The Ultimate Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe: Tender, Flavorful & Effortless!
Prepare for a truly magnificent meal with our Instant Pot Corned Beef. This recipe delivers incredibly juicy and tender corned beef brisket, perfectly complemented by vibrant carrots, crisp cabbage, and hearty baby potatoes. All cooked together in your pressure cooker with a rich touch of Guinness, this dish is brimming with robust, satisfying flavors that will make it an instant family favorite. Forget long hours in the kitchen; the Instant Pot makes achieving this classic comfort food easier than ever before.
Why This Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe Is a Must-Try
There’s something incredibly comforting about a perfectly cooked corned beef. The classic combination of salt-cured beef with its unique slightly sweet and sour profile, paired with tender baby carrots, fluffy potatoes, and crisp-tender cabbage, creates a hearty and unforgettable meal. This Instant Pot corned beef method truly shines, transforming a tough brisket into an ultra-tender, juicy masterpiece with minimal effort. By pressure cooking the brisket with a blend of rich Guinness beer and savory broth, we infuse it with incredible depth of flavor that’s simply unmatched by other cooking methods.
While often associated with Irish culture, corned beef as we know it today actually has deep roots in North America, particularly as an Irish-American tradition. It became a staple during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, a culinary mash-up influenced by Irish immigrants and Jewish delis in New York. This beloved dish has since become synonymous with the holiday, yet its deliciousness makes it a fantastic meal to enjoy any time of the year. The Instant Pot drastically cuts down the cooking time, allowing you to enjoy this traditional feast without waiting all day, making it perfect for busy weeknights or festive gatherings alike.
Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Instant Pot Corned Beef
To create this mouthwatering Instant Pot corned beef and cabbage, you’ll need a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the robust flavor profile of this classic dish. From the star of the show, the corned beef brisket, to the aromatic vegetables and the flavorful cooking liquid, every item contributes to the tender texture and delicious taste.
For a complete list of all measurements, specific ingredients, and detailed instructions, please refer to the printable recipe card available at the end of this comprehensive guide. This section provides a general overview and helpful tips for choosing and preparing your ingredients.
Ingredient Spotlight & Expert Substitution Tips
Let’s dive deeper into the ingredients and how to get the most out of them, along with some helpful substitution advice to make this recipe work for everyone.
BEEF – The foundation of this incredible dish is a 3-4 lb flat cut corned beef brisket. We specifically recommend the flat cut because its uniform thickness allows the Instant Pot to cook it evenly, resulting in a consistently tender and juicy brisket. If your brisket slab is on the larger side and seems too big for your Instant Pot’s capacity, don’t hesitate to cut it in half. This won’t affect the overall cooking time; it simply ensures a better fit and more even cooking. Most corned beef briskets come with a seasoning packet, which we utilize in this recipe for convenience and traditional flavor. However, if you’re feeling adventurous and prefer to craft your own unique brine, you can find a detailed guide on how to do so in our classic corned beef and cabbage post.
AROMATICS & LIQUID – You’ll need a large onion, cut into wedges, and whole garlic cloves. These aromatics infuse the cooking liquid with a foundational layer of savory flavor. For the liquid, we use a combination of chicken broth and Guinness beer. The Guinness beer is a traditional choice that adds an incredible depth and a slightly malty richness to the brisket, but rest assured, there is absolutely no discernible beer taste in the finished dish. The alcohol cooks off, leaving behind only its complex flavor notes. If you prefer not to use beer for any reason, high-quality chicken or beef broth can be substituted directly for the Guinness without compromising the tender results, though you might miss a slight nuance in the overall flavor profile. You can also experiment with hard cider for a different subtle sweetness.
VEGETABLES – We include baby carrots, which cook beautifully and absorb the delicious cooking liquid, becoming sweet and tender. One pound of baby potatoes, halved, provides a hearty and comforting element. And, of course, a small head of green cabbage, quartered, is essential for that classic corned beef and cabbage experience. Feel free to adjust the quantity of vegetables to your liking or add other root vegetables like parsnips if you wish, keeping in mind that denser vegetables might require slightly longer cooking times or smaller cuts.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Instant Pot Corned Beef
These step-by-step photos and detailed instructions are designed to help you visualize each stage of making this incredibly delicious Instant Pot Corned Beef. For a convenient printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and instructions, you can Jump to Recipe at the very bottom of this post.
- Begin by preparing your Instant Pot. Place the onion wedges and whole garlic cloves directly into the pot. These will form a flavorful base for your brisket. Next, position the trivet or rack on top of the onions and garlic. Carefully pour in the chicken broth and the Guinness beer, ensuring there’s enough liquid for pressure cooking. Place the corned beef brisket on the rack, fat side up if possible, and then sprinkle the entire seasoning packet that came with your brisket evenly over the top. This packet contains all the classic spices needed to perfectly flavor the beef.
- Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and set it to cook on high pressure for 90 minutes. Remember that the Instant Pot will take about 15-20 minutes to come to pressure before the actual cooking time begins. Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick release of the pressure. Carefully remove the tender corned beef brisket from the pot and transfer it to a cutting board or platter; allow it to rest for at least 10-15 minutes, tented loosely with foil, to keep it warm and allow the juices to redistribute. Remove the trivet from the Instant Pot. Strain the remaining liquid, onions, and garlic into a heatproof bowl. Discard the cooked onions and garlic as their flavor has been fully extracted, but be sure to save the rich, flavorful cooking liquid.
- Return exactly 2 cups of the strained cooking liquid back into the Instant Pot. This liquid is packed with flavor from the brisket and aromatics, and it will be perfect for cooking your vegetables. (Note: In our test, we typically yielded about 5 1/2 cups of liquid in total after cooking the beef, so you’ll have extra if you want to make a light gravy or save it for another use).
- Add the baby carrots, the halved baby potatoes, and the cabbage wedges to the pot with the reserved liquid. Season the vegetables lightly with salt and pepper to taste; remember the liquid from the corned beef is already seasoned. Secure the lid once more and cook on high pressure for just 5 minutes. This short burst of pressure cooking is perfect for tenderizing the vegetables without turning them mushy. Once done, perform another quick release.
- While your vegetables are cooking and the pressure is building, slice the rested corned beef brisket against the grain into your desired thickness. Arrange the slices attractively on a large serving platter. Cover the platter loosely with foil to keep the delicious beef warm while you wait for the vegetables to finish cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Corned Beef
Proper storage is key to enjoying your leftovers. Once cooled, store any remaining corned beef and vegetables in an airtight container. Keep it refrigerated, and it will remain fresh and delicious for up to 4 days. This makes it excellent for meal prepping or quick lunches later in the week!
While beer, specifically Guinness, adds a wonderful depth and complexity to the overall flavor of the corned beef, you absolutely will not taste beer in the finished meal. This is similar to how cooking with wine works; the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process, leaving behind only its rich flavor compounds. If you prefer not to use beer for dietary or personal reasons, you can easily substitute it with an equal amount of chicken or beef broth. The dish will still be incredibly flavorful and tender.
For the most tender slices, always slice corned beef brisket against the grain. The grain refers to the direction of the muscle fibers. Cutting against it shortens these fibers, making each bite more tender and less chewy. You can cut it as thin or as thick as you prefer, but thin slices generally maximize tenderness.
While we recommend a flat cut for its even cooking, a point cut corned beef can also be used. Point cuts are generally fattier and can yield an even richer flavor. If using a point cut, ensure it fits comfortably in your Instant Pot, and the cooking time will remain the same. The increased fat content will render down, making it incredibly succulent.
It’s important to remember that the listed “cook time” in Instant Pot recipes refers to the time the food spends under high pressure. Your Instant Pot needs additional time to “come to pressure” before the countdown begins, and then time for the “quick release” or “natural release” afterward. For this recipe, expect an additional 15-20 minutes for the pot to pressurize before the 90-minute cooking cycle starts.
Serving Your Delicious Instant Pot Corned Beef
Once your beautifully tender corned beef brisket is sliced against the grain and arranged alongside the perfectly cooked vegetables, it’s ready to be served! For an extra touch of freshness and color, consider sprinkling a bit of freshly chopped parsley over the entire dish just before serving. The vibrant green will beautifully contrast with the rich colors of the meat and vegetables.
This complete meal is hearty and satisfying on its own, but corned beef is also incredibly versatile. The leftovers are truly fantastic and open up a world of culinary possibilities. Transform your extra meat into a classic corned beef sandwich or slider, pile it high on a Reuben, or mix it into a savory corned beef hash for a comforting breakfast or brunch. The possibilities are endless for enjoying every last bit of this delicious brisket!
More Delightful St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
If you’re looking to round out your St. Patrick’s Day celebration, or simply craving more traditional Irish-inspired dishes, we have a collection of fantastic recipes that pair wonderfully with corned beef or stand alone as delicious meals. Explore some of our other favorites:
- Hearty Traditional Irish Stew
- Classic Irish Coffee
- Easy Pan-Fried Cabbage
- Creamy Colcannon Mashed Potatoes
- Decadent Bailey’s Irish Cream Chocolate Fudge
- Slow Cooker Corned Beef (Crockpot Method)
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Instant Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage
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, Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Irish
Ingredients
- 1 large onion cut into wedges
- 4 cloves garlic whole
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 14.9 oz Guinness beer
- 4 lb corned beef brisket 3-4 lb flat cut*, with seasoning packet
- 3 cups baby carrots
- 1 lb baby potatoes cut in half
- 1 small head green cabbage quartered
- salt and pepper to taste or seasoned salt
Things You’ll Need
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6 qt Instant Pot
Before You Begin
- Keep in mind that while the cook time is 90 minutes, an Instant Pot usually takes about 15-20 minutes to come up to pressure before the cook time officially begins.
- Beer adds depth and flavor, though you will not be able to taste it in the finished meal – similar to how you cook with wine. If you prefer not to use beer, you can substitute it with chicken or beef broth.
- You will need a 3-4 lb flat cut corned beef brisket. We opt for flat-cut corned beef as it helps the Instant Pot cook it evenly into a tender, juicy brisket. If your brisket slab is too large for the Instant Pot, you can cut it in half to fit while keeping the cook time the same.
Instructions
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Place onion wedges and garlic cloves into the Instant Pot then position rack on top. Add broth and beer. Place corned beef on the rack, sprinkle with seasoning packet.
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Cook on high pressure for 90 minutes followed by a quick release. Remove beef and set aside to rest. Remove rack. Strain liquid, onion and garlic into a bowl. Discard onion and garlic.
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Put 2 cups of the liquid back into the pot (we had 5 1/2 cups of liquid total after cooking the beef).
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Add carrots, halved potatoes, and cabbage wedges. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook on high for 5 minutes, followed by a quick release.
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While vegetables are cooking, slice brisket and arrange on a platter. Cover with foil until vegetables are ready.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
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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.
This post was originally published on this blog on Feb 20, 2022, and has been updated and enhanced for improved readability and comprehensive information.