This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
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.
It worked for me. I was called away and came back at 1 hour + on warm. All I did was pull the meat out, put it in a pan and used a potato masher to break up the meat, I did turn over a piece that stuck together, and using the masher, it broke into pieces, I worked harder on top of the stove to get loose meat. I doubted that this would work!!! I am so glad I was wrong. Thanks for this short cut, I love my IP and use it often.
I used broth, garlic and onion powder to flavor the meat.
YAY JAN!!! I am so glad it worked--and I completely agree that it is so much easier than the stove stop.
I tried this with my instapot lux 6 qt tonight. One pound frozen ground beef. High pressure, 20 min cook time. The outside was over cooked, the inside was thawed but raw. I ended up just cooking it the old fashioned way in a pan on the stove. Not loving my new instapot yet at all 🙁
Oh Jenn, I am sorry this did not work out for you?
Was your meat in a round log instead of a flat rectangle? Did you use enough water? Those may be two reasons this did not work well for you. The one thing about the IP is that things need to be pretty exact--but once you learn it, you will LOVE it.
Also - if you put all the ingredients in - for frozen or for fresh meat - do you still use the trivet? Thank you!
Hi Barbara--here is my recipe for Instant Pot Chili and it walks you through how to use frozen or fresh ground meat (turkey or beef) and you won't need a trivet. Enjoy. https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-chili/
Thank you!! 🙂
You bet!
Can you cook frozen ground (turkey instead of beef) along with ingredients - like for chili - all together? I have tubes of frozen ground turkey and wondering best way to make chili in IP. Thank you!
Can you cook frozen without the rack?
Hey Tina,
I would NOT suggest doing that. First of all, the meat touching the bottom of the inner pot would likely burn before the meat cooks through and you need to have 1 cup of water in the pressure cooker, so the meat would be sitting on top of the water and get soggy. Sorry.
I had 2 frozen 8 ounce patties that I stacked and put in my 8qt duo. I went in another room and didn't hear the timer ring. When I came back it had been on keep warm for 9 minutes and I had 2 solid hockey pucks. I couldn't break them up much with a fork so I got out my hand mixer and it worked like a charm. Just be sure you do it in a deep bowl. It tends to fly arpund
Kay--I use my hand mixer ALL the time for shredding chicken--why didn't I think of this before??? Thank you so much for sharing <3
Thank you so much for this! Do you think I could add some seasonings (like salt, pepper, or onion flakes) to the frozen ground beef and then cook it?
Hi Vickie! So yes, you absolutely could season before cooking. Sprinkle evenly over top of frozen meat and then after cooking, mix into the meat evenly. Happy Pressure cooking!