Imagine transforming rock-hard frozen ground beef into perfectly crumbled, flavor-packed protein in just minutes - without the hassle of thawing! This Instant Pot ground beef recipe is your ultimate kitchen lifesaver, turning dinner prep from stressful to sensational. Whether you're a busy parent, meal prep enthusiast, or just looking for a foolproof cooking method, this technique will revolutionize how you handle ground beef forever.
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup water or beef broth
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- If using frozen ground beef, remove packaging and place entire block directly into Instant Pot. If using fresh ground beef, break into large chunks.
- Pour water or beef broth into the Instant Pot around the ground beef to help prevent sticking.
- Add chopped onions and minced garlic over and around the ground beef for additional flavor.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly across the meat surface.
- Close the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the valve is set to "Sealing" position.
- For frozen ground beef, set Instant Pot to Manual/Pressure Cook at HIGH pressure for 25 minutes. For fresh ground beef, reduce cooking time to 10 minutes.
- Once cooking cycle completes, perform a quick release by carefully moving the valve to "Venting" position.
- Once steam has fully released, open lid and use a meat chopper or wooden spoon to break ground beef into crumbles.
- Drain excess liquid if desired, and use beef in your preferred recipe or season additionally as needed.
- Ground beef can be stored in refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Tips
- • Always use at least 1 cup of liquid to prevent burning and ensure proper pressure cooking • For extra flavor, consider using beef broth instead of water • Break frozen beef into chunks before cooking for more even heating • Don't skip the quick release to prevent overcooking • Use a meat chopper or potato masher for perfect, uniform crumbles • Season after draining for maximum flavor control • Store cooked ground beef in airtight containers for quick meal prep throughout the week • Experiment with different seasonings like taco seasoning or Italian herbs for versatile meal options
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 276kcal
Carbohydrates: 8g
Protein: g
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 80mg
