Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket is very easy and cooks to a juicy, tender consistency with fantastic flavor. A great vegetable trick ensures firm, cooked vegetables making an easy full dinner recipe!
Making Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket is so easy and also tenderizes the brisket faster thanks to pressure cooking.
A special twist gives great flavor and tenderizes it further: cooking the Instant Pot Corned Beef in beer!
Though not a traditional Irish recipe to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, it is a popular American recipe for the holiday and for good reason!
Jump to:
- What is Corned Beef Brisket?
- Ingredients in Instant Pot Corned Beef with Vegetables
- What Beer to Use for Instant Pot Corned Beef ?
- Tips for Preparing Instant Pot Corned Beef
- The Instant Pot I Use
- Love Corned Beef Brisket? Buy it Now!
- How to Make Instant Pot Corned Beef – Step by Step:
- Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need to Know!
- More recipes you’ll love!
- Recipe
What is Corned Beef Brisket?
Corned Beef Brisket is a brine-cured beef brisket. The brining adds both flavor and makes it very pink in color.
Once cooked the corned beef has a perfect texture for slicing and eating as a main dish or thinly for sandwiches.
Corned Beef brisket is sold pre-packaged in brine with a specific seasoning packet to cook with it giving it a signature flavor.
Once cooked the Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket has a mixture of salty, meaty, and tangy flavors thanks to the brining and cooking processes.
Ingredients in Instant Pot Corned Beef with Vegetables
The addition of vegetables make this a full meal in one pot.
The ingredient list for this recipe is short and simple:
- 2-3 pound Corned Beef Brisket
- Yellow Onion
- Garlic Cloves
- Dark Ale (recommendations below)
- 1 Seasoning Packet that comes with the corned beef
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- 6 qt Instant Pot
Please check the recipe card below for specifics.
What Beer to Use for Instant Pot Corned Beef ?
I recommend using a dark beer for this recipe. Guinness is a perfect choice.
If gluten-free: I used Green’s Gluten-Free Dubbel Dark Ale.
If Holidaily Brewing Co. gluten-free beers are available in your area, Riva Stout is a a great choice.
Note for Non-Beer Drinkers
For those of you who are not into beer, the Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket does not come out TASTING like beer so never fear.
You also can’t get drunk from eating it.
Substitution Option: If you feel strongly about not using beer you can substitute water or chicken stock (beef stock is very strong tasting and I think will affect the end flavor of the brisket).
Tips for Preparing Instant Pot Corned Beef
Corned beef brisket is a saltier, fattier cut of meat.
When you buy it, it will have already been brined and the liquid in the package is brine as well.
The brined brisket should be thoroughly rinsed before cooking. It can also be soaked for an hour before cooking to release even more salt.
If you have a very fatty cut, you can trim the excess fat before cooking (it’s easy to trim after cooking too).
Also place the fatty side down in the Instant Pot.
I chose to cook the brisket in beer which I have found makes it more tender and flavorful.
The Instant Pot I Use
(Because you asked….) I use this Instant Pot
Love Corned Beef Brisket? Buy it Now!
With St. Patrick’s Day coming soon corned beef brisket is available in most grocery stores.
Did you know most stores do not carry it year-round?
If you love corned beef brisket, buy extra and stick it in your freezer now so you can make Instant Pot Corned Beef ANYtime!
How to Make Instant Pot Corned Beef – Step by Step:
Cooking Instant Pot Corned Beef is so easy!
Please refer to the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
- Add the rack to the insert of a 6 quart Instant Pot
- Cover the rack with onions cut into wedges and garlic.
- Place the corned beef brisket fatty side down on top of the vegetables
- Sprinkle the spices that came with the brisket on top of the corned beef.
- Pour the beer (gluten-free or regular) around the brisket in the Instant Pot.
- Seal the lid and cook the brisket at High Pressure for 90 minutes.
- Do a quick release and remove the brisket to rest.
- Add the prepared carrots and potatoes to the Instant Pot; and cook on Manual High Pressure for three minutes.
- Remove the vegetables and slice the brisket for serving!
TIP: Adding the vegetables just at the end ensures they are cooked but still firm and delicious!
Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need to Know!
After developing Instant Pot recipes for the past few years, I’ve uncovered some unexpected, useful tips I think you’ll want to know!
Sign-Up below and I’ll tell you all my Instant Pot secrets!
No Instant Pot? No Problem!
For those who have not jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon, this Slow Cooker Beer-Simmered Corned Beef and Vegetables recipe is also fantastic way to prepare it.
More recipes you’ll love!
Recipe
Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 pound Corned Beef Brisket
- 1 medium Yellow Onion peeled and cut into wedges
- 3 Garlic Cloves peeled and chopped
- 1 ½ cups (12 fluid ounces) Dark Ale (I used Green’s Gluten-Free Dubbel Dark Ale; if not gluten-free I suggest Guinness)
- 1 Seasoning Packet that comes with the corned beef
- 2 (1 pound) Potatoes peeled and cubed into 1-inch cubes
- 2 large Carrots peeled and cut into 1 ½-inch lengths
- 6 qt Instant Pot
Instructions
Cooking the Corned Beef Brisket
- Insert the rack into the Instant Pot.
- Add the onion and garlic to the 6-quart Instant Pot distributing it evenly on the bottom.
- Remove the Corned Beef Brisket from the package, reserve the spice packet and rinse the meat thoroughly.
- Place the brisket in the Instant Pot on the lift-out rack (if there is a fattier side put that facing down) on top of the onions and garlic and sprinkle the seasonings evenly on top of the brisket and around it in the pot.
- Pour in the beer around the edges of the Instant Pot (to keep the spices on the brisket in place).
- Add the lid to the Instant Pot, select MANUAL High Pressure (default pressure setting) and 90 minutes.
- When done, do a QUICK RELEASE of the pressure, remove the brisket, brush the seasoning from the top of the brisket (more difficult to remove when it has cooled) and allow to rest.
Cooking the Vegetables
- Add the potatoes (on the bottom) and carrots (on top of the potatoes) to the Instant Pot.
- Seal and select MANUAL for 3 minutes on High Pressure.
- When done do a QUICK RELEASE and remove vegetables with a slotted spoon.
To Serve
- Slice the Corned Beef across the grain and serve on a platter with the vegetables. The cooking juices may be spooned over the meat to keep it moist.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published March 2, 2017
Angel Darrah says
It was very delicious! Subbed the ale for chicken stock and it turned out great.
Angel Darrah says
Also I used almost 5 lbs with 3 cups of stock for 90 minutes in our 8 Qt foodi and it turn out perfectly
Rod says
Hi do I need to do anything different if I have the 8 quart Instant Pot?
Thank you
Toni Dash says
Hi Rod. I would consult Instant Pots website about adapting a recipe from a 6 way to an 8 qt Instant Pot. I know the minimum amount of liquid is more for an 8 quart but the recipe should cover that. I’m unsure about cooking time difference.
Cindy Woods Winters says
My favorite instapot recipe! Comes out perfect every single time!
Martha says
I’ve been looking for a corned beef brisket recipe forever, and I’m so glad I found this recipe! Love how easy it was to make. Can’t wait to make corned beef hash with the leftovers 🙂
Denay DeGuzman says
I love making this corned beef in a pressure cooker! It comes out so flavorful and juicy. This is the perfect recipe for St. Patrick’s Day!
Cathy says
This is one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes. We look forward to making it every St. Patrick’s Day. Very tender with great flavor.
Leila says
We love this recipe and make it every year around this time. It’s so easy and delicious. I love that it makes and entire meal too.
Chenée says
This corned beef brisket is incredible! And your instructions and the Instant Pot make it it so easy. Will definitely be making this again for St. Patrick’s Day Dinner!