Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (2024)

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Want to save time and learn how to cook corned beef in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot? You are going to love how quick and easy this pressure cooker corned beef recipe is! In fact, after making Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage, I don’t think I will ever cook it any other way. It is fall-apart, fork-tender deliciousness that should not be limited to one day of the year!

Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (1)

Cooking corned beef in a pressure cooker was one of my best discoveries. I started cooking corned beef in a stovetop pressure cooker 20 years ago. Then I got an electric pressure cooker and started using that to cook my corned beef and cabbage. And then the Instant Pot came along and of course, I had to make Corned Beef and Cabbage in an Instant Pot. All of the methods create a delicious and flavorful corned beef and cabbage in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven or slow cooker!

How long do you cook corned beef in an electric pressure cooker?

It only takes 40 minutes to cook corned beef in an electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot. That is abig reduction in cooking time over cooking corned beef in an oven for 2 1/2 hours!

How long does it take to cook corned beef in a pressure cooker on the stove?

I started cooking corned beef on a stovetop pressure cooker back in the day. It takes a little longer for the stovetop pressure cooker to reach high pressure, so the total cooking time will be closer to 50 minutes.

Over the years I have acquired an electric pressure cooker and an Instant Pot. You can cook corned beef and cabbage in your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker, but depending on the size you may have to use a smaller corned beef brisket and fewer potatoes. Be sure to follow the directions for your cooker and don’t overfill your pot.

Can I cook potatoes with the corned beef?

Absolutely!I addmedium to large red potatoes to my corned beef and let them cook together. If you choose small red potatoes, you will want to cook the corned beef for 25 minutes, then use the quick release method to release the steam. Then add the small red potatoes and cook at high pressure for another 15 minutes.

I don’t peel the potatoes. I just wash them, cut off any bruised spots, and throw them in whole. They will crack open while cooking and all the flavors will seep in, effortlessly creating the most flavorful potatoes EVER!

Corned Beef Spice Packet Recipe

If you don’t get a spice packet with your corned beef, you can make the spices yourself using the following spices.

Ingredients

  • 1 bay leaf, crushed
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 20+ peppercorns
  • 20+ coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice

How to Cook Corned Beef in a Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot

You can quickly and easily make corned beef in an Instant Pot on high pressure or in an electric pressure cooker or stovetop pressure cooker. You will find the directions for each method below.
Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (2)

Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 – 3 pounds corned beef brisket
  • 10 medium red potatoes, whole
  • 1 medium onion, quartered
  • 8 cloves of garlic
  • 1 cup of beef broth (Homemade beef broth recipe)
  • 1 head of cabbage
  • spice packet (often comes with corned beef purchase)

Instant Pot Corned Beef Directions:

  1. Place the corned beef on the rack in the Instant Pot. Add the onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and veggies. Sprinkle spices over it all.Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (3)
  2. Place the lid on the Instant Pot. Ensure the valve is sealed so that no steam is released.
  3. On an Instant Pot, push meat or manual which should select high pressure then select 40 minutes.
  4. When your Instant Pot has stopped cooking, open the valve to quickly release the steam.
  5. Remove the lid, remove the cooked potatoes, place on a dish and cover to keep warm.
  6. Add the cabbage to the Instant Pot. Replace the lid, close the valve, select manual and set the timer for 1 minute.Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (4)
  7. As soon as it is done cooking, open the valve to release the pressure.
  8. Remove the cabbage and the corned beef and cover them to keep warm, then use the drippings to make gravy.

Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (5)

Instant Pot Corned Beef Video Tutorial

Electric Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Recipe

An electric pressure cooker releases a little more steam while cooking than the Instant Post, so I increase the broth by 1/2 cup.

Ingredients:

  • 2 – 3 pound corned beef brisket
  • 10 medium red potatoes, whole
  • 1 medium onion, quartered
  • 8 cloves of garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups of beef broth (Homemade beef broth recipe)
  • 1 head of cabbage
  • spice packet (often comes with corned beef purchase)

Electric Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Directions:

  1. Place the corned beef on the rack in the pressure cooker. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and veggies. Sprinkle spices over it all.
  2. Place the lid on pressure cooker. Ensure the valve is sealed so that no steam is released.
  3. On an electric pressure cooker, select high pressure, then select 40 minutes.
  4. When your electric pressure cooker has stopped cooking, open the valve to quickly release the steam.
  5. Remove the lid, remove the cooked potatoes, place on a dish and cover to keep warm. Add the cabbage to the pressure cooker. Replace the lid, close the valve, select High Pressure and set the timer for 1 minute.
  6. As soon as it is done cooking, open the valve to release the pressure.
  7. Remove the cabbage and the corned beef and cover them to keep warm, then use the drippings to make gravy.

Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (6)

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Recipe

A stovetop pressure cooker releases more steam while cooking than the electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot, so you need to increase the amount of beef broth you add.

Ingredients:

  • 2 – 3 pound corned beef brisket
  • 10 medium red potatoes, whole
  • 1 medium onion, quartered
  • 8 cloves of garlic
  • 2 – 3 cups of beef broth (Homemade beef broth recipe)
  • 1 head of cabbage
  • spice packet (often comes with corned beef purchase)

Stove Top Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Directions:

  1. Place corned beef in the pressure cooker. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and potatoes.
  2. Sprinkle spices over it all.Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (7)
  3. Place lid on pressure cooker.Cook over high heat until it reaches high pressure. Lower flame and stabilize pressure. Cook for 40 minutes. Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (8)
  4. Remove the pressure cooker from flame and run under cold water to release pressure.
  5. Add cabbage to the pressure cooker. Cook over high flame until it reaches high pressure. As soon as it reaches high pressure, remove from flame and run under cool water to release pressure.

Note about cabbage: The cabbage only takes a few minutes to cook, so you add it at the very end. The cabbage really will cook in just the few minutes it takes to reach high pressure.

How to Make Gravy from the Corned Beef Drippings

Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (9)

Corned Beef Gravy Recipe

Use the drippings from the pressure cooker corned beef to make gravy. Seriously, it will be the best gravy you have ever had!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 – 2 cups drippings from Corned Beef
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:

  1. After you have removed the meat and veggies from the pot, add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the drippings.
  2. Use a whisk to blend the cornstarch into the beef.
  3. Cook on low to medium heat until it reaches a boil.
  4. Lower flame and boil until it thickens, approximately 2 – 3 minutes.

You can mop up the extra gravy with someIrish Soda Bread Recipe.

Printable Directions for Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (10)

Print

How to Cook Corned Beef in an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker

Cooking corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Corned Beef, Corned Beef in a Pressure Cooker, Corned Beef in an Instant Pot, Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 6

Author Alea Milham

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 2 -3 pounds corned beef brisket
  • 20 small red potatoes whole
  • 1 medium onion quartered
  • 8 cloves garlic
  • 1 - 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 head of cabbage
  • spice packet often comes with corned beef purchase

Spices if you don't have a spice packet

  • 1 bay leaf crushed
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 20 + peppercorns
  • 20 + coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice

For Gravy:

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

Stove Top Pressure Cooker Directions

  • Place corned beef in the pressure cooker. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and veggies. Sprinkle spices over it all. Place lid on pressure cooker.

  • Cook over high heat until it reaches high pressure. Lower flame and stabilize pressure. Cook for 40 minutes.

  • Remove from flame and run under cold water to release pressure.

  • Add cabbage to the pressure cooker. Cook over high flame until it reaches high pressure.

  • As soon as it reaches high pressure, remove from flame and run under cool water to release pressure.

Electric Pressure Cooker and Instant Pot Directions:

  • Place the corned beef on the rack in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and veggies. Sprinkle spices over it all. Place the lid on pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Ensure the valve is sealed so that no steam is released.

  • On an electric pressure cooker, select high pressure, then select 40 minutes. On an Instant Pot, push manual which should select high pressure then select 40 minutes.

  • When your electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot has stopped cooking, open the valve to quickly release the steam.

  • Remove the lid, remove the cooked potatoes, place on a dish and cover to keep warm. Add the cabbage to the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Replace the lid, close the valve, select High Pressure and set the timer for 1 minute.

  • As soon as it is done cooking, open the valve to release the pressure.

  • Remove the cabbage and the corned beef and cover them to keep warm, then use the drippings to make gravy.

Gravy Directions:

  • Remove meat and vegetables from the pressure cooker, but leave the drippings.

  • Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the drippings.

  • Use a whisk to blend the cornstarch into the beef.

  • Cook over a medium flame until it reaches a boil.

  • Lower flame and boil until it thickens, approximately 2 - 3 minutes.

We enjoy Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage so much that I buy extra corned beef when it is on sale and freeze it. You can store corned beef in the freezer for 6 months.

Do you only make Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day? If so, below are some more ideas for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

More St. Patrick’s Day Ideas

Free Printable St. Patrick’s Prayer

Shamrock Craft Using Chenille Pipe Cleaners

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

St. Patrick’s Day Games for Kids

Corned Beef and Cabbage Casserole

Corned Beef Tater Tot Casserole

Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my corned beef not tender enough in the Instant Pot? ›

If your Instant Pot corned beef is tough, it's probably because it was not pressure-cooked long enough. Usually, 90 minutes of pressure cooking time does the trick.

How many minutes per pound of beef 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.

How long does meat pressure cook in Instant Pot? ›

Download our Pressure Cooking timetable here.
MeatCooking Time (in Minutes)
Beef, pot roast, steak, rump, round, chuck, blade or brisket, small chunks15 / 450g
Beef, ribs20 – 25
Beef, shanks 40 mm wide25 – 30
Beef, oxtail40 – 50
26 more rows

How long does it take to soften meat in a pressure cooker? ›

Steam penetrates food easily under pressure. So connective tissues in cubes of beef for soups or stews soften in 15 minutes or less, and a pot roast will be medium-rare in 30 minutes.

What is the secret to best corned beef? ›

Simmering corned beef on the stovetop is a tried-and-true method that results in very tender beef. One of the keys to simmering corned beef correctly is the amount of water in the pot. When there's not ample liquid to cover the meat, your dreams of tender corned beef may be replaced by a tough, chewy result.

Does corned beef get more tender the longer it is cooked? ›

Information. Corned beef is made from one of several less tender cuts of beef like the brisket, rump, or round. Therefore, it requires long, moist cooking. Corned beef is safe once the internal temperature has reached at least 145 °F, with a three minute rest time, but cooking it longer will make it fork-tender.

Do you cover meat with liquid in pressure cooker? ›

There's lots of water in the meat too, so even 1 cup added water will result in a fair amount of liquid after cooking. No you do not have to cover it. I usually do about 2 cups or so of stock.

How long to cook 2 pounds of meat in pressure cooker? ›

For a whole roast: Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes per pound of meat. For small chunks: Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes per pound of meat.

How much water do you put in a pressure cooker for meat? ›

Add Liquid

“Jiggle top” cookers need a minimum of one cup of water, while valve cookers need at least half a cup. Put food in the cooker first, then add water. When learning how to use a pressure cooker, make sure the unit is never more than two-thirds full of liquid, so the steam has enough space to accumulate.

Can meat get tough in a pressure cooker? ›

The moist heat in a pressure cooker tends to turn connective tissue into gelatin. You need to let the meat cool down for a few minutes after cooking, to give time for moisture to be reabsorbed, before releasing the pressure. Otherwise, the meat will likely be tough.

What is the best meat to cook in a pressure cooker? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

Does pressure cooker cook meat faster? ›

At that pressure, water boils at 121°C (250°F). That means food can cook at a much higher temperature than it ever could at atmospheric pressure—and since cooking reactions speed up at higher temperatures, your food cooks faster.

What happens if you leave meat in pressure cooker too long? ›

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat. Earlier, I explained how ingredient size affects the cooking time.

Why is my beef still tough in the pressure cooker? ›

To prevent a chewy beef steak, you need to avoid using too much high-pressure heat. Of course, start with pressure cooking your roast (that's why you're using the Instant Pot anyway), but keep that high-pressured phase to a few minutes only.

Can you overcook pork in a pressure cooker? ›

While it is possible to overcook pulled pork in the Instant Pot, it's very unlikely if you are using pork shoulder or butt. The pork should get more tender the longer it cooks. If using pork loin, which is leaner, you can overcook it.

How do you soften tough corned beef? ›

Because corned beef comes from brisket, a tough cut of meat. You need its connective tissue to break down so you can have tender results. Some like to braise their corned beef in an all-water liquid, with various spices and salt; others add beer to the mix to further tenderize the meat.

How do you make corned beef more tender? ›

Place into a cold oven turn the oven temperature to 250 to 300 cook for 3 to 4 hours depending on the size. My last one you could cut with a butter knife. Low temperature and slow cooking will result in tender corned beef.

How do you fix tough corned beef? ›

Place into a cold oven turn the oven temperature to 250 to 300 cook for 3 to 4 hours depending on the size. My last one you could cut with a butter knife. Low temperature and slow cooking will result in tender corned beef.

Is corned beef better in slow cooker or pressure cooker? ›

If you want your corned beef in a fraction of the time it normally takes, I highly recommend cooking it in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker. A 3 1/2 – 4 1/2 corned beef will be perfectly tender in just 60 – 90 minutes as opposed to several hours in the slow cooker or on the stove top.

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