Instant Pot Corned Beef

Content… Why Make it in an Instant Pot? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Beef and Cabbage Recipes to Try Conclusion Watch How to Make It

Why Cook Corned Beef in the Instant Pot?

Brisket, traditionally used for corned beef, is a tougher cut of beef, so brine-curing and cooking it for quite a while makes it deliciously tender. It can easily take three hours in the oven to get tender. So how long does it take in an Instant Pot? Half the time at only 1-1½ hours! Besides, the Instant Pot set-and-forget-it cooking option is perfect for busy mamas.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Corned Beef – This recipe calls for a 3-4 pound corned beef. Look for one with the spice packet included. 😉
2. Seasonings – Fresh thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice berries, mustard seeds, and a hefty dose of beef broth bring out this dish’s beautiful salty, savory flavors.
3. Vegetables – Onions, garlic, carrots, small red potatoes, and a head of cabbage all go into this dish, making it a one-pot meal! 🎉

How to Make Instant Pot Corned Beef

Cook the Corned Beef

• Prep the Beef – Take the corned beef from its package and then rinse it under cool water to remove excess salt.
• Put in Instant Pot – Place the corned beef on top of a trivet in your Instant Pot.
• Season It – Then, sprinkle it with the contents of the spice packet. Add onion, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice berries, and mustard seeds. Finally, add about 5 cups of beef broth to the Instant Pot.
• Pressure Cook – Close the lid with the vent set to seal. Cook it for 70 minutes on manual high pressure for sliceable corned beef or 90 minutes for fall-apart corned beef.
• Prep Veggies – Peel and chop your potatoes while your meat is cooking. Then peel and slice the carrots into large chunks of a similar size. If you’re using a small cabbage, cut it into wedges; otherwise, cut it into large chunks. Set aside.
• Release Pressure – When the cooking time is up, let the Instant Pot pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
• Rest – Do a quick release to let any additional pressure out, and place brisket on a platter, covered with foil to keep it warm while you cook the vegetables.

Cook the Vegetables

• Strain Broth – First, strain the cooking liquid from the pot into a bowl and discard any particles.
• Add Root Veggies – Next, add the carrots and potatoes to the pot and pour enough cooking liquid back in to fully cover them.
• Cook – Close your Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 3-4 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
• Add Cabbage – Quickly release the pressure and add the cabbage. Cook the vegetables for 2 more minutes, uncovered, until the cabbage wilts or reaches desired tenderness.
• Serve – Then, remove the vegetables and place them next to the corned beef on the platter. Optionally, you can do the last step before arranging your platter.
• Optional Step – Heat a skillet with butter and add the potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until slightly browned. Place them on the platter next to the corned beef.

Recipe Variations

1. Customize your vegetables. Add or subtract any vegetables. You could cook green beans or asparagus on the side. You could swap out the potatoes in the Instant Pot with a stovetop serving of mashed potatoes. Or you could add other hearty vegetables along with potatoes and carrots. Cobs of corn, sweet potatoes, or other root veggies like rutabagas would all do well with this meal.
2. You can always cook corned beef in the oven if you don’t have an Instant Pot. Set the oven to 350℉/177℃. Add the corned beef brisket and about an inch of water to a Dutch oven. Cook the beef covered (fat side up) for about an hour per pound of meat. 👌

Tips and Tricks

1. If your corned beef didn’t come with a spice packet, don’t worry. It usually contains pickling spices, many of which I’ve included in the ingredient list for this recipe. For a little extra flavor, add a couple of cloves to the spices already in the recipe if you desire.
2. Use whole carrots if you can. If you’re in a hurry, there’s nothing wrong with a bag of baby carrots, but whole carrots give your dish better flavor. Plus, they hold up better in the pressure cooker.
3. Russet potatoes tend to get mushy fast, making them great for mashed potatoes. But they’re less so with corned beef. Red or yellow potatoes or even fingerlings are a better choice.
4. For the best Instant Pot corned beef, always let the beef rest while you cook the vegetables. It will allow the juices to redistribute and keep the meat tender.
5. Slice the brisket against the grain, as this is another trick for a tender bite of corned beef. 🤤

Make-Ahead Instructions

This dish reheats spectacularly, so you can make it a couple of days ahead. Simply reheat it on the stovetop with all the juices over medium heat until heated through. A minute or two in the microwave also works fine for individual servings.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve corned beef on a platter with all the veggies and garnish with some fresh chopped parsley if you’d like. It will look beautiful!

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days in an airtight container. You can also freeze leftover corned beef for up to three months. Thaw frozen leftovers in the fridge the night before you want to use them.

Reheat corned beef on the stovetop or in the microwave. 😉

FAQs

What Goes With Instant-Pot Corned Beef

Many people traditionally serve this Irish-American dish with Irish soda bread. And a nice side of classic deviled eggs also pairs nicely. 😋

There is already a good serving of vegetables in this recipe, but you could always include a fresh salad too, which would balance out the textures of the meal nicely. A simple wedge salad or a tossed salad would be perfect.

More Beef and Cabbage Recipes to Try

• Cabbage Roll Casserole
• Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
• Caribbean Corned Beef and Cabbage
• Stuffed Cabbage Roll Soup
• Cabbage Egusi Soup

Conclusion

So here’s everything you need to know to make the best Instant Pot corned beef and cabbage dinner! For more amazing family dinner recipes, follow me on Facebook or Instagram. I can’t wait to see you there! 🫶

Watch How to Make It

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