Ultimate Instant Pot Roast Beef: Fall-Apart Tender Comfort with Easy Gravy
There’s nothing quite like a classic roast beef dinner to evoke feelings of warmth and comfort. Imagine succulent, fall-apart tender beef, perfectly cooked vegetables, and a rich, savory gravy, all ready in a fraction of the time of traditional methods. This Instant Pot Roast Beef recipe delivers exactly that – a truly impressive and deeply satisfying meal that’s surprisingly easy to achieve, making it the epitome of hearty comfort food for any day of the week.
Why This Instant Pot Roast Beef Recipe Is a Game Changer
Transforming a tough cut of beef into a melt-in-your-mouth masterpiece usually requires hours of slow roasting. However, using your Instant Pot drastically cuts down on cooking time, allowing you to enjoy a complete, satisfying roast dinner in just about 1 hour of active cooking and pressure building/releasing time. This recipe is designed for maximum flavor and minimal fuss, giving you a tender beef roast alongside perfectly cooked carrots and potatoes, all simmered in a rich, savory broth that effortlessly becomes a delicious gravy.
The magic of pressure cooking ensures that the beef achieves an unparalleled tenderness, absorbing all the aromatic flavors from the herbs and broth. Plus, by cooking the vegetables right alongside the roast, they soak up all those wonderful juices, becoming incredibly flavorful and soft. This comprehensive approach means you get a well-rounded meal from a single pot, simplifying cleanup and maximizing deliciousness. For those busy weeknights when you crave a homemade meal without the long wait, this Instant Pot roast beef is your ultimate solution.
While this Instant Pot method is ideal for those days when time is of the essence and setting up a slow cooker in the morning isn’t an option, we also understand the appeal of a set-it-and-forget-it meal. If you prefer to let your roast simmer throughout the day, our incredibly popular crockpot roast beef recipe is always a fantastic alternative, offering a different kind of convenience without compromising on flavor.
Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Instant Pot Roast Beef
To create this incredibly delicious Instant Pot roast beef, you’ll need a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients that work together to build layers of flavor. While the full list with precise measurements is available in the printable recipe card at the end of this post, here’s an overview of what you’ll need to gather:
Ingredient Insights and Smart Substitutions
Understanding your ingredients and knowing when and how to make substitutions can elevate your cooking and adapt recipes to your pantry and preferences. Here’s a deeper dive into the components of this Instant Pot roast beef:
BEEF: We highly recommend a sirloin tip roast for this recipe. It’s wonderfully lean, minimizing the need for trimming excess fat, yet it boasts sufficient marbling to deliver abundant flavor and juiciness when pressure cooked. You might also find this cut labeled as “round tip” at your butcher or grocery store. For the best results with the specified cooking time, aim for a roast around 1 ¾ pounds. If you opt for a larger cut, remember that you will need to increase the pressure cooking time accordingly to ensure it reaches that desired fall-apart tenderness.
- Substitutions: If sirloin tip isn’t available, you can successfully substitute with other cuts such as a round roast or a chuck roast, similar to what we use in our beloved crockpot roast beef recipe. Chuck roast, in particular, is known for its rich flavor and incredible tenderness when slow-cooked or pressure-cooked, thanks to its higher fat content and connective tissue that breaks down beautifully.
- Tip for selecting beef: Look for a roast with a vibrant red color and good marbling (small flecks of fat distributed throughout the meat). This marbling is key to a moist and flavorful roast.
VEGETABLES: A classic roast beef dinner often features onions, carrots, and baby potatoes, and this recipe is no exception. These hearty vegetables are chosen for their ability to withstand the pressure cooking process while soaking up the delicious beefy broth.
- Carrots: While chopped carrots are specified, feel free to use baby carrots if you prefer, as they require less prep work.
- Potatoes: Baby red potatoes, halved, are excellent for their waxy texture that holds up well. Quartered Yukon gold potatoes are another fantastic option, offering a creamy texture and buttery flavor.
- Other additions: Don’t hesitate to get creative with other root vegetables. Parsnips, celery, or even chunks of sweet potato can be wonderful additions. Just ensure they are cut into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Omitting vegetables: If you prefer, you can omit the vegetables from the Instant Pot altogether. In this case, serve your tender Instant Pot roast beef over creamy mashed potatoes and accompany it with a side of freshly roasted green beans, asparagus, or a crisp salad. This allows you to customize your meal based on dietary preferences or what you have on hand.
GRAVY: The pan juices left after pressure cooking are a goldmine of flavor, forming the perfect base for an incredibly easy and delicious beef gravy. Making a homemade gravy is straightforward and adds an essential element to your roast beef experience. Simply create a slurry by whisking together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with about ½ cup of the hot pan juices until smooth. Then, pour this slurry back into the remaining juices in the Instant Pot. Switch the Instant Pot to the “sauté” function and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes bubbly and thickens to your desired consistency. This simple step ensures every bit of flavor is utilized and transforms your meal into a gourmet experience.
Aromatics and Liquids: Don’t underestimate the power of minced garlic, chopped onion, fresh rosemary, low sodium soy sauce, and low sodium beef broth. These ingredients are crucial for building the foundational flavors of your roast and gravy. The soy sauce, in particular, adds a depth of umami without making the dish taste distinctly Asian, enhancing the beef’s natural richness.
How to Master Instant Pot Roast Beef: Step-by-Step Guide
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Prepare the Pot: Begin by pouring half of the olive oil into your Instant Pot. Select the “sauté” function and allow the pot to heat thoroughly. This is crucial for achieving a good sear on your roast.
- Season the Roast: In a small bowl, combine the remaining half of the olive oil with the garlic salt and black pepper. Mix these ingredients well to create a flavorful rub.
- Sear the Beef: Generously rub the oil mixture all over the sirloin tip roast, ensuring it’s evenly coated. Carefully place the seasoned roast into the hot oil in the Instant Pot. Brown the roast well on all sides. This searing step is vital as it locks in juices and develops a rich, complex flavor that forms the foundation of your dish. Once browned, remove the roast from the pot and set it aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: To the remaining flavorful juices and oil in the pot, add the minced garlic and sauté for a minute or two until fragrant. Then, add the chopped onion and continue to cook for another 2 minutes, allowing it to soften and become translucent. This step builds the aromatic base for your broth.
- Deglaze and Add Liquids: Deglaze the pot by adding rosemary, soy sauce, and beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. These bits are packed with flavor and will dissolve into the liquid, enriching your gravy.
- Assemble the Pot: Place the rack (trivet) into the Instant Pot, lifting the roast and vegetables out of the liquid.
- Add Roast and Vegetables: Arrange the potatoes, carrots, and the browned roast on top of the rack. Gently nestle the bay leaves into the liquid at the bottom of the pot. Placing the roast and veggies on the rack helps them steam and cook perfectly without becoming overly submerged or mushy, while still benefiting from the flavorful broth.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring the vent is closed and set to seal. Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow for a natural release of pressure. This is a critical step for tender beef, so do not rush it!
- Make the Gravy: After the natural release, carefully remove the roast and vegetables to a serving platter and keep warm. For the gravy, follow our easy tip: create a slurry by thoroughly combining 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with about ½ cup of the pan juices. Stir this mixture into the remaining juices in the pot. Switch your Instant Pot back to the “sauté” function and cook, stirring frequently, until the gravy begins to bubble and thickens to your desired consistency. This rich, homemade gravy is the perfect finishing touch!
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Instant Pot Roast Beef
To help you perfect your Instant Pot roast beef, here are answers to common questions and some valuable expert tips:
Store any leftover Instant Pot roast beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When reheating, the microwave works well for individual portions, or you can gently warm larger quantities in a covered dish in the oven with a little extra broth to prevent drying out.
Yes, you can freeze Instant Pot roast beef, but we recommend freezing only the beef with some of the luscious pan juices. The vegetables tend to become very mushy and lose their texture upon freezing and thawing. Allow the beef and juices to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer-safe, airtight container. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm through in a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated to your desired temperature.
Absolutely, a natural release on the pressure cooker is highly recommended and truly ideal for achieving the most tender beef. Releasing the pressure too quickly can cause the meat fibers to contract rapidly, potentially making the beef tough. Allowing a natural release ensures the meat gradually relaxes and reabsorbs its juices, resulting in that desirable fall-apart texture. If you’re in a hurry and absolutely must do a quick release, wait at least 10-15 minutes after the cooking cycle finishes before manually releasing the remaining pressure.
A 6-quart Instant Pot or larger is perfectly suited for this recipe, comfortably accommodating the 1.75-pound roast and vegetables without overcrowding. If you have a larger model, like an 8-quart, it will also work wonderfully.
Searing the beef before pressure cooking is a crucial step that enhances the overall flavor of your roast. It creates a rich, caramelized crust on the exterior of the meat through the Maillard reaction, which adds deep, savory notes that cannot be achieved by simply cooking the beef in liquid. This initial browning contributes significantly to the depth of flavor in both the beef and the final gravy.
Perfect Serving Suggestions for Your Roast Beef Dinner
One of the best aspects of this Instant Pot roast beef recipe is that it’s designed to be a complete meal in itself, with the tender carrots and potatoes cooked alongside the savory beef. However, there are many ways to customize and enhance your dinner experience. If you chose to omit the vegetables during cooking, or simply want more variety, consider these delightful serving suggestions:
- Classic Mash: For the ultimate comfort food pairing, serve your Instant Pot roast beef over a bed of creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. The rich gravy will meld perfectly with the potatoes, creating an incredibly satisfying dish.
- Additional Roasted Vegetables: While potatoes and carrots are excellent, consider roasting other vegetables on the side for added texture and flavor. Asparagus, broccoli florets, Brussels sprouts, or even sweet potatoes roasted with a sprinkle of herbs and olive oil can complement the roast beautifully.
- Fresh Bread: Don’t forget something to soak up all that incredible gravy! Chunks of crusty artisan bread, warm dinner rolls, or even garlic bread are perfect for scooping up every last drop of the flavorful sauce.
- Green Salad: A simple, fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette can provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of the roast beef and gravy. It adds brightness and a welcome crunch to the meal.
- Hearty Sides: Consider serving with traditional sides like corn on the cob, green bean casserole, or a homemade apple sauce for a touch of sweetness.
If you’re looking to explore other traditional roast recipes, perhaps for a different occasion or simply to try a new cooking method, our Amish pot roast is a fantastic option. Packed with incredible flavor and wonderfully easy to prepare in a Dutch oven, it offers a distinct, rustic charm that’s sure to impress.
More Delicious Instant Pot Recipes to Explore
The Instant Pot is a versatile kitchen appliance that can handle a wide array of recipes, making quick work of everything from comforting stews to succulent meats. If you’ve enjoyed the ease and deliciousness of this roast beef, you’ll love exploring these other fantastic Instant Pot recipes:
- Instant Pot Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone ribs in a fraction of the time!
- Instant Pot Chili: A hearty, flavorful chili ready in minutes.
- Instant Pot Beef Stew: Comfort in a bowl, with tender beef and vegetables.
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork: Perfect for sandwiches or tacos, made effortlessly.
- Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff: Creamy, savory, and quick.
- Instant Pot Oxtail: Rich, gelatinous, and incredibly tender oxtail.
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Instant Pot Roast Beef
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American
5
servings
1 hour
5 minutes
323
Amanda Davis
Ingredients
-
3
Tablespoons
olive oil
divided -
1
Tablespoon
garlic salt -
2
teaspoons
black pepper -
1 ¾
pound
sirloin tip roast -
1
Tablespoon
minced garlic -
1
cup
chopped onion -
2
sprigs
fresh rosemary -
2
Tablespoons
low sodium soy sauce -
1
cup
low sodium beef broth -
2
cups
halved baby red potatoes -
1
cup
chopped carrots -
2
bay leaves
Things You’ll Need
-
Instant pot
Before You Begin
- Prep time includes the time it takes for your pressure cooker to begin cooking and time for your natural release.
- Store leftover instant pot roast beef in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave.
- Do note that we used 1 3/4 pounds of sirloin tip roast, any larger of a cut will require longer in the pressure cooker.
Instructions
-
Pour half of the olive into the Instant Pot. Turn Instant Pot to the saute function.
-
Pour the remaining half of the olive into a bowl with the garlic salt and black pepper. Combine well.
-
Rub the oil mixture all over the roast. Place the prepared roast into the hot oil in the pot. Brown well on all sides. Remove the browned roast from the pot and set aside.
-
To the remaining juices and oil in the pot, add the minced garlic and saute for a minute or two. Add the chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes to soften.
-
Add rosemary, soy sauce, and beef broth.
-
Add the rack to the instant pot.
-
Add potatoes, carrots, and the roast on top of the rack. Nestle the bay leaves into the liquid in the pot.
-
Close vent and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes. Do a natural release.
-
A gravy can be made from the juices in the pan by making a slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and about 1/2 cup of the juices. Combine well then add slurry to the remaining juices in the pot. Cook on saute function until bubbly and mixture begins to thicken.
Nutrition
Serving:
1
serving
|
Calories:
323
cal
|
Carbohydrates:
12
g
|
Protein:
37
g
|
Fat:
14
g
|
Saturated Fat:
3
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
1
g
|
Monounsaturated Fat:
8
g
|
Cholesterol:
87
mg
|
Sodium:
901
mg
|
Potassium:
936
mg
|
Fiber:
2
g
|
Sugar:
3
g
|
Vitamin A:
4288
IU
|
Vitamin C:
7
mg
|
Calcium:
60
mg
|
Iron:
3
mg
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The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.