Want to save time and learn how to cook corned beef in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot? You are going to love how quick and easy this pressure cooker corned beef recipe is! In fact, after making Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage, I don’t think I will ever cook it any other way. It is fall-apart, fork-tender deliciousness that should not be limited to one day of the year!
Cooking corned beef in a pressure cooker was one of my best discoveries. I started cooking corned beef in a stovetop pressure cooker 20 years ago. Then I got an electric pressure cooker and started using that to cook my corned beef and cabbage. And then the Instant Pot came along and of course, I had to make Corned Beef and Cabbage in an Instant Pot. All of the methods create a delicious and flavorful corned beef and cabbage in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven or slow cooker!
How long do you cook corned beef in an electric pressure cooker?
It only takes 40 minutes to cook corned beef in an electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot. That is a big reduction in cooking time over cooking corned beef in an oven for 2 1/2 hours!
How long does it take to cook corned beef in a pressure cooker on the stove?
I started cooking corned beef on a stovetop pressure cooker back in the day. It takes a little longer for the stovetop pressure cooker to reach high pressure, so the total cooking time will be closer to 50 minutes.
Over the years I have acquired an electric pressure cooker and an Instant Pot. You can cook corned beef and cabbage in your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker, but depending on the size you may have to use a smaller corned beef brisket and fewer potatoes. Be sure to follow the directions for your cooker and don’t overfill your pot.
Can I cook potatoes with the corned beef?
Absolutely! I add medium to large red potatoes to my corned beef and let them cook together. If you choose small red potatoes, you will want to cook the corned beef for 25 minutes, then use the quick release method to release the steam. Then add the small red potatoes and cook at high pressure for another 15 minutes.
I don’t peel the potatoes. I just wash them, cut off any bruised spots, and throw them in whole. They will crack open while cooking and all the flavors will seep in, effortlessly creating the most flavorful potatoes EVER!
Corned Beef Spices
- 1 bay leaf, crushed
- 3 whole cloves
- 20+ peppercorns
- 20+ coriander
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
How to Cook Corned Beef in a Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot
You can quickly and easily make corned beef in an Instant Pot on high pressure or in an electric pressure cooker or stovetop pressure cooker. You will find the directions for each method below.
Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe
- 2 – 3 pound corned beef brisket
- 10 medium red potatoes, whole
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 1 cup of beef broth (Homemade beef broth recipe)
- 1 head of cabbage
- spice packet (often comes with corned beef purchase)
Instant Pot Corned Beef Directions:
- Place the corned beef on the rack in the Instant Pot. Add the onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and veggies. Sprinkle spices over it all.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot. Ensure the valve is sealed so that no steam is released.
- On an Instant Pot, push meat or manual which should select high pressure then select 40 minutes.
- When your Instant Pot has stopped cooking, open the valve to quickly release the steam.
- Remove the lid, remove the cooked potatoes, place on a dish and cover to keep warm.
- Add the cabbage to the Instant Pot. Replace the lid, close the valve, select manual and set the timer for 1 minute.
- As soon as it is done cooking, open the valve to release the pressure.
- Remove the cabbage and the corned beef and cover them to keep warm, then use the drippings to make gravy.
Instant Pot Corned Beef Video Tutorial
Electric Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Recipe
An electric pressure cooker releases a little more steam while cooking than the Instant Post, so I increase the broth by 1/2 cup.
Ingredients:
- 2 – 3 pound corned beef brisket
- 10 medium red potatoes, whole
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 1 1/2 cups of beef broth (Homemade beef broth recipe)
- 1 head of cabbage
- spice packet (often comes with corned beef purchase)
Electric Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Directions:
- Place the corned beef on the rack in the pressure cooker. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and veggies. Sprinkle spices over it all.
- Place the lid on pressure cooker. Ensure the valve is sealed so that no steam is released.
- On an electric pressure cooker, select high pressure, then select 40 minutes.
- When your electric pressure cooker has stopped cooking, open the valve to quickly release the steam.
- Remove the lid, remove the cooked potatoes, place on a dish and cover to keep warm. Add the cabbage to the pressure cooker. Replace the lid, close the valve, select High Pressure and set the timer for 1 minute.
- As soon as it is done cooking, open the valve to release the pressure.
- Remove the cabbage and the corned beef and cover them to keep warm, then use the drippings to make gravy.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Recipe
A stovetop pressure cooker releases more steam while cooking than the electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot, so you need to increase the amount of beef broth you add.
Ingredients:
- 2 – 3 pound corned beef brisket
- 10 medium red potatoes, whole
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 2 – 3 cups of beef broth (Homemade beef broth recipe)
- 1 head of cabbage
- spice packet (often comes with corned beef purchase)
Stove Top Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Directions:
- Place corned beef in the pressure cooker. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and potatoes.
- Sprinkle spices over it all.
- Place lid on pressure cooker. Cook over high heat until it reaches high pressure. Lower flame and stabilize pressure. Cook for 40 minutes.
4. Remove the pressure cooker from flame and run under cold water to release pressure.
5. Add cabbage to the pressure cooker. Cook over high flame until it reaches high pressure. As soon as it reaches high pressure, remove from flame and run under cool water to release pressure.
Note about cabbage: The cabbage only takes a few minutes to cook, so you add it at the very end. The cabbage really will cook in just the few minutes it takes to reach high pressure.
How to Make Gravy from the Corned Beef Drippings
Corned Beef Gravy Recipe
Use the drippings from the pressure cooker corned beef to make gravy. Seriously, it will be the best gravy you have ever had!
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups drippings from Corned Beef
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Directions:
- After you have removed the meat and veggies from the pot, add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the drippings.
- Use a whisk to blend the cornstarch into the beef.
- Cook on low to medium heat until it reaches a boil.
- Lower flame and boil until it thickens, approximately 2 – 3 minutes.
You can mop up the extra gravy with some Irish Soda Bread Recipe.
Printable Directions for Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
- 2 -3 pounds corned beef brisket
- 20 small red potatoes, whole
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 1 - 3 cups of beef broth (Homemade beef broth recipe)
- 1 head of cabbage
- spice packet (often comes with corned beef purchase)
- 1 bay leaf, crushed
- 3 whole cloves
- 20+ peppercorns
- 20+ coriander
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Place corned beef in the pressure cooker. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and veggies. Sprinkle spices over it all. Place lid on pressure cooker.
- Cook over high heat until it reaches high pressure. Lower flame and stabilize pressure. Cook for 40 minutes.
- Remove from flame and run under cold water to release pressure.
- Add cabbage to the pressure cooker. Cook over high flame until it reaches high pressure.
- As soon as it reaches high pressure, remove from flame and run under cool water to release pressure.
- Place the corned beef on the rack in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Add onion, potatoes, and garlic. Pour broth over the meat and veggies. Sprinkle spices over it all. Place the lid on pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Ensure the valve is sealed so that no steam is released.
- On an electric pressure cooker, select high pressure, then select 40 minutes. On an Instant Pot, push manual which should select high pressure then select 40 minutes.
- When your electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot has stopped cooking, open the valve to quickly release the steam.
- Remove the lid, remove the cooked potatoes, place on a dish and cover to keep warm. Add the cabbage to the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Replace the lid, close the valve, select High Pressure and set the timer for 1 minute.
- As soon as it is done
cooking , open the valve to release the pressure. - Remove the cabbage and the corned beef and cover them to keep warm, then use the drippings to make gravy.
- Remove meat and vegetables from the pressure cooker, but leave the drippings.
- Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the drippings.
- Use a whisk to blend the cornstarch into the beef.
- Cook over a medium flame until it reaches a boil.
- Lower flame and boil until it thickens, approximately 2 - 3 minutes.
We enjoy Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage so much that I buy extra corned beef when it is on sale and freeze it. You can store corned beef in the freezer for 6 months.
Do you only make Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day? If so, below are some more ideas for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
More St. Patrick’s Day Ideas
Free Printable St. Patrick’s Prayer
Shamrock Craft Using Chenille Pipe Cleaners
St. Patrick’s Day Games for Kids
Octavia says
Will the cornbeef be too salty? I didn’t read of pouring off water
Alea Milham says
I remove the corned beef from the bag and do not include the water that it was bagged in.
Linda Primmer says
Wonderful recipe. I always cook corned beef on St. Patrick’s day. I am happy to feature your corned beef at Love Your Creativity. Great for those who want to cook this on St. Patrick’s day.
Brett says
Made this last night in my Crockpot pressure cooker. Didn’t use the spices but used a rub from the www. smokeandspice.co.nz shop instead.
Only had a 790gm (1.7lb) piece of silverside (corned beef)
Didn’t have any red potatoes, but used nice new little potatoes and some carrots
Turned out absolutely delicious and the meat was so melt-in-the-mouth tender and moist. Sadly – none was left to make any sandwiches today 🙁
Christina says
What if my corned beef is 5lbs? Will this method still work? How much longer should I cook it for?
Karen says
I accidentally added the cabbage at the beginning. Will it be alright if cooked 40 minutes? I probably won’t get an answer b4 it is done so I guess I’ll find out on my own. 😊
Alea Milham says
The cabbage will be very mushy if it is cooked for 40 minutes! If this happens again, turn off the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Then do the quick release method. When all the steam has been released, open the pot, and remove the cabbage. Then put the lid on the pot and resume cooking it at high pressure.