If you like beef, you should try out this Instant Pot Corned Beef recipe! Such an easy and tasty main dish for dinner!
Corned beef and cabbage is a classic Irish dish, and this pressure cooker recipe includes all of the typical accompaniments that come with it. If you like Irish cuisine, you have to try this!
Table of Contents
What is Corned Beef?
Corned beef does not actually involve corn… corning refers to the process of salt curing the beef.
To make corned beef, beef brisket is placed in a brine of saltwater and various spices typically including peppercorns, juniper berries, and bay leaves. It needs to be brined for about 2 weeks to fully cure and tenderize.
You can buy a fresh brisket and complete the corning process yourself. It’s really easy, it just takes time, so you’ll have to plan ahead and be patient!
What Kind of Potatoes Should I Use?
You can use any type of potatoes in this recipe. If you use russets, you should definitely peel them first, but if you use smaller waxy potatoes with a thin skin, you can leave the skin on if you prefer.
I like to use waxy gold potatoes such as Yukon golds because these have a great buttery flavor and tend to hold their shape better than russet potatoes, which can become mushy in the pressure cooker.
What Type of Cabbage?
You’ll definitely want to use green cabbage for this recipe. You could use Napa cabbage, but I would not use red cabbage. It would taste fine but turn the whole dish an unappealing purple color, so I would try to avoid that!
I can’t find turnips anywhere! What Can I Substitute?
Turnips can be easily swapped for other root vegetables such as parsnips or rutabaga. You could also just add more carrots in place of turnips if you prefer.
What do Bay Leaves Taste Like?
Bay leaves are a very aromatic flavoring ingredient that is slightly floral, herbal tasting. They are very important to the flavor of this Instant Pot Corned Beef, being the only seasoning besides salt.
Be sure to remove bay leaves before serving, though. Although they impart great flavor to liquids like soups and broths, no one wants to eat a bay leaf!
How to serve?
This is truly a complete one-pot meal. The recipe gives you corned beef alongside potatoes, cabbage, and assorted root vegetables, as is traditional.
If you’re looking for something a little heartier, you can also serve with Jasmine rice.
Need more ideas? Check out What To Serve With Corned Beef for 15 delicious side dishes.
More One-Pot Dinners
If you like hearty comfort food, try out this Instant Pot Corned Beef And Cabbage. You can also check out these recipes:
Instant Pot Corned Beef
Ingredients
- 2 pound corned beef brisket
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 potatoes diced
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 cups water
- 1 head cabbage chunked
- 3 turnips diced
- 4 carrots diced
- 1 tablespoon salt
Instructions
- Put the beef, garlic bay leaf and water in the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid and cook at high pressure for 10 minutes.
- When cooking time ends, do a quick pressure release.
- Add potatoes, cabbage, turnips and carrots and close the lid.
- Close the lid and cook at high pressure for 10 more minutes.
- When cooking time ends, , wait for a natural pressure release.
- Open the lid and serve 🙂
Greetings.
Are there different cuts of brisket? If so, which is the best cut to buy for this recipe. I love the taste of corned beef, but all the fat drives me nuts. Some is good so it won't dry out, but when it's in the "threads" of the meat, ugh. Could you recommend a type of brisket without a ton of fat?
Thank you.
Yes, you can purchase either a point cut or a flat cut. Flat cut is leaner with less intermuscular fat so that is what you should be looking for. Hope that helps!
Do you discard the spice packet that is always included? I always do and rinse well the spices embedded on the meat. Also the added spices and salt are way too much for me. So will be cooking it very simply with only the added vegetables.
Yes, when it comes with a spice packet I don't usually use it. I'd rather create my own blend of spices based on my taste. Simple is best!
pic shows thyme, not in recipe
You don't absolutely need thyme for this recipe, but I love the flavor! Makes for a great garnish too. It's optional.
Great recipe my family love it thank you Corrie cooks!!
Tq very much for this recipe. Never knew that one can pressure cook corned beef. Will try soonest.
Let me know how it turned out 🙂
cooking this evening