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Have a pound of ground beef sitting in your fridge or freezer and need it to cook fast for dinner? This Instant Pot Ground Beef method is the easiest, most hands-off way to get fully cooked ground meat on the table, whether it's fresh or frozen solid.
Just like the Instant Pot can safely cook frozen chicken breast, and frozen pot roast, it can be used to safely cook frozen ground meat. Perfect for those nights you are craving tacos but forgot to pull the meat out from the freezer!
Kristen's Keys for Instant Pot Ground Beef
A few things to know before you start help to ensure you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to this method for Instant Pot Ground Beef.
- Use a trivet. This keeps the meat from sitting in liquid, allows fat to drain away, and prevents a burn notice from occurring.
- Remove ALL packaging. Be sure all plastic, styrofoam, or any other packaging is completely removed from the frozen meat. If not, run under cold water just long enough to peel it off.
- Thickness matters. These times are tested for ground beef frozen in a ¾-1 inch thick slab (the most standard package sizes for ground beef sold at grocery stores). If you have a thicker slab of beef, you will need to increase the cook time.
- Think beyond ground beef. Yes, this recipe is for Instant Pot Ground Beef, but it works for ground chicken, ground turkey or ground pork.
- Season after cooking. You'll get better flavor and more even seasoning once the meat is broken up.
How to Cook Ground Beef in the Instant Pot
Whether you are just learning to use the Instant Pot or a seasoned user, this next section will walk you through the process.
- Prepare Inner Pot. Add 1 cup of cold tap water to the Instant Pot for a 3- or 6-quart model or 1½ cups for an 8-quart model. Then place in a metal trivet or rack inside the inner pot.
- Add Meat. Place the frozen ground beef (or meat of choice) on the trivet, ensuring all packaging is removed from the meat.
- Set Cook Time. Place the lid on the inner pot and ensure the vent knob is sealed. Using the pressure cook or manual button, set to cook on high pressure for 20 minutes for frozen beef OR 6 minutes if thawed/fresh.
- Let Pressure Release. Once the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. This ensure the meat finishes cooking and keeps it from becoming tough.
- Check the Internal Temperature. Using a digital meat thermometer, check to ensure the beef has reached at least 160°F (chicken, turkey, and pork should reach 165°F). If not, pop the lid back on the Instant Pot and set to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Remove Meat. Carefully remove the meat from the instant pot and place it in a large mixing bowl and discard the cooking liquid and fat that drained off the beef.
- Break it Up and Use as Desired. Use a spatula to break up the ground meat and use it just as you would for any recipe calling for browned or cooked ground beef. Hello, Sloppy Joes or taco night.
How to Sauté Ground Beef in the Instant Pot
If your ground meat is fresh or thawed, you can opt to sauté the meat using the sauté function. It is nearly the same as browning the meat on the stove, but saves dishes if you're finishing the recipe in the Instant Pot--think Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff, Instant Pot Chili, or Instant Pot Hamburger Helper.
- Heat Oil. Hit the sauté function on the Instant Pot and then hit Adjust to change the heat to normal heat. Add in a bit of oil and let heat 1-2 minutes.
- Sauté Beef. Add the ground meat, and allow to cook, breaking the meat up into small pieces as it browns.
- Drain Grease. Once the ground beef is cooked thoroughly, which takes about 6-7 minutes, turn the Instant Pot OFF by hitting cancel, drain excess grease, and continue with your recipe.
Troubleshooting and Timing Notes
If your ground meat didn't cook exactly as expected, these tips may help.
- This method is tested with standard packages of ground beef sold from the grocery store meat section. Not bulk packages or tubes of ground meat. Tubes are thicker and need about 25 minutes.
- Buying meat in bulk? Portion into 1 pound amounts and shape into 1-inch thick slabs so it cooks evenly every time.
- Cooking more than 2 pounds of meat? Increase the cook time by 5 minutes.
- Don't cook more than 3-4 pounds at once. Overcrowding slows pressure buildup and affects safety.
Recipes That Love This Method
Instant Pot ground beef works perfectly in the following recipes:
Instant Pot Ground Beef
Video
Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds ground meat, beef, turkey, chicken, or pork
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup cold tap water into a 3 or 6-quart instant pot or 1½ cups of cold water for an 8-quart instant pot. Add a trivet and place frozen or fresh ground meat directly on trivet, ensuring all packaging has been removed. If desired, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and ensure the vent knob is locked into place or pointing to the sealed position. Using the manual or pressure cook button, set to cook on HIGH pressure for 20 minutes if frozen, 6 minutes if fresh.
- Once the cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, you can release the remaining pressure by using a long spoon to knock the vent knob from sealed/locked to venting, using caution to stand back from the steam. Check the temperature of the meat with a digital thermometer. If not at 160℉ (for beef) or 165℉ (for turkey, chicken, or pork). place the lid back on the Instant Pot and set to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Once cooked fully, carefully remove the meat from the inner pot, placing it into a large bowl. Discard the cooking liquid from the inner pot. For the meat, break it up into bite-sized pieces and season as desired. Use in any recipe calling for cooked ground beef.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The recipe says cook for 20 min but in your notes it says it never took more than 11...how do I know how long to keep in in there?
Hey Mindy. Sorry for the confusion, the notes state it never took more than 11 minutes to come to pressure
...that is not the cooking time. So total time would be time to come to pressure plus cooking time. Hope that helps you 👍
Hello Kristen! Could you cook higher quantities of frozen if using an 8qt?
Yes, as long as you don't fill your pressure cooker more than 2/3rd's full. However, when cooking frozen beef, if it is frozen in a solid 2-3 lb brick, it can take 30-40 minutes under high pressure with another 15 minutes time to release. I would start by adding 1 pound at time and increasing time by 5 minutes per pound.
Hi! I have heard altitude can have an affect on cooking time, so I'm wondering what altitude you are at, and what size IP you have. Thanks! (I have the duo 8)
Hi Sunny! Yes, altitude can play a role. Here is a great guide for High Altitude Pressure Cooking. I am in North Carolina, so very "standard" altitude 😉
I test all my recipe with my 6 quart IP, but the recipe should be the same for you (just may take a bit more time to come to pressure).
You give instructions about how to lengthen the time if you are cooking from frozen. How would you lengthen the time if you were cooking from fresh? I often cook up the big Costco ground beef the day I bring it home then freeze it cooked rather than frozen. I just got an IP and have not experimented yet.
Hi Kristin!
Be prepared to fall in love with your IP!
I would cook no more than 4 pounds of fresh ground beef in your IP at a time and I would increase cooking time by 2 minutes per pound. Therefore for 4 pounds of meat I would cook for 12 minutes. Hope that helps!
I tried this last night in my new Instant Pot Duo Plus to cook fresh turkey chop meat.
It didn't work so good... 🙁
This was the first time I've used the IP and maybe I did something wrong.
The Duo Plus doesn't have a "manual" button just a "pressure cook" button. I used that and the pressure was set to high + 1 cup of water. I set the time for 6 minutes and manual released it. It was totally raw... I put it back on for another 6, still mostly raw. Another 10, not cooked. Another 15, finally cooked..
What did I do wrong? The only thing I can think of is maybe I need to use the "meat" button and change the mode to "more"??
Hi there Michelle!
I am so sorry you had an issue with this recipe.
So there are a lot of different things that could have occurred.
First, was your meat ground or was it in large chunks? Was it flat or in a tube form? This recipe is for ground meat that is in a thin layer, not a tube form.
Be sure your water was cold as well.
Setting your pressure button to high and normal function is equivalent to manual high pressure, so that should not have been the issue.
Also, have you done the water test before using your Instant Pot? I just want to be sure that your IP is fully functioning, as 37 minutes for fresh ground meat seems unbelievable! A full roast should cook in that time.
Let me know if that helps or if you have more questions
I just had the same issue and can’t figure out what went wrong. I had 1 lb of thawed meat in a regular package (not a tube) and mine was cooked on the Outsode but totally raw on the inside. I had to check and reset it three times, totaling 17 minutes to get it cooked.
Hi Heather, So you say it totaled 17 minutes to get it cooked, did you mean 17 minutes start to finish or 17 additional minutes?? Because the recipe says it needs to be 20 minutes. Just want to be sure. Also, make sure it was set to high pressure. AND how many inches would you say your meat was--mine was about 1/2 inch. Again, I want to help you trouble shoot, so you can make this in future with NO issues 🙂
I also tried to cook frozen hamburger. Just over a pound and in the thickness you'd get from a butcher. Set it for 20 minutes. It was still raw on the inside. I'll set it for another 7 on high and more. If it doesn't work I'll just throw it on the stove in a skillet and finish cooking it.
It should be perfect after that additional 7 minutes.
When I was first learning how to use my IP, I mixed up the “timer” button - which is to be used to delay the start of cooking - with the cooking time. I had the same experience. If you’re using that timer button, don’t, unless you want it to start cooking 10, 15, 20 minutes from now. Maybe that’s not what happened with yours, but I bet someone else may be having this problem! Good luck! Looks like a great how-to and I’m trying it tomorrow.
Lauren--thank you for your insight!!! That is something I never thought of. I truly appreciate you sharing your experience for others to help troubleshoot.
And I hope you enjoy this method for cooking frozen beef Lauren!
Thank you for this article. Wanted to check on how much water to put in the bottom of the IP. The body of the article seems to say 1/2 cup and the recipe seems to say 1 cup. Did I read
incorrectly?
It is one cup. Let me make sure the recipe is correct now. Thanks for the heads up!
I'd like to print this off and don't see a "print" option.
Am I missing it?
Hi Cherrie! To print the recipe, hit the button under the picture in the recipe card. It can be easy to miss but should be a light pink color 🙂