I have to confess that 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!
Luckily, there are lots of recipes to satisfy my taste buds. But I always return to Beef & Broccoli.
If you want your kids to eat broccoli – this is a great option :]
Contents
How to Choose the Beef?
As you can see, the recipe calls for a chuck roast.
What is a chuck roast?
If this is the first question that’s come to mind, don’t worry – we were all beginners once 🙂
In short, a chuck roast is a cut of meat from the chuck, which is also known as the shoulder part of the steer. However, these details are not very important if you have a local meat vendor that can provide guidance.
Also, you can go crazy and use the type of meat you like. For instance, I’ve used skirt steak and the result was the same. And, if you like chicken better than beef, go for it!
How to Prepare the Meat?
This recipe requires thin-sliced beef (so it will release all its flavor during the saute step).
Beef is not that difficult to slice, but you need to know 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.
Once you have your slices, you can move on to the next step of the recipe.
Quick tip: 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.
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 remove the sugar?
If you don’t like adding sugar in your food, you can replace it with maple syrup or honey.
Can I make it with chicken?
Yes, but then you will have chicken and broccoli.
Why Cornstarch?
This is a question that pops up quite often since many people are used to thickening their sauces with flour.
However, cornstarch is a better thickening agent and doesn’t influence the taste of the food (unlike flower). Also, it doesn’t get lumps (like flour does) 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.
How to use cornstarch to thicken?
The Broccoli
Love it or hate it, when cooked correctly the broccoli is a fantastic addition to a meat dish!
For this recipe, make sure to select fresh broccoli florets, with firm stalks. If you don’t have access to fresh veggies, you can replace it with frozen ones. In fact, I like to keep a few bags of frozen broccoli in my freezer, just in case.
Now, if you’ve ever cooked broccoli before, you know it doesn’t need long. As the recipe specifies, 2 minutes are enough. Otherwise, you risk overcooking it and turning it into mush.
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 cauliflower mash.
If you want to cut down the carbs, this dish works just as well with these zucchini noodles .
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast sliced into thin strips
- 1 teaspoons canola oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 pound broccoli cut into florets
- 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons 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 broccoli and stir a bit.
- Cook at high pressure for 2 more minutes.
- When the cooking time ends, do quick pressure release. Add the cornstarch and water mixture and stir until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy!
Ok corrie this is probably the best recipe on your blog!
It’s one of my favorites for sure ^_^
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.
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 instead of brown sugar according to your taste.
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 ^_^