Instant Pot Beef Brisket

This Instant Pot beef brisket recipe makes mouthwatering, tender BBQ beef in record time! Whether you pile it on a bun, wrap it in a tortilla, or slather it in extra sauce, you’ll be heading back for seconds!

Growing up in Texas, there are a handful of foods that remind me of “home.”

There’s the Mexican route that includes any and all tacos (including The Best Ground Beef Taco Meat made with my Homemade Taco Seasoning), Slow Cooker Refried Beans, cheese enchiladas with Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce, and Slow Cooker Carnitas that are TO DIE FOR.

Then there’s the BBQ route, which includes Instant Pot BBQ Chicken on Homemade Buns (you need those buns!) and our favorite Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe.

And fellow Texans will agree that it’s hard to beat a BBQ brisket sandwich, dripping with BBQ sauce and on a warm toasted bun.

Thanks to this Instant Pot beef brisket recipe, I can re-create those amazing beef brisket sandwiches in record time (and without driving across multiple states)!

INSTANT POT BEEF BRISKET RECIPE

The fact that I used my Instant Pot to make this beef brisket recipe was a complete accident. I intentionally pulled the meat out the night before to thaw, but I forgot to get the Slow Cooker Brisket started in the morning.

When my husband wandered into the kitchen in the middle of the afternoon asking what was for dinner, I sheepishly admitted I didn’t know. He suggested using the Instant Pot – GENIUS!

I gave it a try using what I had on hand: homemade BBQ sauce. The result was an incredibly tender beef brisket that gave a traditionally smoked brisket a run for its money!

INGREDIENTS FOR RECIPE FOR A BEEF BRISKET

It’s hard to call this recipe for a beef brisket an actual recipe when you only need two ingredients (plus water), but I know many people like to have the whole process spelled out for them.

Plus, there’s a TON of flexibility in this recipe, giving you room to use what you have and save a trip to the grocery store.

• BBQ Sauce. I used my Homemade BBQ Sauce, but use your favorite bottled barbecue sauce or the substitution below.
• Water. To help the Instant Pot come to pressure to cook the beef.
• Beef Brisket. You’ll want 3-4 pounds, cut into quarters. You can trim the fat if it’s extra thick, but make sure to leave at least ⅛ to ¼”, since this helps keep the meat from drying out as it cooks.
• Onion, optional. Sliced white or yellow onions or chopped green onions make a great garnish for this Instant Pot brisket recipe, but feel free to skip it if you don’t have them or don’t like onions.

BBQ SAUCE

Obviously, I think my Homemade BBQ Sauce is pretty stinkin’ amazing. It’s the only BBQ sauce we eat!

I’ve also skipped the brown sugar in the sauce and used half as much honey instead for an extra tangy barbecue sauce. It only takes about 15 minutes to make homemade BBQ sauce, but you can substitute any other BBQ sauce you might have.

You only need ½ cup for this beef brisket recipe, but if you are completely out, here’s a good mixture to use instead. Simply mix in the Instant Pot so you don’t dirty a bowl!

• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 Tablespoon each of mustard (any kind) + honey + soy sauce + Worcestershire sauce
• ½ tsp each ginger + garlic powder + paprika + chili powder

You could season brisket with your favorite dry rub before cooking too. I would cut back on the BBQ sauce and add additional water.

WATER

My pressure cooker brisket recipe calls for water because it’s cheap and easy, but you can up the flavor profile by substituting with apple juice, orange juice, beef broth, beer, wine, or any other beverage. Just don’t skip the liquid. You need it for the Instant Pot recipe!

I even made a pseudo juice using 2 Tablespoons of applesauce and water! You only need ¼ cup, so my advice would be to NOT purchase a separate liquid for this recipe, but to use up anything you might have lingering in the fridge.

BRISKET

The first time we made this pressure cooker beef brisket recipe, we used a massive 5-6 lb. cut of meat from Costco. It was AWESOME. The second time, we used a 3-4 lb. point cut of meat from Kroger. It was good, but you could tell that the cut wasn’t as good as the Costco version.

If you have a Costco membership, I recommend buying your meat there and either cutting it in half when you get home (freezing the other half for later) OR cooking the whole thing and freezing the cooked meat for later.

You can also cook the whole thing and eat BBQ beef brisket all week long, like we did. I won’t judge.

Butcher Box also has beef brisket cuts available. Although I have not tried their brisket, I’ve been very impressed with their meat quality and service!

Butcher Box delivers grass-fed beef, pasture-raised and organic chicken, and heritage pork directly to your front door each month. You can read my honest review of Butcher Box here, and how we make Butcher Box affordable here to see if it’s the right fit for you!

INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO COOK RECIPE FOR A BRISKET IN INSTANT POT

This simple recipe for a brisket in the Instant Pot comes together quickly!

Step 1. Combine the BBQ sauce and water in the Instant Pot and stir well.

Step 2. Add quartered brisket, fat side up. There’s no need to sear the beef brisket first.

Step 3. Close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to “sealed.”

Step 4. Press “manual” or “pressure cook”, make sure the pressure level is on “high,” and set the timer for 60 minutes. Note: A larger brisket cooks longer.

Step 5. When the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 15-20 minutes (i.e. do nothing).

Step 6. After 15-20 minutes, you can turn the valve to “open” (carefully, as very hot steam will come out!) and let the rest of the pressure release. The brisket should be fork tender.

Step 7. Place brisket on a cutting board and shred the Instant Pot brisket with two forks, or slice with a sharp knife against the grain.

Step 8. Serve with optional sliced onions. Pickles would be good too. And if you want to slather on more BBQ sauce, I’m not stopping you!

If you’re needing to keep warm for a gathering, place in a roasting pan or baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Set in a warm oven until ready to serve!

Store any leftovers of this Instant Pot brisket recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

BEEF BRISKET INSTANT POT TIPS

If you are planning ahead and you have the time, I recommend marinating your meat overnight for best results.

I know, I know – I just told you that I didn’t have time for that. And usually, I don’t! But if you’re buying brisket just for this recipe, then put it in a large gallon resealable bag RIGHT THIS SECOND with a simple marinade: ¼ cup apple cider vinegar and a few pinches of kosher salt and black pepper.

You can either freeze it that way or let it sit until you’re ready to make dinner. That little bit of vinegar will help to tenderize the meat before you cook it in the Instant Pot, giving you melt-in-your-mouth, fall-apart goodness!

The acidity of the BBQ sauce and the natural pressure release after the cooking time also help tenderize the beef brisket, making it turn out perfectly moist, juicy, and delicious, so marinating is just a bonus.

HOW TO SERVE INSTANT POT BRISKET

Once the Instant Pot beef brisket is done, you can either slice it or shred it.

I chose to shred it this go around because I feel like it stretches better (that’s one of the tricks to stretching your meat at home and making it last).

If you slice it, slice AGAINST the grain, which means to not slice the same way the grain is going. You might have small slices on the ends, but slicing against the grain is how you get tender pieces of meat!

No matter which way you choose, you can’t go wrong…

• Layering it on a Homemade Bun
• Tucked inside big leaves of Boston lettuce
• Stuffed inside Homemade Tortillas
• Piled with Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
• Topped with extra Lime Crema
• Leftovers freeze great with a little bit of the cooking liquid, too!

BEEF BRISKET IS A GREAT WAY TO GET MORE PROTEIN!

We’re often told to “eat more protein,” but we aren’t told how or why we need it. Our bodies use protein for so much more than just building muscle.

After increasing my protein, I found I…

• started sleeping better
• felt satisfied and full after meals
• stopped having afternoon energy slumps
• stopped reaching for sugary snacks
• got sick less often
• increased my metabolism (i.e. can eat more food!)
• and my hair and nails are growing like crazy!

Beef brisket is a great way to have a protein-rich main dish to start building your plate. Depending on your specific macro goals, you can add a complex carbohydrate (like sweet potatoes, brown rice, or quinoa), a bit of fat (like a drizzle of Lime Crema or a hefty helping of Coleslaw, which has fat in the dressing), and plenty of produce!

Want to learn more about macros, nutrition goals, and accurately tracking what you eat? Grab my free guide here to start achieving your real body goals by eating the foods you love.

BEEF BRISKET IN PRESSURE COOKER FAQS

MORE DELICIOUS INSTANT POT BEEF RECIPES

• Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
• Instant Pot Beef Stew
• Mississippi Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Korean Beef
• Ground Beef in the Instant Pot