Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

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Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli for the pressure cooker is easy, yummy, and makes the best beef and broccoli, better than Chinese takeout or stir fry.

If you are looking for a wholesome one-pot family dinner for a weeknight or anytime, then you will love this Instant Pot Beef And Broccoli because it makes the beef tender and the beef and broccoli sauce rich and flavorful. Who needs takeout when you have this recipe?

Chinese Beef And Broccoli

Years ago my husband and I had a favorite local Chinese restaurant that had the best beef and broccoli and Spicy Cashew Chicken. Pretty much everything was very fresh and flavorful. However, when the shopping center raised the rent, this couple decided to retire and close the restaurant. We were very sad because it was one of our favorite restaurants.

So I had to create my own Chinese Recipes to replace our favorite Chinese Restaurant dishes. After many trials and errors, I recreated several of them and adjusted this Homemade Beef and Broccoli recipe to pressure cook in the Instant Pot because it made it so easy and delicious. It has turned out to be one of our favorite Instant Pot Beef Recipes, as well as any Beef Recipes, no matter how they are cooked.

What Makes This Recipe Work?

You’ll love this Homemade Beef And Broccoli Recipe because it is the best! Really? Let me tell you all the reasons why.

1. It has tender, flavorful beef in a slightly sweet yet salty and slightly spicy beef and broccoli sauce, or stir fry sauce, that has delicious, complex flavors in every bite.
2. It is so easy to make in the Instant Pot. Brown the beef, but after that, it is mostly hands-off until it finishes pressure cooking.
3. I use Hoisin sauce in this recipe, which is like a Chinese Barbecue Sauce and gives the Beef and Broccoli an awesome flavor.
4. You can make it a one-pot meal by pressure cooking the rice with the beef and sauce. This is optional, but it is great not to have any extra dirty dishes to wash.

What Type of Beef To Use For Beef and Broccoli

When I’m cooking beef in the Instant Pot, I like to buy a chuck roast and slice it thin. You can freeze it for about 30 minutes and then slice it. A second option is to brown it whole in the Instant Pot and then slice it. Either way, you want thin slices that are no more than 1/4 inch thick, and you cut against the grain. However, if you don’t want to cut it yourself, then have the butcher do it for you.

However, many others have also used sirloin steak,  flank steak, or flat iron steak. Some have used skirt steak, but that may get tough and chewy in the Instant Pot.

How To Make Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

The affiliate links below will allow you to see the product on Amazon.com. If you choose to purchase one of the items, I will receive a very small commission on the product and does not increase the price.

Equipment

• 6-quart Instant Pot Duo60 - I use the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo from Amazon.com for my recipes.  It is medium size, and I like it as probably most recipes are written for the six-quart size. However, they have many models of Instant Pot, including in a 3-quart size or an 8-quart size.
• Stainless Steel Insert Pan – Stackable pans from Amazon.com that fit inside the Instant Pot and allow you to cook side dishes, like rice, pot-in-pot, at the same time as the main dish.
• Chef's Knife – I like this 8-inch knife from Amazon.com for chopping, mincing, etc. I like the quality of this knife.
• Cutting Board from Amazon.com – You can choose from all different materials, shapes, and sizes for what works best for you.
• Measuring Cups from Amazon.com – Be sure to use the measuring cups designed for liquids only and not for dry ingredients for the most accurate measurement.
• Measuring Spoons – from Amazon.com – I keep several sets of measuring spoons on hand, so I have them when I need them, and they are not in the dishwasher.

Directions

How To Make Beef And Broccoli Sauce, AKA Stir Fry Sauce

In a small bowl, stir together all the ingredients. Set aside.

• 3/4 cup low sodium beef broth (could use water or chicken broth)
• 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Hoisin sauce
• 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

How To Pressure Cook Beef And Broccoli

1. Press the SAUTE button and select High. When the Instant Pot Display says “Hot,” then add oil and wait for the oil to get hot.
2. When the oil is hot, add the sliced beef in a single layer and brown it for a couple of minutes on one side. (You may have to cook the beef in batches.) Then add all the beef back into the Instant Pot, and then add the minced garlic and cook for about a minute, stirring frequently.
3. Add 1/4 cup water and scrape the bits of food off the bottom to deglaze the pot.
4. Add the beef and broccoli sauce.
5. Optional. If you would like to cook the rice with the beef and sauce, then add in a tall trivet and in an oven-safe 6″ pan, add 1-cup rice and 1-1/4 cups of water.
6. Press Cancel to cancel the Sauté function. Close the lid and move the pressure release valve to the SEALING position. 
7. Press MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK (Depending on the model) and adjust the +/- button to set the time to 10 minutes on HIGH PRESSURE.
8. Once it has finished pressure cooking for 10 minutes, then let it do a Natural Release for 5 minutes and then do a quick release.
9. Once the pressure has been fully released and the pin has dropped, then open the lid and remove the trivet with the pan of rice. Fluff the rice with a fork and set aside.
10. Press CANCEL and then press the SAUTE function to heat the beef and sauce.
11. To thicken the sauce, stir in the cornstarch slurry, which is two tablespoons of cornstarch and two tablespoons of water stirred together, and then add to the sauce and stir.

 

How To Cook The Broccoli

I don’t like to pressure cook the broccoli because it tends to overcook it and turn it into mush. Therefore, I have two methods of cooking broccoli depending on whether the broccoli is fresh or frozen.

Fresh Broccoli

• While the Beef is pressure cooking, boil water on the stove, and then when it is boiling, add the fresh broccoli and blanch for 3 or 4 minutes and then remove. Set aside until the beef has finished pressure cooking.
• Once the Instant Pot has finished pressure cooking and its pressure release, then open the lid and add the broccoli.

Frozen Broccoli

• Place the frozen broccoli in a strainer and rinse it well.
• After the Instant Pot has finished pressure cooking and its pressure release, open the lid and add the broccoli.

Recipe Tips For Beef And Broccoli

• Freeze the beef for about 30 minutes before slicing. This will make it easier to cut thin slices.
• Brown only a minute or two in the Instant Pot and no longer. The thinly sliced beef will cook very quickly, and you don’t want to overcook it.
• To keep the broccoli from turning into mush, instead of pressure cooking it, blanch it in boiling water on the stove while the rest of the ingredients are being pressure-cooked. 
• You can make it a one-pot meal by pressure-cooking the rice in a separate oven-safe pan within the Instant Pot. See the directions below in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post and just above the comments.

What To Serve With Beef And Broccoli

• Perfect White Rice
• Brown Rice
• Lo Mein
• Hot and Sour or Eggdrop Soup

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should I Use Fresh Broccoli or Frozen Broccoli?
  • You can use either one. I have instructions for both.
• How Do I Store Leftover Beef and Broccoli?
  • Place it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
• Can I Freeze Beef And Broccoli
  • Yes. You can freeze Beef and Broccoli.
  • However, If you planning ahead of time on freezing this recipe, then I recommend making it and freezing it without the broccoli because the broccoli can get soggy. Then, when you reheat it, cook the broccoli at that time. It takes only a few minutes to cook.
• What Is The Best Way To Reheat Beef And Broccoli?
  • I like to reheat it in the microwave with a couple of tablespoons of water to prevent the sauce from getting too thick.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Eggroll In A Bowl
• Teriyaki Glazed Chicken
• Honey Garlic Chicken
• Instant Pot Beef Tips And Gravy
• Instant Pot Beef And Barley Soup
• Easy Beef Empanadas
• Beef Tips and Rice

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