Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (2024)

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Delicious and tender Instant Pot Pot Roast with carrots and potatoes is full of flavor and perfect for busy nights. Learn how to cook a roast in the Instant Pot with just a few simple steps. It can be done in just over an hour, to be eaten right away, or for a meal several hours later.

Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (1)

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Pot roast has to be one of our families favorite meals. It is probably one of the easiest dishes to make, yet feels like you’ve been hard at work all day in the kitchen. It is hearty, filling and especially perfect for those cold winter days.

Pot roast can be prepared in many different ways, but ever since getting my very own Instant Pot in the fall of ’17, I’ve easily found my favorite way.

It’s fast, simple AND best of all, the meat is fall apart tender. If you are totally new to the Instant Pot, you can find my How To Use An Instant Pot guide here.

This is especially important for our family, because we buy grass fed/grass finished beef.

Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (2)

These calves aren’t fattened on GMO grain, which makes it a little leaner. But, when cooking it this way, it’s not the least bit tough! It’s just as tender as the store-bought beef.

We love to serve ours alongside a steaming hot bowl of garlic mashed potatoes, and a little homemade sauerkraut.

Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (3)

Tools You May Need:

  • 6 Quart Instant Pot: I highly recommend this one, because it has the yogurt button. Making homemade yogurt is my favorite thing to do in the Instant Pot.)
  • Berkey Water Filter (This is what we use to filter all our water. You can get my full review here.
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Tongs
  • Cutting board

Instant Pot Pot Roast Video Tutorial

Instant Pot Pot Roast Ingredients

  • 2.5- 3 lb roast – I use grass-fed chuck roast
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 5 or 6 whole carrots- cut in large chunks
  • 2 medium onions- peeled and cut in half
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Several grindings of fresh black pepper
  • 2 cups water, you could also use beef broth.

How to Cook a Pot Roast in the Instant Pot Instructions

Step 1: Brown The Veggies

  1. The first step is to get the veggies browned and the meat seared. This just adds extra flavor to the veggies and locks all of the delicious-ness inside the meat.
  2. To do this, press the sauté button on your Instant Pot. Allow it to get really hot. This will take a few minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, peel your onions and cut them in half, and chop the carrots into large chunks.
  4. Add two tablespoons of butter into the Instant Pot, and place the onions and carrots into the hot butter. Allow them to cook until the have a nice browned color on them.
  5. Once all the veggies have been browned a little, set them aside in a separate bowl.

Step 2: Brown and Sear The Meat

  1. Next, give your roast a little rinse in cold water and pat dry.
  2. Sprinkle it with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the garlic powder and pepper.
  3. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the Instant Pot, and then add the meat.
  4. Give it a few minutes on all sides, to get some nice browned color on it.
    • Searing meat helps it to keep all the flavor inside during the duration of the cooking process.

Step 2: Pressure Cook The Pot Roast And Veggies

  1. Once the meat is seared, add the veggies back on top and around it. Add in two cups of filtered water. Sprinkle on the remaining half teaspoon salt.
  2. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure, and allow it to cook for 60 minutes. Make sure that you have the little knob at the top set to sealing, as opposed to venting.
  3. When the 60 minutes is up, fast release the pressure by flipping the nob from sealed to venting. Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. This helps keep the juices in the meat.

How To Make This Roast Ahead Of Time In The Instant Pot

Going to be out all afternoon and need a good meal when you get back in? Roast is the perfect solution for that!

Follow the steps above, but skip the releasing the pressure part. Instead, just allow the Instant Pot to naturally release and automatically go to warm. It can slow cook and the warm setting for several hours.

When you are finally ready to eat, the pressure will already be released. The Instant Pot will slowly let it out, as it sits on the warm setting.

If you are doing it this way, there is no need to let the meat rest. Just dig in!

Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (4)

Find More Instant Pot Recipes:

  • Instant Pot Whole Chicken
  • How to Make Yogurt in the Instant Pot
  • Homemade Bone Broth in the Instant Pot
  • Homemade Applesauce in the Instant Pot
  • Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Instant Pot Pot Roast Printable Recipe Card

Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (5)

How to Cook a Roast in the Instant Pot

Learn how to cook a roast in the Instant Pot with just a few simple steps. It can be done in just over an hour, to be eaten right away, or for a meal several hours later.This is oneof those meals that is perfect for a busy day!

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Author: Lisa

Ingredients

  • 21/2 - 3 lb roast
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 5-6 whole carrots cut in large chunks
  • 2 medium onions peeled and cut in half
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Several grindings of fresh black pepper
  • 2 cups water

Instructions

Brown the veggies and sear the meat

  • Press the sauté button on your Instant Pot. Allow it to get really hot. This will take a few minutes. Meanwhile, peel your onions and cut them in half, and chop the carrots into large chunks.

  • Add two tablespoons of butter into the Instant Pot, and place the onions and carrots into the hot butter. Allow them to cook until the have a nice browned color on them. Once all the veggies have been browned a little, set them aside in a separate bowl.

  • Next, give your roast a little rinse in cold water and pat dry. Sprinkle it with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the garlic powder and pepper. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the Instant Pot, and then add the meat. Give it a few minutes on all sides, to get some nice browned color on it. Searing meat helps it to keep all the flavor inside during the duration of the cooking process.

Put it in the Instant Pot

  • Once the meat is seared, add the veggies back on top and around it. Add in two cups of filtered water. Sprinkle on the remaining half teaspoon salt.

  • Set the Instant Pot to high pressure, and allow it to cook for 60 minutes. Make sure that you have the little knob at the top set to sealing, as opposed to venting.

  • When the 60 minutes is up, release the pressure. Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

  • The Instant Pot makes even the leanest cuts of meat fall apart tender.

Nutrition

Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 626mg | Potassium: 848mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 8692IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 4mg

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Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (6)This post was updated November 2019.

Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my pot roast still tough in the 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 much liquid to add to Instant Pot for roast? ›

I recommend adding 1/2 cup of liquid (water or low-sodium beef broth) to the Instant Pot for a roast. Typically you need at least 1 cup of liquid in the Instant Pot; the remaining 1/2 cup comes from the juices released by the chuck roast and the tomato sauce.

Is Instant Pot pot roast as good as slow-cooker? ›

Crock Pot beef roast is all about that flavor

Instant Pot is good for lots of things, but according to a taste test by Tried, Tested and True, it can't really hold a candle to Crock Pot when it comes to savory, succulent, slow-cooked beef roast. Instant Pot roast is still pretty delicious, mind you.

How long does it take to cook 2 pounds of beef in the Instant Pot? ›

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.

Can you overcook a roast in the Instant Pot? ›

In a few words, yes! You can also undercook it, too. Overcooking the meat would result in a very dry tasting pot roast.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook a chuck roast? ›

Some people prefer a roast that has more substance, so if you do, the Instant Pot is the winner. I have tried cooking a roast for up to 120 minutes in the Instant Pot and the texture still didn't match a slow cooker, but every 10 minutes of added pressure cooking will definitely make the meat more tender.

Should roast be covered with liquid in pressure cooker? ›

While you may cover meat almost completely for a conventional braise, use just enough liquid for the cooker to reach pressure – during pressure cooking the meat will release it's own juice and braise in that flavorful liquid, instead.

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…

Is 2 cups of water too much for a pressure cooker? ›

Follow this tip: While at least 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid is essential to well-cooked food in the pressure cooker, too much liquid will pull the flavor out of foods. Unless otherwise specified in the recipe, use just enough liquid to bring the cooker to pressure.

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

If you've read the instructions on your Instant Pot, you probably know that the Keep Warm can be set for up to 99h and 50 minutes (manually) or maximum 10h (if it starts automatically). This means that you can leave the pot on and go shopping or even go to work and find the food warm.

How big of a roast will fit in an Instant Pot? ›

A 3-quart pot can hold a 3-pound roast well. If your pressure cooker is 6 quarts, choose up to a 4.5-pound roast. And if you're working with an 8-quart pot, you can make a 6 to 7-pound roast. Carrots: 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped, may be substituted for the baby carrots.

Can I put a frozen chuck roast in the Instant Pot? ›

Making a frozen roast in the instant pot is such a delicious and fast way to make Chuck Roast compared to a slow cooker. The root vegetables you choose to use are completely customizable but I highly recommend using some form of potato and celery.

Why is my roast tough in Instant Pot? ›

This strategy works to prevent overcooking your chuck roast, which is one reason why your beef could end up chewy. Otherwise, if your meat ends up tough due to undercooking, that's easy to fix; just return the beef to the pot and let it cook a little longer.

How much liquid do you need for Instant Pot beef? ›

Typically roast beef would be made in the oven without liquid. However, in order for the Instant Pot to come to pressure, there must be enough liquid. For this recipe, you'll need 1 cup of water or broth.

When to add potatoes to pot roast? ›

Cover and cook for 3 hours, or until the roast is very tender. Add the carrots and potatoes to the pot when there's about an hour of cooking time left, turning the roast over when you do. To serve, spoon any excess fat off the surface and slice or shred the beef to serve with the veggies, drizzled with sauce.

Will 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.

Can you soften tough meat in Instant Pot? ›

The pressure cooker can tenderize the most stubborn cut of meat and turn tough chewy fibers into gelatin, but a few wrong moves can turn meat into a shriveled tasteless lump. Here are my do's and don'ts for getting the most flavor out of your pressure cooked meat.

Why is my pot roast not breaking down? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

How do you fix a tough pot roast? ›

Thick-slice the roast (1/4 in thick or so), then cut the slices into bite-sized cubes. Put these in a deep pan and add a can of beef broth (about a cup), a cup of water, and a half-cup of red wine. Heat this to a simmer over low heat and cover the pan, stirring occasionally.

References

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