This Instant Pot Beef And Broccoli is the most popular recipe on Corrie Cooks, and it’s gonna be one of your favorite Instant Pot recipes for sure!
I’m a huge fan of Asian cuisine! I love the combination of sweet and salty, meat, and vegetables, and I am crazy about the sauces! So there are lots of recipes to satisfy my taste buds, but I always return to this classic beef & broccoli.
If you want your kids to eat more broccoli – this is a great option.
No need to go to a restaurant – make the perfect homemade Beef and Broccoli using your Instant Pot!
Contents
- What Cut of Beef to Use?
- How to Prepare the Meat?
- Do I need to clean the pot after browning the beef?
- Can I add mushrooms?
- Is Sesame Oil Necessary?
- Can I replace the brown sugar?
- Can I make it with chicken?
- Do I have to use beef broth?
- Do I have to use cornstarch?
- Why Cornstarch?
- How to use cornstarch to thicken?
- Can I use frozen broccoli?
- Can I steam the broccoli in the microwave?
- Can I use frozen beef?
- Can I keep the leftovers?
- The Perfect Side Dish
- How to make beef and broccoli
What Cut of Beef to Use?
For this recipe you can use chuck roast, flank steak, skirt steak or sirloin steak. They are all works great with the sweet sauce.
A chuck roast for example, is a cut of meat from the chuck, which is also known as the shoulder part of the steer.
Anyway, these details are not very important if you have a local meat vendor that can provide guidance and give you the perfect beef for this recipe.
How to Prepare the Meat?
This recipe requires thin-sliced beef (so it will release all its flavor during the saute step).
My best advice is just ask your butcher to do it for you :]
But if you wanna do it yourself, here are a few tricks: First, make sure to cut against the grain – this cuts the muscle fibers and makes the meat less chewy. If you feel your slices won’t be even or that the cut won’t be as clean as you want it to be, stick the meat in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes. Cold meat cuts better than meat at room temperature.
Do I need to clean the pot after browning the beef?
No. Always keep the brown bits that stick to the pot while you’re browning the meat. These will come undone when you add the broth and add incredible flavors to the entire dish.
Can I add mushrooms?
Yes you can! Sometimes I like to diversify and add 1 pack of mushrooms (around 8 oz) to the recipe.
Cooking time and all the other ingredients and instructions stay the same.
Is Sesame Oil Necessary?
If you’re not allergic to it, then you should try to follow the recipe. The purpose of this oil is to bring out some of the flavors and combine others. Honestly, I’ve tried this food with and without sesame oil and I always return to the one with.
However, if you can’t find some or you don’t feel like going to the store just for this, the dish will still be delicious. So, there’s no need for substitutes.
Can I replace the brown sugar?
Yes. you can replace it with honey or white sugar.
Can I make it with chicken?
Yes, you can make this Instant Pot recipe with chicken, but then you will have chicken and broccoli.
Do I have to use beef broth?
No. If you don’t have any, replace it with 3/4 cup of water.
Do I have to use cornstarch?
No. You can make this Instant Pot beef and broccoli recipe without cornstarch. But adding it will improve the taste and texture.
Why Cornstarch?
Cornstarch is a better thickening agent and doesn’t influence the taste of the food (unlike flour). Also, it doesn’t get lumps because you have to dissolve it in a liquid (like milk or water) before adding it into the sauce.
In this case, you have to create a mixture of water and cornstarch and add this mixture into the sauce. To make sure there are no lumps, use a whisk to gently incorporate the cornstarch with the water, or just follow the video below.
How to use cornstarch to thicken?
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yes you can frozen broccoli for this pressure cooker beef and broccoli recipe. Fresh florets would be better (and healthier), but if you don’t have access to fresh broccoli, you can replace it with frozen one. In fact, I like to keep a bag of frozen broccoli in my freezer, just in case.
If you are using frozen broccoli, the cooking time in the last step would be 5 minutes (on saute) instead of 3 minutes.
Can I steam the broccoli in the microwave?
Yes you can steam the broccoli in the microwave if you’d like.
If you are using fresh broccoli, place the florets in a bowl, add 3 tbsp of water and microwave for 4 minutes.
If you are using frozen broccoli, just follow the instructions on the bag (usually 5-8 minutes).
Add the steamed broccoli on the last step after thickening the sauce. Stir well and that’s all!
Can I use frozen beef?
Fresh beef is perfect for this recipe. So if you have frozen beef I would thaw it before to make sure you will get a delicious recipe like all my friends in the comments bellow :]
If you don’t have time to defrost the beef, you can use frozen beef.
In this case the sauteing process (step 2) would take a longer time.
After this step, when the beef is brown and no longer frozen in the middle, you can continue with the regular recipe using the same instructions and cooking times.
Can I keep the leftovers?
Yes you can. You can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Please note – the taste would still be great (and even better and stronger), however the broccoli florets may get soggy after a few hours/days.
The Perfect Side Dish
Of course, you can choose to consume it as is, but I like to add a bit more texture and serve it with Jasmine rice or brown rice.
If you’re not a rice person, you can always try mashed potatoes or carrot mash.
If you want to cut down the carbs, this dish works just as well with these zucchini noodles .
How to make beef and broccoli
Gather all the ingredients.
Press “saute” and add canola oil. Add beef and cook until browned.
Stir in beef broth, brown sugar and soy sauce.
Add garlic.
Add sesame oil.
Lock lid into place. Cook on High pressure for 10 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is done, perform a quick pressure release.
Add cornstarch and mix well.
Add broccoli.
Close the Instant Pot and let the cook the broccoli on saute (no need for pressure cooking).
If you are using fresh broccoli, cook for 3 minutes.
If you are using frozen broccoli, cook for 5 minutes .
If you steamed the broccoli before, just mix well and skip the cooking.
- 1 1/2 lb chuck roast or flank steak sliced into thin strips
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 pound broccoli cut into florets
- 3 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- Put canola oil in the Instant Pot and select "Saute".
- When the oil is ready, brown the meat in batches.
- Stir in the beef broth, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar and sesame oil. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Lock the lid in place. Cook at high pressure for 10 minutes. Make sure the valve is set to the sealing position.
- When the cooking time ends, do a quick pressure release. (Set the valve to the venting position and when the valve drops, carefully remove the lid)
- Add the cornstarch and water mixture and stir until smooth.
- Select "saute", add the broccoli and stir a bit.
- Close the Instant Pot and let the broccoli cook for 3 minutes (fresh) or 5 minutes (frozen) on saute (no need for pressure cooking).
- Open the lid, serve and enjoy!
Ok corrie this is probably the best recipe on your blog!
It’s one of my favorites for sure ^_^
This was very good. I am putting it on my list of keeper recipes
Can you use olive oil instead of canola? Is there a way to cook rice or zucc noodles at the same time?
1. Yes you can use any oil you like.
2. It may be possible but this dish is sooo good that I always make the rice or the noodles separately 🙂
Is it 4 cloves of garlic or 4 pieces of a clove of garlic? Thanks
Cloves of garlic.
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Fresh is better if available but you can use frozen one as well.
Great recipe It looks so good
Thanks 🙂
Delicious dish! I made it for a big dinner and my friend asked for the recipe. So glad I got the Instant Pot.
Thanks! I hope you gave your friend this recipe 🙂
How many people will this feed?
4 hungry people 🙂
Was I supposed to sauté garlic with beef?
I was wondering the same thing. Making it right now, and I did sauté with beef only because I didn’t see anywhere else to do it. Fingers crossed! (Also my first ever IP recipe!)
Yes 🙂
So it’s a 3 part recipe and the beef is cooked first and separate from the other steps, so it’s held out after cooking right? Also, I’m adding the cornstarch mix into the liquid while the broccoli is still in it, or removing the broccoli first? Sorry for needing so much extra info lol! It looks yummy!
Hey April,
In fact, we are doing all in the same pot, without removing beef or broccoli.
Cooking beef >> Add broccoli while the beef still inside >> cooking it >> add cornstarch while all the ingredients still inside and stir.
Hope it helps 🙂
Made it last night…but my broccoli disintegrated in the pot. I was a few minutes delayed on relieving the pressure after the 2 minute cook with the broccoli. The additional pressure must have destroyed the broccoli….taste is really good but it doesn’t look as good.
Same! Great taste and beef was very tender. But broccoli was mush. Next time I will blanch the broccoli separately while the beef cooks and then toss it in when done. Would not cook the broccoli in the instant pot at all
Try to follow the instructions properly but i hope your method will also work nicely.
The broccoli should not have been pressure cooked at all it says to add after beef is done pressure cooking and cook 3 (fresh) or 5 (frozen) minutes on sauté.
Exactly. Thanks :]
A great recipe, and so easy! My husband added it to our master list of recipes that we consult when meal planning — a high compliment! Thank you for sharing it.
Hi Tracy!
Thank you for the compliment, really appreciate it
Great except my broccoli was complete mush 🙁
Oh really sorry about it… at least the taste was good 🙂
Anyway next time cut the broccoli into bigger pieces and\or cook it for only 1 minutes.
I’m so happy to hear that !! Thank you Kim ^_^
I need to know what the sodium content is. I can’t make anything high in salt. Some recipes I can substitute salt Free for salted intend such as the broth.
This was my second attempt at using the instant pot. First time was a fail. This was absolutely delicious and I figured out what I did wrong the first time! I’m hooked!
So glad to hear that!
Yes, sometimes when you try new things in the Instant Pot they fail… happens to everyone 🙂
I made this earlier in the week and in was an amazing success. Everyone raved about it and asked me to make sure I make it again. Thanks for the great recipe.
Great dish. Very easy to make
I made this and my family loved it. It’s definitely a keeper. Better and healthier than take out.
Glad you like it!! My family are crazy about this Beef and broccoli either. Easy and tasty 🙂
Trying this recipe tomorrow! The comments all sound like it’s delicious! This will be my 2nd try at cooking in the Instant Pot. 1st time, not so great! Question: When sautéing the beef, you put oil in pot on sauté, sauté beef with the lid OFF? Then add other ingredients and stir till sugar is dissolved. Then do whatever the recipe says? Thank you for your help!!!
Was really good. However cooking broccoli for 2 minutes made it mushy.
I think I’d steam it next time not pressure cook then add to sauce.
I use arrowroot powder not cornstarch…
It is definitely going to be made again. 🙂
No brown sugar :(. Would honey be an acceptable substitution?
Yes you can use honey or even white sugar instead of brown sugar.
Was a little too sweet. Next time I’ll decrease the amount of brown sugar
Broccoli was mush. I even cut larger flowerets as suggested. I will steam broccoli next time and just add at serving.
OMG! this is mouth watering!!!
Love the recipe. My husband said no more wasting money on Chinese food. I steamed my broccoli in the microwave for two minutes. In about two tablespoons of water then added it after I put cornstarch in.
Can I use more canola oil if i dont have sesame oil? Or will it ruin recipe without?
Yes you can.
I love this recipe! I make it almost once a week for my family! I’m currently counting calories, is there nutrition facts on this somewhere?
Yes you can play with the amounts – It’s up to you and your taste.
I’m happy you like this recipe 🙂
These kind of comments inspire me to keep adding recipes to the blog ^_^
I have a bigger family. Can i triple the recipe and still use the same pot all at once? Would the time be different and how much more ingredients would i have to use?
The turned out great. This was my first time using my instant pot and I was a little worried about the pressure times because it takes a couple minutes to get back to pressure.
But it turned out perfectly.
Thank you so much for the easy instructions and the recipe.
I’ll definitely be making it again.
Thank you very Much Leona :]
Thanks for your appreciation 🙂
Could I use Hamburg instead of chuck roast or London broil cut?
Please and thank you.
Yes you can.
This is the best thing I have made yet in the IP! Way to go Corrie!
This is the best comment Abbie ^_^
Great recipe! I steamed my broccoli in the microwave and stirred it in really well after thickening the sauce. I am at high altitude, so I wanted to avoid a second pressure build and it worked great!
Thank you very much Bridgette! Yes, steaming the broccoli in the microwave is a great option.
I’ve made this recipe at least 5 times since we got our instapot. It’s my favorite recipe and it’s so delicious!!! My family loves it! It’s so easy to make which is great because I work full time and to come hoke and cook Some days is just so difficult but recipes like this make it so easy! I pop some rice in the rice cooker to pair with this so I literally can relax as they cook!
It’s one of my favorites as well!! Have you tried the chicken and broccoli? May be a good option to diversify 🙂
New wife here! Made this for us for dinner last time as my first pressure cooker meal. OMG I’m hooked! If we wanted to double the recipe to have more, do I do anything with the cooking times?
Same cooking times and instructions.
If I double this recipe, do I need to adjust the cooking time? Also when you say brown the meat, are you just searing it on each side?
1. Double recipe – same cooking time and same instructions. Just make sure you Instant Pot is big enough so you won’t get the burn message.
2. Yes, just sear the beef on each side.
Made this for dinner tonight and it was amazing! I was asked by my husband to make it one of our staple go to meals! Thanks for the Recipe!!!
So glad you both like it :]
Delicious! The only addition was a small amount of grated ginger.
Ginger is a indeed a great option for those who like it 🙂
Thanks for your appreciation.
This was FANTASTIC a definite make again and again and again! I did make a few adjustments; added some crushed red pepper and fresh minced ginger. Steamed the broccoli separately and then after thickening tossed the broccoli into the beef.
Thank you for a quick and delicious meal.
So glad you like it Kelly ^_^
This is one of my family’s favorite recipes! We lightly steam our broccoli on the side, so we skip step 6 & 7; but this is still an awesome, simple quick dinner. I bought my Instant Pot over 2 years ago and used it only once before discovering this broccoli beef gem of a recipe. Thank you for posting.
Yes, steaming the broccoli is an option 🙂 If you want to diversify, you can try this one – https://www.corriecooks.com/instant-pot-chicken-and-broccoli/
I made this tonight, very good. I didn’t make any rice to go with it, next time I will. I will probably use a little less brown sugar next time and maybe add something to give it a little heat. I’m new to instapot cooking, this was my third recipe – it’s a keeper!
So happy you love the recipe!
And as you said, Instant Pot rice is a great option for a side dish.
Made this tonight and it was delicious! Next time I might do half regular soy sauce and half low sodium soy sauce….it was just a touch too salty for me. I also added some slice red pepper strips. Such an easy and straight forward recipe. I appreciate you showing how to mix the corn starch, I always seem to rush this and your instructions made me slow down and have a smooth liquid to add.
I’m so glad you like the recipe and my detailed instructions 🙂
I tried this tonight – fantastic! The kids LOVED it. I decided I wanted a one pot dinner, so I added rice. I tried 1.5 cups rice and just shy of 2 cups of water (or broth) but I found it a bit rice heavy for my taste. Next time I’m going to use only one cup of rice.
Basically browned the meat, added the sauce, added the rice and water, then layered the broccoli on top. Cooked for 4 minutes and natural release 10 min since that’s better with the rice. It was excellent!!!
So you made one-pot meal of rice, broccoli and beef… very interesting ^_^ I will try it!
Fabulous recipe! I cooked as stated for the most part. However, I added the broccoli and the remain beef broth from the can to the pot when I added the cornstarch mixture and sautéed it till thick. Def a keeper recipe! Thanks
So glad you like it!!
Glad you all like it!
Ginger root sounds like a great upgrade for the Beef and Broccoli^_^
It had a good flavor but the broccoli disappeared. It was just mush! I will use this recipe again but not in the instant pot.
Delicious! My family loved it! Served over rice and cauliflower rice for me. Would pressure cook broccoli for 1 min next time.
Glad you like it 🙂 Hope you will find your broccoli sweet spot!
Delicious meal! But My broccoli fell apart. Should I try only 1 minute of pressure? Maybe low pressure?
Depending on the cut size, 1 or even 0 minutes may be enough.
Def will make this again!
So glad you like it Chris :]
Made this for dinner last night!! HUGE hit! Bought the meat at Winco pre-sliced (where I usually get meat for Carne Asada).
This was really good- my family enjoyed it! I will definitely lessen the broccoli time to 1 min because my huge florets turned to mush as well. I will make it again! Thanks!
Can I ask what size instant pot you used for this recipe?
Instant Pot Duo 6-quart
Can I double this in my instant pot without issues?
Yes, you can double the recipe:] Same cooking time.
This was wonderful! My broccoli, however, was mush 🙁
I followed the directions perfectly – I was using frozen broccoli which the recipe said to do 2 minutes time pressure cook. I might try one minute next time or cooking broccoli separately.
Mix the broccoli in after the meat is done. I just dump a bag of frozen broccoli in after I thicken the sauce with cornstarch/water mix. Hope this helps.
I just bought my Instant Pot. This is the very first recipe I tried. The beef turned out very good, but the broccoli turned into mush. I was very disapointed, and then I read comments and I think I will cook broccoli in microwave next time, as many others have suggested, and add it in at the end. I added mushroom, very good. Also next time I would use low sodium soya sauce, I found it to be a bit salty.
Had the IP for a few days and after reading everything I could possibly find about it I finally got up the nerve to actually cook something in it. I found your website, thank goodness, and your Beef and Broccoli recipe. It’s a winner! I added a few sliced up mushrooms and used frozen organic broccoli florets. Added a touch of ginger paste too. Absolutely delicious . Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Sooo glad you like the recipe!! Enjoy your new Instant Pot ^_^
This was really good!! Even my extremely picky 13?year old liked it! I might use slightly less sugar next time. Thank you!!!
Would i be able to saute frozen beef for this recipe? If so how long would i cook for?
If possible I would thaw the beef before to save time and get a better result.
If you are sauteing frozen beef it would take a longer time. After this step you can continue with the same cooking instructions.
My family loved it!
Quick question. Do you saute the broccoli for three minutes as the instant pot is warming up or is it after it’s heated up for 3 minutes?
I would add the broccoli in the last step only.
Loved it. Will make it again. Great flavor and not too salty
Loved it. Turned out fantastic. Will definitely make it again. Already texted my two instant pot friends. I followed the recipe step by step. After I finished it, I thought a bit of minced ginger would be nice.
Glad you like it! Yes, ginger is a great option for upgrading :]
I just made your recipe! For some reason I love to eat Asian food for “something different” during the Holiday Season. Especially New Years Eve! It’s a tradition with coworkers. I didn’t change a thing! Thanks for sharing!
Made this last night and oh.em.gee.!!! It was SOOOO good! I used half beef broth and half water to make the rice. I will DEF make this again! I may put in ginger next time (cause I have a lot of it) and serve with sliced scallions. This is such a good recipe!
Thank you soooo much!!
I’m a recent Instant Pot convert. This was Delicious. Super easy to put together. Definitely into the dinner meal rotation. I took some to work and I had to push people away from drooling into my beef and broccoli. Thanks Corrie
Thank you! I’m so glad you like it.
I looove this recipe! So much flavor.
This is so delicious!!! It’s one of my families favorites!
I want to make A double batch tonight. Anything change on cook times or anything for a double batch?
This was absolutely wonderful! Any chance you have nutritional information. Primarily calories.
Delish! Thank you for sharing!
My husband and I really liked this recipe. Easy to make and not too many ingredients. We are adding this to our go to recipe list.
If you use fresh broccoli spears for this dish, it won’t turn into mush.
My whole family really enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for sharing!