30+ Best Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes Quick & Cheap (2024)

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This list of Instant Pot Ground Beef recipes is the best list to keep on hand for busy days. They’re pretty inexpensive, and they’re quick and easy, too!

Have you ever wondered what recipes that you can make in the Instant Pot with ground beef? I have been looking and looking for recipes for the Instant Pot using ground beef and I think I’ve finally found several favorites!

I love using ground beef, because it’s one of the cuts of meat that I almost always have on hand. But, when it comes to hamburger Instant Pot recipes, I didn’t really know what I could make, until recently, that is.

I finally decided to do some research and figure it out. It turns out that you can make a whole lot of ground beef recipes in the Instant Pot. It sure makes for an easy dinner!

30+ Best Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes Quick & Cheap (1)

Can You Brown Meat in an Instant Pot?

Absolutely. That is why we have the Sauté function on the Instant Pot. You can also do it in another way that I’ll outline below. You can cook it from frozen or you can cook it in a block and then break it apart later (instructions on how to do that are below).

Can I Substitute Other Ground Meats for Hamburger Meat?

Yes, you can easily follow the instructions on this post to cook ground turkey, ground chicken or even ground pork. Of course, you can use ground venison in these tasty ground beef Instant Pot recipes as well. I do it all the time with good results!

Can You Put Raw Ground Beef/Hamburger in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker?

Yes and no. You can cook a whole block of ground beef in the Instant Pot under pressure on the trivet (directions below). When you do so, it allows the grease to drain below the trivet.

I would not cook ground beef in the pressure cooker with other ingredients in a recipe (unless it’s spices like onion powder, garlic powder, etc.). If it has any fat content, it will make your cooked dish too greasy. You will want to brown it using the Sauté function or precook it under pressure in the Instant Pot.

How Do you Cook Ground Beef in an Instant Pot?

Using theSauté method:

  1. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté.
  2. Set the timer for 15 minutes. (You can always turn it off, but it’s a pain if the timer runs out before you’re done cooking it.)
  3. Place meat in the bottom of the Instant Pot and stir regularly, as if you were using a skillet.
  4. Drain meat, be sure to use hot pads when lifting the bowl out (or just use low fat beef).
  5. Return beef to the pot, to continue cooking your recipe.

Using the pressure method:

  1. Place trivet in the bottom of the pot, along with 1 cup of water.
  2. Add ground beef on top of trivet.
  3. Close lid and shut valve (turn it to sealing, not venting).
  4. Set the timer for 20 minutes and make sure that your pressure setting is set to high (not low).
  5. Once the timer goes off, Quick release the steam.
  6. Remove lid and block of beef.
  7. Using forks, bear claws or just your hands (after it has cooled), tear apart the meat into chunks.

As for the draining of the meat part, if you buy meat that has much fat in it, you will want to drain the fat first. I like to use my Easy Greasy Colander to do that. It has a handy bowl that fits under it, to catch the grease. After I drain the grease, I typically rinse it, too, to get any excess fat off.

You can see it pictured below…

30+ Best Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes Quick & Cheap (2)
30+ Best Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes Quick & Cheap (3)

How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot

This method is basically the same as cooking it under pressure above, we’ve just adjusted the time a bit.

  1. Place the trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot.
  2. Place your frozen ground beef on top of the trivet.
  3. Add 1 cup of water.
  4. Close the lid and the valve.
  5. Press Manual/Pressure Cook, high pressure and set your cooking time to 30 minutes.
  6. Quick release the pressure.
  7. Use a spoon or fork to break the meat up into clumps.

I currently have the 6 quart and 8 quart Instant Pot. I use and love both of them regularly I also have a spring form pan that will fit into my pot as well. This works perfectly for some recipes.

Which Recipe is Your Family’s Favorite Hamburger Recipe for the Instant Pot?

ahh, I’m so glad you asked! :). We really enjoy the Meatloaf and Potatoes as well as the Ground Beef Stroganoff. I’d say those are definitely 2 of our absolute favorites from this list.

I’d love to know what yours is, too, even if it’s not on this list. Leave me a comment below to share what your favorite ground beef recipe is!

I’m hoping you will find some family favorites out of these 30 plus Instant Pot recipes with ground beef. We really enjoy most of the recipes on this list! Be sure to sign up to receive a free Freezer to Instant Pot One Week Meal Plan. It’ll make your meal planning this week so much easier!

If you’re interested in also seeing a great list of slow cooker ground beef recipes, click here.

Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes

Instant Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff

Ground Beef Stroganoff is one of our families’s favorite Instant Pot ground beef meals because it is so simple & easy. After you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder why it’s not on your meal plan every week!

Instant Pot Enchilada Pasta

For a bit of a Mexican food flare, try this delicious Enchilada Pasta ground beef pressure cooker recipe. Top it with some sour cream to finish the taste and you’ll be happy you stayed home and cooked for dinner tonight! This dish is perfect for a quick meal when you know you’ll be on the go.

Instant Pot Chili Mac

I love using ground beef Instant Pot recipes! Not only is this dish just plain delicious, it’s also so easy to dump and go….putting it all on automatic in the pressure cooker! Even my kids love this Chlil Mac recipe, which is a HUGE win for me.

Instant Pot Porcupine Meat Balls

This is one of those pressure cooker ground beef recipes that your family will ask for again and again. With rice in the meat mixture, this recipe gives you a unique taste that you’re sure to enjoy!

How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot

Did you know you can cook frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot even without a trivet?! No thawing. No waiting. It’s a lifesaver on busy days.

Instant Pot Meat Loaf and Mashed Potatoes

My favorite Instant Pot Meatloaf Recipe is the BEST Instant Pot recipe with ground beef that I’ve ever made! It easily competes with restaurants like Cracker Barrel, but maybe even better than that. You’ll have to try it to know exactly what I mean. And get this…. the meat and potatoes cook together at the same time!

Instant Pot Taco Meat

Using this delicious ground meat Instant Pot recipe you’ll realize that Instant Pot Taco Meat is an easy way to make Taco Tuesdays happen with ease. Of course, any night could be taco night, if you’re anything like us!

This Instant Pot hamburger recipe for the pressure cooker uses layers of sliced potatoes, shredded cheese and ground meat in your Instant Pot. The most time consuming part of preparing it is slicing the potatoes. It is definitely a family friendly recipes that the husband and kids will love.

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

When I’m ready for easy ground beef instant pot meals I go for something like this Sloppy Joe recipe. Click the link to see how Sloppy joes got their name.

Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni

Instant Pot One Pot Spaghetti

Instant Pot Goulash

Instant Pot Wendy’s Copy Cat Chili

Instant Pot Taco Pie

Instant Pot Salisbury Steak

Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chili

Instant Pot Shepherd’s Pie

Instant Pot Taco Soup

Instant Pot Stuffed Bell Peppers

Instant Pot Beefy Broccoli Rice

Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup

Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage Soup

Instant Pot Pasta e fa*gioli

Instant Pot Meat Ball Subs

Instant Pot Minestrone

Instant Pot Egg Rolls in a bowl

Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup

Instant Pot Easy Chili Recipe

Instant Pot Korean Beef & Rice

Instant Pot Beef & Potato Soup

Instant Pot Ground Beef & Rice (Mexican)

To find more Instant Pot recipes on Sidetracked Sarah, please visit the Instant Pot section of my site.

30+ Best Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes Quick & Cheap (4)

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5 from 4 votes

30+ Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes

This list of Instant Pot Ground Beef recipes is the best list to keep on hand for busy days. They're pretty inexpensive, too!

Course Main Dish

Cuisine All

Keyword 30+ Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8

Calories 192kcal

Author Sarah Robinson

Ingredients

  • Ground Beef
  • Liquid
  • Check each recipe for specific ingredients!

Instructions

  • Instant Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff

  • Instant Pot Enchilada Pasta

  • Instant Pot Chili Mac

  • Instant Pot Porcupine Meat Balls

  • How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot

  • Instant Pot Meat Loaf and Mashed Potatoes

  • Instant Pot Taco Meat

  • Instant Pot Beef & Cheesy Potatoes

  • Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

  • Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni

  • Instant Pot One Pot Spaghetti

  • Instant Pot Goulash

  • Instant Pot Wendy's Copy Cat Chili

  • Instant Pot Taco Pie

  • Instant Pot Salisbury Steak

  • Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

  • Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chili

  • Instant Pot Shepherd's Pie

  • Instant Pot Taco Soup

  • Instant Pot Stuffed Bell Peppers

  • Instant Pot Beefy Broccoli Rice

  • Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup

  • Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage Soup

  • Instant Pot Pasta e fa*gioli

  • Instant Pot Meat Ball Subs

  • Instant Pot Minestrone

  • Instant Pot Egg Rolls in a bowl

  • Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup

  • Instant Pot Easy Chili Recipe

  • Instant Pot Korean Beef & Rice

  • Instant Pot Beef & Potato Soup

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 192kcal | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 204mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

30+ Best Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes Quick & Cheap (2024)

FAQs

How do you make cheap ground beef taste better? ›

  1. Add herbs and spices: Mix in dried herbs and spices such as cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder to give your ground beef a bolder flavor.
  2. Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking.
Jun 11, 2022

How many pounds of ground beef can you cook in Instant Pot? ›

Check the middle of the meat after cook time to be sure an internal temperature of 160 degrees has been reached. I would not recommend cooking more than 3-4 pounds of frozen meat at a time. Doing so, would overcrowd your Instant Pot and therefore would cause it to take forever to reach pressure.

How do you cook meat fast in an 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.

What not to do when cooking ground beef? ›

10 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Ground Beef
  1. Thawing ground beef on the kitchen counter. ...
  2. Not choosing ground beef with the right fat content. ...
  3. Not choosing the right pan. ...
  4. Placing the meat in the pan directly out of the fridge. ...
  5. Forgetting to preheat the pan. ...
  6. Stirring the meat too much as it cooks.
Jan 13, 2024

Can you cook veggies with raw ground beef? ›

1 Answer. As long as you cook the meat thoroughly (i.e. if it reaches a safe temperature), most pathogens should be dead and it doesn't matter in which order you put the vegetables and the meat in.

How do Mexican restaurants get their ground beef so fine? ›

Put the ground chuck in a large pot or Dutch oven and add seasonings. Add just enough water to cover the meat, bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for about an hour. Every 15 minutes or so break up the meat with a large spoon or a potato masher so that it isn't lumpy.

What can I add to ground beef for more flavor? ›

11 Seasonings That Work Well With Ground Beef
  1. Always include salt and pepper. ...
  2. Add a bit of smoked paprika. ...
  3. Choose from different types of onion powder. ...
  4. Give it a noticeable garlic flavor. ...
  5. Complete with Italian herbs. ...
  6. Consider a curry blend. ...
  7. Spice it up with cayenne pepper. ...
  8. Mustard powder adds a unique tang.
Jan 21, 2023

How do you add flavor to ground beef? ›

Before you cook, you could try to season your meat with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano (dry seasonings) or Worcershire sauce to the ground beef depending on your recipe.

Do you cover meat with liquid in pressure cooker? ›

There's lots of water in the meat too, so even 1 cup added water will result in a fair amount of liquid after cooking. No you do not have to cover it.

What is the best meat to cook in a pressure cooker? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

Do pressure cookers make meat more tender? ›

Pressure cooking, like slow cooking, will tenderize tough cuts of meat like beef brisket, beef chuck, pork shoulder and lots of other cheaper, tougher cuts. Pressure cooking (or slow cooking) is not the best approach for cooking expensive, tender steaks or rib roasts.

Is it safe to put raw ground beef in slow cooker? ›

Absolutely, which is why you should always adjust times and amounts as needed. Smaller amounts of slow cooker hamburger only need a few hours before they are done. Don't I need oil to cook ground beef? Only if you are using a pan that isn't non-stick and browning it on the stove.

Is it safe to cook raw ground beef in a slow cooker? ›

You don't HAVE to precook your ground meat before putting in a crock-pot. But if the crock-pot doesn't get hot enough within an hour or so the meat could be unsafe to eat.

Does ground beef need to be fully cooked? ›

However, when beef is ground, bacteria from its surface are mixed throughout the meat as it is chopped into tiny pieces. That means ground beef—and all other ground meats, like ground chicken, turkey, pork or lamb, which are processed the same way—must be cooked all the way through in order to kill the bacteria.

How long do I pressure can cooked ground beef? ›

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).

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