Instant Pot frozen roast for dinner is possible! Similar to our frozen roast in a slow cooker instructions but much faster. This is how long to get a tender, flavorful, piece of beef right out of the freezer that is not thawed.
Here we share how to cook a Frozen Roast in a pressure cooker! Yes sometimes I forget to defrost dinner so this is a helpful Instant Pot recipe hack to keep on hand. (affiliate links present)
Pressure Cooker Frozen Roast Recipe
If youโre staring at your rock hard piece of beef right now looking for a little guidance, do not fret!! Dinner will come out perfectly and nobody will know you had a forgetful moment. ๐ I wasnโt so sure how good Frozen Chuck Roast Instant Pot would work but it was amazing.
in Ninja Foodi
If this has never happened to you, bravo. You can use the same recipe below if youโre using a Crockpot Express, Mealthy or as an easy Ninja Foodi recipes using the lid that is not attached. Works just as well no matter what brand you own.
Ingredients
- 3 lb. frozen beef roast is what was used here
- Broth or water but Beef broth gives you more flavor
- Onion we like for added flavor and a bit of texture
- Minced garlic will add a bolder taste
- Salt and pepper, onion powder and garlic powder could be added as well
with Vegetables
If you wanted to add something else for a complete meal, halved red potatoes and peeled large chunks work well. Choices should be firm and need a long time so they donโt fall apart.
What is the best cut of roast for this?
A boneless chuck roast is the best choice for pot roast, quite inexpensive too. It has outstanding marbling which makes the beef tender and juicy when cooked in any method really. Remember that fat=flavor so donโt choose a piece that is lean (those can be more expensive anyway).
I of course have made a pressure cooker roast before, when I have bought it fresh, but straight out of the freezer requires different directions.
How long to cook 3 pound frozen roast in Instant Pot
90 minutes was perfect for this size. Of course yours may not be exactly this size but you can adjust it rather easily with about 10 minutes per pound with this in mind meaning; 2 pound frozen roast = 80 minutes cook time & 4 pound frozen roast takes 100 minutes to pressure cook.
I actually wasnโt so sure cooking frozen meat would even work, and wondered can you cook a frozen roast without defrosting it first and still have it come out tender? The answer was a resounding YES! The trick is high pressure AND allowing the steam to naturally release slowly which will continue to break down the connective tissues so it is fork tender.
Shredded Beef From Frozen Roast, pork, and lamb roasts are safe to cook in the frozen state. The only real big difference is that the cooking time. Frozen meats typically take 50 percent longer in the oven, but not in a pressure cooker.
Thatโs the game changer. Now you can cook an Instant Pot chuck roast from fresh or a frozen state and have it come out perfect! Of course if itโs already defrosted it is quicker to do. .
What is one of the most important steps when making an Instant Pot pot roast, or any large piece of meat?
Cooking Tips
- When you cook a roast in a pressure cooker it is best to do a natural release of the pressure once the cook time is up.
- Following this rule will keep your meat much more tender and almost fall apart when touched with a fork.
- If you choose to quick release it instead a lot of the moisture inside will escape and you wonโt achieve the outcome you want.
- This step may take about 20 minutes to 30 minutes to complete, beyond the cooking time, but is well worth it.
How to Cook a Frozen Roast in Instant Pot
- First of course you will want to unwrap your beef. Since it is frozen you wonโt be able to trim it at all but that is okay. For this type of meat you really want the fat in tact because it will make it more moist in the end.
- Place a trivet inside your pot
- Set frozen roast on top.
- remember that timing below is based on a 3 lb. piece
- if yours is much larger than that you may need to increase a few minutes on high
- Pour in your broth or stock on top followed by a sprinkle of your sliced onion.
- Sprinkle on seasonings you like on top now.
- the ones we have are just suggestions, if you usually use your own mixture go right ahead and load it on.
- you can also just use these ready made roast seasonings in a packet. These were originally made for the slow cooker but work great using this method as well.
- Close lid and steam valve and set to high pressure
- Lift meat out, allow to rest
- If you want to make a gravy out of the drippings, follow our pressure cooker gravy directions.
with Pork Roast
We now have frozen pork roast Instant Pot directions too! Any large cuts have a great result this way. Actually, the longer it cooks the more tender it gets so it is hard to mess up. ๐
Can you cook a roast partially frozen?
Yes, even half solid I would follow the same timing though. These are the steps to follow when making this pot roast recipe. There really isnโt any difference between the two under high pressure.
Want to try this another time defrosted? I mean the outcome is a bit better if you have the time to thaw it in the fridge overnight to make pressure cooker roast beef inside slider buns for a one pot meal.
Sliced or shredded it is always a great meal option because there is a multitude of ways it can be served like: Then you could follow one of our easy Instant Pot beef recipes.
- Served over a bed of pressure cooker mashed potatoes
- With a side of Instant Pot carrots
- Made into soft tacos in Instant Pot with small flour tortillas and lots of cheese
- Sunday roast typically consists of roast beef, potatoes, and a variety of Instant Pot steamed vegetables.
There are a lot of different chuck roast ideas out there you can try, most are not able to accommodate a frozen piece though. That is where these directions come in handy. If you want to make Instant Pot carnitas, seen below, follow this recipe but the timing below if itโs frozen.
How to save leftovers
If you store it properly in airtight containers or freezer bags, cooked beef roast will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. If you know you wonโt eat it all before then, you should freeze it in covered containers free from leaks or wrap tightly with aluminum foil or freezer wrap. Then slice and heat as air fryer roast next day.
Ready to take your pulled beef to the next level once it is defrosted? Make it into Instant Pot BBQ beef like we did here! Either way they turn out fabulous paired with a vegetable and starch of some kind.
Need instructions on how to cook frozen chicken in the Instant Pot too? We have it!
Instant Pot Frozen Roast Recipe
Equipment
- 1 pressure cooker
- 1 trivet
Ingredients
- 3 lbs roast
- 3 c beef broth
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Put trivet inside pressure cooker with your frozen roast on top.
- Pour broth over the top, sprinkle in onions and put any and all seasonings you like on top of your meat.
- Close lid and steam valve and set to high pressure for 90 minutes followed by a natural release.
- If the weight of your roast differs, adjust by 10 minutes per pound.- 2 lbs = 80 minutes- 4 lbs = 100 minutes
- Remove meat and allow to rest if slicing, or remove trivet and shred right in pot with liquid. If you want to thicken liquid, remove meat, set to saute and in a small bowl whisk a few tbsp of cornstarch with some of your hot liquid. Pour that in, stir and allow to thicken, pour this on top when serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I donโt have a trivet. Will this still work? Thanks!
You need to keep it off of the bottom. Alternatively you can put 4 small red potatoes at the bottom and use that as a โtrivetโ
Yum! Iโm glad I found this. I am notoriously bad at remembering to defrost meat, so this was a life saver. I wondered how I would cook the carrots and potatoes that naturally go with a pot roast, but I found a recipe to roast them in the oven. Perfect!
Glad I could help
@The Typical Mom, awesome idea
Wow wow wow. Followed the directions and everything cooked to perfection. Would definitely cook a roast frozen and add the potatoes and carrots. Perfection.
Good simple recipe. I know how to cook but (probably my age) have to check on cooking times and temp. times.
Tip to ladies above about the veggies. Cook them separately unless you want everything to taste the same. Start potatoes about half way through and other veggies later according to taste.
Questionโฆ.. How do you feed 10 people with a three pound pot roast? There must be a loaves and fishes thing going on here.
Thanks for posting this recipe. I donโt use a pressure cooker very often and this was helpful.
Do you add the vegetables to the 90 minutes or do you cook them differently??
Would like to know this as well. Gut tells me not the full 90โฆ
I definitely wouldnโt put the veggies in for 90 min, I noticed she did not include veggies in her recipe but served steamed veggies on the side. I donโt know if you can cut your interup the cooking time to add veggies or not, I have done this before in other chicken breast recipes about 3 min before cooking time is up add veggies then turn back on.
I add them the last 15 minutes of cook time. They really donโt take that long in the pressure cooker. I do a quick release and add them
loved the recipeโฆ.
So glad!
What size InstantPot did you use? I have an 8qt, but I know that adjustments need to be madeif a recipe is for a 6qt InstantPot. Thank you โ I think this is how Iโm going to save dinner tonight!
Ugh duh how much broth bad recipe!!!
Ummmm itโs listed right there in the recipe card.
3 cups like the recipe lists, you rude moron. Reading is fundamental!
Sheena, you are rude and unappreciative.
It states in in the recipeโฆjust read before you complain
Thanks! I just put this in, so hereโs to 90 minutes!!
I love using my Instant Pot and this roast was so good. Thanks for the great recipe!
Iโm so glad I found this! I made a rock-solid frozen 2.5 lb roast and it turned out great! First time Iโve ever used a pressure cooker. I have to admit I was super skeptical that it would turn out as good as slow cooking for 8-10 hours like I usually do but Iโm so glad I was wrong. The only thing I would do different next time is add a little more cook time as the center wasnโt as soft as the edges. I let the pressure naturally decrease for 30 minutes. Pretty pleased! Thank you!