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Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage is sure to be the shining star of your St. Patrick’s Day menu. Your pressure cooker or Instant Pot is the easiest and fastest way to make tender and juicy corned beef and cabbage.
This easy Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe is about to turn everything you thought you knew about corned beef on its head.
First of all, this Instant Pot recipe is fast! While slow-cooked corned beef has to cook all day, this pressure cooker corned beef cook time is 90 minutes. And the best part is that most of the time is totally hands-off, thanks to your pressure cooker!
☘️ Get ready to embrace this wonderful classic Irish meal just in time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.☘️
This recipe can be paired with Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, and Pressure Cooker Nutella Rolo Cheesecake for dessert
Update: Since first posting this recipe years ago, I’ve made this dish countless times. We’ve updated this post to answer common reader questions about making corned beef and cabbage and a video so you can see for yourself how easy it really is. Enjoy!
What Is Corned Beef?
Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is corned beef? No, it doesn’t have anything to do with corn. Rather, corned beef is a brisket cured with salt to make it into corned beef.
(“Corn” refers to the large “corns” of rock salt traditionally used to cure the meat. This curing process keeps the meat perfectly moist and gives it a signature pink color.)
Growing up, I avoided corned beef altogether—for some reason, I was expecting rubbery canned meats, rather than the tender and juicy brisket it actually is.
Even my picky eater daughter was shocked by how flavorful and delicious this Instant Pot Corned Beef turned out!
How to Choose the Right Cut of Meat?
For this Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe, look for flat cut corned beef brisket. This is usually a fairly uniform, flat piece of meat that will cook more evenly than point cut brisket.
Flat cut brisket also makes a nicer presentation than point cut brisket. Plus, the layer of fat on the bottom of the cut melts in the pressure cooker to create silky and flavorful juices for this dish.
💡 For best results, start with meat that’s a uniform thickness. This ensures that your meat will cook fully and evenly in the pressure cooker.
If you end up with a portion of meat that’s too large for your pressure cooker, simply slice the brisket in half or smaller pieces and arrange it as best you can inside the bowl. Don’t squish the meat inside.
How to Make Corned Beef and Cabbage in ANY Brand of Electric Pressure Cooker
This Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe will work in any brand of electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or Power Pressure Cooker XL.
- Start by rinsing your cut of beef in cold water. This removes any excess salt from curing.
- Next, combine the seasoning, onion, and garlic in your pressure cooking pot. Arrange the meat on the wire rack above the aromatics. (Note: the rack is not necessary, but it makes removing the meat a bit easier.)
- Then pour in a quart of beef broth. The broth should come at least halfway up the sides of the meat in your pot.
- Now, simply seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 90 minutes. After a 10 minute natural pressure release, you can switch the lever to do a quick release. When you remove the lid, be prepared for a fantastic release of delicious smelling steam.
- Carefully transfer the meat to a resting area while you cook the potatoes, carrots and cabbage. The veggies have a 3 minutes cook time in the pressure cooker, so you won’t have too wait long.
If you are just getting Started with your Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker, check out our Getting Started Guide here and we have easy recipes for beginners.
It’s important to cook the vegetables after the meat is finished because 90 minutes in a pressure cooker will turn your delicate potatoes and carrots to total mush.
By separating into two different pressure cook times, we get to use the flavorful cooking liquid from the beef to cook the veggies, which take on all of that tasty flavor without getting overcooked.
Do I Use the Corned Beef Seasoning Packet?
The key is to use the seasoning packet that may come with your cut of brisket.
If your brisket didn’t come with a spice packet, choose a flavorful blend of pickling spices.McCormick makes a great all-around pickling spice blend that you can find at most grocery stores.
Or you can make your own seasoning with this recipe. You may already have all of the spices on hand!
How To Serve Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
Now for the best part! Let the meat rest, then serve your stunning Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage.
To cut the meat, slice across the grain by positioning your knife perpendicular to the natural grain you can see in the muscle of the brisket.
Gingerly slice thin cuts of corned beef. Serve them alongside the tender and flavorful potatoes, carrots, and cabbage for a hearty, yet so easy, Irish meal.
☘️ This meal completes itself as a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Serve it with a side of Irish Soda Bread and pour yourself and your guests a glass of Guinness to get in full spirit! ☘️
Try one of these delightful St. Patrick’s Day desserts:
☘️ St. Patrick’s Day Rice Krispies Treats make a fun, quick, green-and-white dessert.
☘️ For something a little more decadent, try these adorable Boston Cream Cupcakes.
☘️ Or, for a cooler dessert option, make this two-ingredient Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie.
How to Store & Use Leftover Corned Beef and Cabbage
If this recipe makes a little too much corned beef and cabbage for your needs, you’re in luck. Corned beef makes delicious leftovers!
Store the corned beef and cabbage in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
For an awesome breakfast, you can also use leftover corned beef to replace some of the sausage and ham in our Instant Pot Meat Lover’s Quiche.
Or, try one of these fantastic corned beef recipes:
- Corned Beef Sliders from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Instant Pot Reuben Frittata from Tidbits-Marci
- Corned Beef Hash from Spend with Pennies
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Ingredients
- 3 pound flat cut corned beef brisket with seasoning packet
- 4 cups of beef broth
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 6 medium red potatoes, quartered
- 3 large carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 small cabbage, cut into 6 wedges
Instructions
- Rinse the corned beef under cold water to remove excess salt and gel.
- Combine the seasoning packet, onion, and garlic in the pressure cooking pot. Put a metal rack in the bottom of the pressure cooking pot, place corned beef on the rack. and pour the beef stock on top.
- Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressure and 90 minutes cook time.
- When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then finish with a quick pressure release. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid.
- Remove the cooked corned beef from the pressure cooking pot to a platter or cutting board. Slice meat across the grain and cover with aluminum foil until ready to serve. Remove the rack from the cooking pot.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, and cabbage to the broth in the cooking pot. Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressure and 3 minutes cook time.
- When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker and use a quick pressure release. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid.
- Check the potatoes with a fork. If you would like them cooked more tender, select Sauté and simmer, stirring occasionally, until they reach your desired tenderness.
- Remove the carrots, cabbage, and potatoes from the pressure cooking pot to the serving platter.
- If desired, strain the juices remaining in the pot, skim off the fat, and transfer to a gravy boat or bowl to ladle on top of the meat.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 415Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 739mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 6gSugar: 5gProtein: 29g
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Other Beef Recipes You May Enjoy:
- BBQ Bacon Meatloaf
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- Instant Pot Beef Chili
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FAQs
How long to pressure cook meat in Instant Pot? ›
Season your meat as you normally would. Heat a little oil using the Sauté function and sear the meat. Add 1 1/2 cups of liquid (water, stock, etc.). Cook for 20 minutes (per pound of meat) at high pressure for large chunks and 15 minutes (per pound of meat) for small chunks.
Is corned beef better in slow cooker or pressure cooker? ›While the slow cooker method takes more than five hours (or over nine hours if you use the low setting), the Instant Pot is the way to go if you're always short on time and want corned beef that really tastes delicious and is meltingly tender.
How many minutes does it take to cook meat in a pressure cooker? ›In general, you will need twenty minutes of cooking time at pressure for every pound of meat. So, a 3-pound roast takes 60 minutes at high pressure before it is tender.
How long does it take to cook in a pressure cooker? ›Let's get into it. A pressure cooker should take about 5-15 minutes to pressurize, although you could end up waiting closer to 30, depending on how much is inside of it.
Does meat get more tender the longer you pressure cook it? ›I sure do to. A while back I asked myself, "Does pressure cooking tenderize meat"? and this is what I found out. The pressure will in fact make your meat super tender, almost as if you slow cooked it for the better part of a day.
Can you overcook meat pressure cooker? ›Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat. Earlier, I explained how ingredient size affects the cooking time.
What is the best method to cook corned beef? ›Instead: Regardless of the cooking method, corned beef is best cooked over low heat. A low, gentle simmer on the stovetop or in the slow cooker are two excellent methods for cooking up soft, tender slices of corned beef every time.
Should I rinse corned beef before cooking? ›Always Rinse Corned Beef Before Cooking It
That's why the very first thing you should do is rinse the uncooked piece of meat several times under cool running water to remove this residual salt. Many recipes don't include a step for rinsing the meat, but it's worth doing it anyway.
To make the corned beef, open the sealed package right over the slow cooker, because you want to include the brine in the cooking liquid. Don't discard the brine. Place the meat into the cooker and add enough cold water to cover.
How much liquid do you use in a pressure cooker? ›Most, if not all, pressure cookers have a minimum and maximum mark on the inside of the pot. Do not exceed these. A pressure cooker shouldn't be more than 2/3rds full. With liquids, avoid filling more than half full.
How much water do I add to my 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.
Set on high pressure, and set cook time at 80 minutes, and did natural pressure release. Let meat rest tented with foil for 15 minutes, and it was falling apart tender and juicy. I shredded it and put back in the juices to store - which by the way on their own made a great gravy!
Can a pressure cooker explode? ›Pressure cookers can explode for many reasons, including being overfilled, using oil improperly, and vents being clogged. These are all preventable reasons by the user. A pressure cooker can also explode due to a malfunctioning or defective part.
When should I start timing on my pressure cooker? ›The cooking timer you set on your electric pressure starts after your pot reaches pressure. It can take an pressure cooker up to 15 minutes to reach pressure. Using frozen ingredients can increase the time it takes to reach pressure.
How long does a pressure cooker take to release pressure? ›The time it takes for the pressure to release naturally will vary depending on the ingredients and amount of liquid in the pressure cooker. A natural pressure release can take from 5 to 30 minutes in the electric pressure cooker. Food inside the cooking pot will continue to cook as the pressure decreases.
How long pressure can meat? ›For hot and raw pack jars of meat, process pints for 75 minutes and quarts for 90 minutes. Dial-gauge pressure canner - process jars at 11 pounds pressure (altitudes of 0 to 2,000 ft) or at 12 pounds pressure (altitudes of 2,001 to 4,000 ft).
How do you keep meat moist in a pressure cooker? ›Generally, the longer you cook a piece of meat, the more moisture it'll lose. Fat also lubricates the meat during the cooking process. For example, a well-marbled piece of pork chop will be more moist and juicy than a leaner piece of pork chop when it's perfectly cooked.
How much water do I add to my 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.