper, or other spices. If desired, add a splash of cream for extra richness.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • Our pressure cooker: We have the 6-quart Instant Pot.
  • Cooking time: When cooking a pot roast in an Instant Pot, allow 20 minutes for every pound of meat. For example, cook a 2-pound pot roast at high pressure for 40 minutes and a 3-pound pot roast for 60 minutes.
  • Frozen beef: I highly recommend thawing your beef for this recipe, since you cannot sear the frozen beef. If you must use frozen beef, assume 30 minutes per pound.
  • What to do if your pot roast is tough: Your pot roast should be incredibly tender and fall apart easily with a fork. If it’s still tough, you will need to cook it longer. The pressure cooking process breaks down tough meat, making it tender. Put the lid back on, seal the pressure cooker, and cook at high pressure for another 10 to 20 minutes.
  • The provided nutrition facts are estimates. Sodium content will vary based on the ingredients you use.

Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1/8 of the recipe / Calories 456 / Total Fat 19.3g / Saturated Fat 6.5g / Cholesterol 183.6mg / Sodium 882.6g / Carbohydrate 14.2g / Dietary Fiber 2.9g / Total Sugars 3.5g / Protein 57g

AUTHOR: Adam and Joanne Gallagher

You May Also Like...

Our Favorite Steak Marinade

Tender Shredded Beef Tacos

Perfect Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Easy Instant Pot Applesauce

Best Steak Seasoning (Better Than Store-Bought)

Our Favorite Maryland Crab Cakes

Best Instant Pot Pot Roast (2024)

FAQs

Why is my roast tough in Instant Pot? ›

If you find that it's still tough after cooking, you'll need to cook it for another 10 to 20 minutes at high pressure – it just needs a bit longer to continue to brine and break down the connective tissue.

How long does a 5 lb roast take in an Instant Pot? ›

The time you will need to cook a roast in an instant pot varies depending on the size of your roast and whether it is thawed or frozen. For a thawed 3-5 pound roast it will need 60-80 minutes on high. For a frozen roast of the same size, you'll need to add about 20-30 minutes to the cooking time.

What is the best cut of roast for pot roast? ›

The best meat for pot roast is a beef cut with abundant connective tissue, like chuck roast, beef brisket or bottom round roast. This connective tissue called collagen is what makes pot roast melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Should pot roast be submerged in liquid Instant Pot? ›

A pot roast only needs a small amount of liquid added to the pot, especially if you are using a slow cooker or instant pot with a tight lid that doesn't allow for evaporation. After you sear the meat to brown it, the modest amount of liquid used to deglaze the pot will likely be just enough for the braise.

Can you overcook roast in Instant Pot? ›

Can you overcook a roast in the pressure cooker? Yes, just like any cooking method you can overcook a chuck roast in the Instant Pot. Follow the directions based on the size of your roast to know how long to cook it.

Is chuck roast or chuck tender roast better for pot roast? ›

Beef – Beef chuck roast is the best cut of beef to use. However, you can use brisket, top or bottom round, and sirloin. Vegetables – Carrots, celery, and potatoes are the basic vegetables used in a pot roast.

Does a pot roast get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

Yes, pot roast absolutely becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Roasts are generally made from tougher cuts of meat, such as chuck or brisket, which contain a lot of collagen, connective tissue, and fat. These tougher tissues require a long cooking time to break down and for the collagen to converts into gelatin.

Is rump roast or chuck pot roast better? ›

Chuck roast carries a little more fat than rump roast. Technically, rump roast is classified as extra lean, so it has less marbling. Rump roast is a little more tender, though you'll find more flavor in chuck.

Should Instant Pot roast be fat side up or down? ›

..and place the roast on top of the trivet, fatty side-up (this will allow the juices from the fat to coarse through the meat as it cooks). Top it off with some big, beautiful, sliced Portobello mushrooms. Than take some beef broth and pour it over everything in the pot…

How much liquid in Instant Pot for roast? ›

The key here is to give it a good start at high pressure and then let the roast cook low and slow as the pressure naturally releases. Remember to add the broth. The Instant Pot won't come to pressure without a bit of liquid. We found 1 cup was just enough to avoid stewing the beef.

Can I leave a roast in the Instant Pot overnight? ›

The Instant pot can work like a slow cooker and when you leave it on a warm setting it will keep the food around 140 F so bacteria won't multiply. There would be a problem if they turned off the instant pot and left it over night. As long as the food stays warm out of the danger zone (40-140 degree F.)

What veggies are good in pot roast? ›

Add carrots, parsnips, bay leaves, thyme, and stock. Cover, lower the heat, and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours. Remove the lid and add the potatoes, stirring a bit to cover in the cooking liquids. Cover the pot and continue to cook for another 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.

What kind of onion is best for pot roast? ›

Though you can use white onions, sweet onions, or red onions, we recommend using yellow ones because of their unique flavor profile. Yellow onions are a widely used onion type in the US and is great with meat dishes such as pot roast, roasted chicken, lamb rack, stew, and more.

What cut of roast has the best flavor? ›

The Rib-Eye Roast is the boneless center cut of the rib section. Very well-marbled, tender and flavorful, it is the most desirable and the most expensive of the roasts.

How do you fix tough meat in Instant Pot? ›

If it's still tough, you will need to cook it longer. The pressure cooking process breaks down tough meat, making it tender. Put the lid back on, seal the pressure cooker, and cook at high pressure for another 10 to 20 minutes. The provided nutrition facts are estimates.

How do I make my pot roast less tough? ›

With lots of connective tissue (also known as collagen), these cuts can be tough if undercooked or hurried along in the cooking process. However, with slow-cooker pot roast, pressure cooker pot roast, or low-and-slow braised pot roast, the collagen breaks up for tender, succulent meat.

Why is my pot roast tough and chewy? ›

If the meat is still firm to the fork's touch, it's not done yet and will be tough and chewy. The meat will just twist off the roast if it's ready. But don't cook it too long, or it will end up too dry. Check your roast to make sure liquid is still in the pot.

How do you tenderize an already cooked tough roast? ›

Simmering in a little bit of liquid or broth is a great way to tenderize. Acidity can also be your friend here. A little bit of vinegar and lemon juice in the liquid can help you tenderize the meat.

Top Articles
Best Vegan Queso (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista
Easy Raspberry Sauce Recipe - Sally's Baking Addiction
Craigslist Livingston Montana
Fernald Gun And Knife Show
St Thomas Usvi Craigslist
Ups Stores Near
Time in Baltimore, Maryland, United States now
Uihc Family Medicine
Phcs Medishare Provider Portal
Overnight Cleaner Jobs
Crocodile Tears - Quest
Computer Repair Tryon North Carolina
270 West Michigan residents receive expert driver’s license restoration advice at last major Road to Restoration Clinic of the year
All Obituaries | Ashley's J H Williams & Sons, Inc. | Selma AL funeral home and cremation
4Chan Louisville
Craigslist Cars Nwi
Simon Montefiore artikelen kopen? Alle artikelen online
National Office Liquidators Llc
Bitlife Tyrone's
Houses and Apartments For Rent in Maastricht
Epro Warrant Search
Chelactiv Max Cream
Nine Perfect Strangers (Miniserie, 2021)
Gia_Divine
Why Should We Hire You? - Professional Answers for 2024
Ahn Waterworks Urgent Care
Ceramic tiles vs vitrified tiles: Which one should you choose? - Building And Interiors
The best brunch spots in Berlin
Utexas Iot Wifi
Sam's Club Gas Price Hilliard
Pokémon Unbound Starters
Ice Dodo Unblocked 76
How to Use Craigslist (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Perry Inhofe Mansion
Soiza Grass
Nacho Libre Baptized Gif
Zero Sievert Coop
House Of Budz Michigan
Domina Scarlett Ct
Fifty Shades Of Gray 123Movies
Fetus Munchers 1 & 2
Stosh's Kolaches Photos
How the Color Pink Influences Mood and Emotions: A Psychological Perspective
The Complete Uber Eats Delivery Driver Guide:
Conan Exiles Colored Crystal
Tito Jackson, member of beloved pop group the Jackson 5, dies at 70
CPM Homework Help
25100 N 104Th Way
Ty Glass Sentenced
Anthony Weary Obituary Erie Pa
Bellin Employee Portal
Varsity Competition Results 2022
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. Nancy Dach

Last Updated:

Views: 6133

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. Nancy Dach

Birthday: 1993-08-23

Address: 569 Waelchi Ports, South Blainebury, LA 11589

Phone: +9958996486049

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Web surfing, Scuba diving, Mountaineering, Writing, Sailing, Dance, Blacksmithing

Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.