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!

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.

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:

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.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot. Ensure the valve is sealed so that no steam is released.
On an Instant Pot, push meat or manual which should select high pressure then select 40 minutes.
When your 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 Instant Pot. Replace the lid, close the valve, select manual 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.

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:

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.
Place the lid on pressure cooker. Ensure the valve is sealed so that no steam is released.
On an electric pressure cooker, select high pressure, then select 40 minutes.
When your electric pressure cooker 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. 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.

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:

Place corned beef in the pressure cooker. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and potatoes.
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 the pressure cooker 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.

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

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:

After you have removed the meat and veggies from the pot, add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the drippings.
Use a whisk to blend the cornstarch into the beef.
Cook on low to medium heat until it reaches a boil.
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)

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

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

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.

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.

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How long does meat pressure cook in Instant Pot? ›

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. When the beef is done, you can make our optional gravy.

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Why is my corned beef tough from the pressure cooker? ›

Not Filling the Pot with Enough Water

When there's not ample liquid to cover the meat, your dreams of tender corned beef may be replaced by a tough, chewy result.

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What is the most tender way to cook corned beef? ›

Slow cooking with a crock pot or using an instant pot is a fantastic way to cook corned beef, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth, tender meat throughout. You can make a delicious, hearty meal with simple ingredients and a crock pot or instant pot. Your whole family will enjoy it.

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What happens if you don t rinse corned beef before cooking? ›

Many recipes don't include a step for rinsing the meat, but it's worth doing it anyway. Depending on the pickling solution used for the meat, you may be in for a saltier meal than you bargained for if you cook the meat without rinsing it. And don't worry: Rinsing won't make the beef taste bland!

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Do you use the liquid in the corned beef package? ›

Place the brined corned beef in a large pot or Dutch oven along with the liquid and spices that accompanied it in the package. Pour in enough water to cover the beef, then bring the water to a boil on the stovetop. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cover the pot.

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Does corned beef get more tender the longer you boil it? ›

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.

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Do you cover meat with liquid in pressure cooker? ›

No, just enough to keep moist while cooking - add more if you need to but usually the meat releases liquid as it cooks and it is not necessary to add more liquid.

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

Place your trivet or steaming basket into the inner pot. Add 1 cup of water. Place your ground meat on the trivet/in the steamer basket. Cook for 6 minutes at high pressure.

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

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.

How long to cook 3 lb corned beef? ›

For a two to three-pound corned beef brisket, cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. For a three to five-pound corned beef brisket, cook for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. STOVE: Place brisket fat-side up in a large pot and cover it with water. Bring the water to a boil; then reduce the heat and simmer, allowing about 1 hour per pound.

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Can you overcook corned beef? ›

Yes, you can overcook corned beef, just like any other cut of meat. Overcooking corned beef can result in a dry, tough, and stringy texture that is unpleasant to eat.

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Should I cook corned beef in water or broth? ›

It's easy to make in the oven, or in a slow cooker, after a 5 day brine in the fridge. The corned beef seasoning adds so much flavor to this traditional recipe, and a low, slow cook in beef broth makes this corned beef brisket juicy, tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

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Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook beef? ›

This completely depends on the type of meat you are planning on cooking. Because slow cookers take longer to cook, they are better suited to breaking down fat in meat while adding moisture. So if you are planning on cooking a whole rump beef, then a slow cooker is a better choice.

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Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook? ›

Slow cookers are much better for cooking root vegetables and tough cuts of meat because the long, low-temperature cooking process is great for adding moisture and breaking down fat. Pressure cookers can get hot enough for meats and vegetables to brown in them when cooking, but slow cookers can't.

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Should I use a pressure cooker or slow cooker for beef? ›

Texture: Cubed beef emerged from the pressure cooker moist and tender while the slow cooker meat tasted dried out and overcooked. Veggies were a different story however. Carrots from the pressure cooker came out soft and mushy while those from the slow cooker maintained their shape, even bordering on being too crisp.

Does food taste better in a pressure cooker or slow cooker? ›

Slow cookers utilize long cooking times to develop these richer flavors, while pressure cookers use high heat and pressure to impart as much flavor as possible in a shorter time.

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