This foolproof Instant Pot roast beef is the best ever recipe to make sliceable deli-style roast beef that’s perfect for your family Sunday dinner. Try serving it with some mashed potatoes and the delicious pan gravy or this creamy horseradish sauce.
Instant Pot Roast Beef
This melt-in-your-mouth tender Instant Pot roast beef is coated in the best homemade rub that’s made with rosemary, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. It’s then seared to create the most delicious bark. After the roast is cooked, it’s coated in the best savory homemade gravy you’ll ever have.
The best part is that it’s really simple to prepare, and the Instant Pot cooks it perfectly every single time. It’s impressive enough to serve for Sunday dinner or even a holiday feast, but simple enough that it’s manageable on a regular weeknight.
This recipe is perfect for those busy days when you’re craving a hearty dinner but don’t have the time to slow cook a roast. With the help of the Instant Pot, you can have a medium rare roast beef that’s tender and flavorful in no time at all!
This top sirloin roast beef is a family favorite, especially when it’s served with mashed potatoes, noodles, or even microwaved sweet potatoes. If you’re a fan of traditional roast dinners, you’ll also love it with roasted baby potatoes and honey glazed carrots.
The savory gravy, made in the same pot, adds depth and richness to the meal, making it a complete and satisfying dinner. If you’d like something a little different, try serving it with this amazing au jus or this super tasty creamy horseradish sauce.
I like using a top sirloin roast because it’s lean, flavorful, and becomes incredibly tender when cooked in the Instant Pot. The roast is seasoned with simple but flavorful ingredients – salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and rosemary. It’s then seared to perfection, locking in the flavors and giving it a beautiful crust. The Instant Pot does an amazing job of infusing the roast with the flavors of the seasoning as well as the onions, garlic, and beef broth it’s cooked with.
The result is a mouthwatering roast beef. This simple but delicious recipe is sure to be your favorite way to cook a Sunday roast that your whole family will love!
Pressure cooker roast beef leftovers may just be the best part of this deli-style roast beef. It’s cooked so that it slices perfectly, and I love making cold cut roast beef sandwiches with the leftovers.
If you ever happen to forget to thaw your roast before it’s time to cook it, be sure to check out our Instant Pot frozen roast recipe – it has tons of 5 star reviews!
Ingredients
Top Sirloin Roast: This cut of beef is incredibly flavorful and lean, making it perfect for our Instant Pot roast.
Olive Oil: Olive oil is used in this recipe to sear the roast, creating a beautifully browned crust that locks in the flavor.
Salt & Pepper: These basic seasonings help enhance the natural flavors of the roast. Freshly ground black pepper will be a bit spicier than pre-ground black pepper.
Garlic Powder, Thyme, and Rosemary Blend: These spices infuse the roast with a wonderful savory depth of flavor.
Onion and Garlic: These aromatics add an additional layer of flavor to both the roast and the gravy. Look for firm, fresh onions and garlic for the best flavor.
Beef Broth: The broth helps to deglaze the pot, is the liquid needed for pressure cooking, and is the base for our savory gravy. It adds a rich, meaty flavor to the dish.
Worcestershire Sauce and Dijon Mustard: These ingredients add a tangy, savory kick to the roast and gravy.
Fresh Parsley: Parsley adds a burst of fresh flavor and a pop of color to the finished dish. Fresh, flat-leaf parsley is the best choice because it has a better flavor (curly parsley tends to taste more bitter).
Cornstarch and Water: These are combined to make a slurry which is used to thicken the gravy. Mixing the cornstarch with cold water before adding it to the hot liquid helps to make sure you avoid lumps in your gravy.
How To Make Instant Pot Roast Beef
Prepare the Seasoning Blend: Begin by combining your dry spices – salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and rosemary. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Prepare the Roast: Truss the roast with kitchen twine so that the roast cooks evenly. Pat the roast dry and rub this mixture all over it.
Sear the Roast: Turn on your Instant Pot to the Sauté setting. Once it’s hot, add your olive oil and sear the roast until a golden-brown crust forms.
Sauté the Vegetables: Remove the roast and set it aside. Now, add your thinly sliced onion to the pot and cook until tender. Follow this up with the minced garlic, sautéing just until aromatic.
Deglaze the Pot: Pour in your beef broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape and loosen the browned bits at the bottom of the pot. Stir in your Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard.
Pressure Cook the Roast: Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and lay the seared roast on top. Secure the lid and set the pressure valve to sealing. Select the Manual or Pressure Cook setting.
Natural Release: After the cooking cycle, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure. This ensures the meat remains tender and flavorful. Rest the roast on a cutting board tented with aluminum foil.
Prepare the Gravy: While the roast rests, make your gravy by mixing the cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and bring the broth to a simmer. Gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry, continuing until the gravy thickens.
Serve the Roast: Now, all that’s left is to slice the roast against the grain and serve it with your delicious homemade gravy. Enjoy! See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Sear Before Pressure Cooking: Searing the roast before pressure cooking locks in flavor and gives it a beautiful crust. Don’t skip this step!
- Natural Pressure Release: Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for the most tender roast.
- Adjust Gravy Thickness: If the gravy is too thin, simply mix in more cornstarch mixed with cold water until it reaches your desired consistency. Just keep in mind that the gravy needs to simmer for about a minute before the thickening properties in the cornstarch are fully activated and apparent.
Why Is My Instant Pot Roast Beef Not Tender?
If your roast beef isn’t as tender as you’d like, there are a couple of possibilities. First, it might need more cooking time. Remember, the size of the roast will affect the cooking time, so if you have a larger roast, it may need more time to become tender. Second, make sure you’re allowing the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure after cooking. This lets the meat continue to cook slowly, making it more tender.
How Long Does It Take Beef To Cook In The Instant Pot?
The cooking time for beef in the Instant Pot can vary depending on the cut and size of the meat. However, for a top sirloin roast like in this recipe, it typically takes a few minutes to sear and then only a short time under pressure to cook to perfection!
Is Beef Roast Better In Crock Pot Or Instant Pot?
Both methods can yield delicious results, but they each have their advantages. A Crock Pot or slow cooker is great for convenience. You can set it in the morning and come home to a fully cooked meal. However, an Instant Pot can cook a roast much faster and its high pressure can make the meat incredibly tender. So, if you’re short on time, an Instant Pot might be the better choice.
What Is The Best Cut Of Beef To Use In An Instant Pot?
In my experience, the best cuts of beef to use in an Instant Pot are ones that benefit from slow, moist cooking. Cuts like chuck roast, brisket, and in this case, top sirloin roast, become incredibly tender and flavorful when cooked under pressure in the Instant Pot.
Does Quick Release Make Meat Tough?
Using a quick release method can indeed make meat tough in some instances. The rapid change in pressure can cause the fibers in the meat to contract, making it less tender. That’s why for recipes like this roast, I recommend a natural release for a more tender and flavorful result.
Can I Use Water Instead Of Beef Broth For Pot Roast?
Yes, you can use water instead of beef broth for pot roast. However, beef broth adds a rich, meaty flavor to the roast and gravy. If you decide to use water, consider adding a bit more seasoning to make up for the loss of flavor.
Should I Flip My Pot Roast Over?
In the Instant Pot, there’s no need to flip your pot roast over. The pressure cooking method ensures an even distribution of heat, cooking your roast thoroughly without the need for flipping.
Keep In Touch
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Beef Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other beef recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Instant Pot Frozen Roast
- Mulligan Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup
- Bottom Round Roast
- Instant Pot Beef Tips
- Top Round Roast
- Boneless Prime Rib
- Air Fryer Prime Rib
- Sous Vide Prime Rib
BEST Instant Pot Roast Beef Recipe
This foolproof Instant Pot roast beef is the best ever recipe to make sliceable deli-style roast beef that’s perfect for your Sunday dinner.
Ingredients
Roast Beef:
- 4 pounds top sirloin roast
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
Gravy:
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dried thyme, and dried rosemary.
- Truss the roast with kitchen twine so that the roast cooks evenly. Pat the roast dry with a clean paper towel, then rub the spice mixture all over the roast.
- Turn on the Instant Pot and select the Sauté setting. Once it reads HOT, add the olive oil and make sure it coats the bottom of the pot. Sear the roast for 3 minutes on 4 sides of the roast (skipping the ends) for a total of 12 minutes, until there’s a golden-brown crust.
- Remove the roast from the Instant Pot and set it aside. Add the sliced onion and cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and saute for another 30 seconds, until aromatic.
- Add the beef broth to the pot, using a wooden spoon to deglaze the pot by scraping the bottom to loosen any browned bits. This step is crucial for flavor and to prevent a burn notice. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard.
- Place the trivet into the Instant Pot, then lay the browned roast onto the trivet. Secure the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to sealing.
- Select the Manual or Pressure Cook setting and set the cooking time to 4 minutes at high pressure. Make sure to leave the keep warm setting on,
- Once the cooking time is up, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 25 minutes.
- Carefully turn the pressure valve to venting to release any remaining pressure. Use an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. If you want your roast to be medium-rare, you’re aiming for 125F. If the temperature needs to rise more, secure the lid and let it sit in the pot with the warm setting on, there’s no need to pressure cook it again. The temperature should rise about 7-10 degrees in 5 minutes. Once an internal temperature of 125F has been reached, remove the roast from the Instant Pot and let it rest on a cutting board tented with aluminum foil for at least 10 minutes.
- While the roast is resting, prepare the gravy. Mix the cornstarch with cold water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and bring the liquid to a simmer. Gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry and continue to whisk until the gravy has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot.
- Slice the roast against the grain and serve with the gravy.
Notes
- If you have a 3 pound roast, pressure cook it for 3 minutes.
- This cooking method aims for a pink center, closer to medium-rare or medium doneness.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/8Amount Per Serving: Calories: 370Total Fat: 14gCarbohydrates: 6.4gFiber: 0.7gSugar: 1.3gProtein: 51.6g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Whether you’re feeding your family on a weeknight or impressing guests you’ve got to try making this Instant Pot roast beef.
