Instant Pot Shredded Beef

Shredded beef in a pressure cooker has never been easier to make with chuck roast or you can even make shredded beef from frozen. Serve over nachos, inside tacos or over mashed potatoes for a high protein one pot meal.

These recipes are great. I mean there are so many things you can do with it. Whether you throw it into air fryer flautas with cheese and salsa or eat it plain over rice you’ll love them all.

Ok so we’ve been using our Instant Pot more and more recently because it is quite hot outside and there is NO way I am turning on my oven at this point! When it comes to large cuts of meat I’ve found there is just no better way to get it as tender and flavorful than to use this.

Ninja Foodi Shredded Beef

Packed with protein these are a fabulous low carb option full of flavor. You can make this as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe too with the lid that is not attached. This will pressure cook fast and break down the connective tissues in no time so you can pull apart with 2 forks.

How long does it take to make shredded beef in a pressure cooker?

This is typically ready in about an hour and a half. Perfect for batch cooking if you like cooking a bunch at once and freezing some for later! You can also use the method we have for slow cooker beef barbacoa too.

Use this Instant Pot cook times printable for timing. If roast is larger the cook time may need to be increased. It will not hurt to open, test, and then pressure cook again if it isn’t fall apart tender yet.

What is the best cut of beef to shred?

There are many cuts you can use for this. From a chuck roast that is thick, to top round, or others you do want one that has a decent amount of fat and marbling. Reason for that is that leaner cuts won’t get as tender, rather with more heat those will get even more tough.

Ingredient Notes

You are going to want olive oil or avocado oil to sear the large chunks of meat at the beginning to lock in the moisture before pressure cooking.

Beef broth or you could use chicken or vegetable but we’re cooking beef so I go with this for pressure cooker beef ribs too all the way..

Bell peppers and diced onion we like to add flavor and texture but those are optional of course. It is up to you how you load it up. For peppers though I will recommend that you slice thick or they will break down and almost disintegrate with the high ehat.

As for the added seasonings we like a lot such as; Cumin, Oregano, Adobo seasoning for heat and maybe some garlic powder. I mean you can make more spicy like our Instant Pot Barbacoa you can add hot hatch chiles diced up, canned chiles, dry Sriracha, red pepper flakes, etc…

Tips

You will want to slice roast in half or fourths if it is more than 3 lbs. and saute first to brown all sides in order to lock in those juices. Remove meat and deglaze pot which means that you use a bit of liquid to scrape the stuck on bits off so it doesn’t trigger the dreaded burn notice.

When cook time it up you always want to follow it up by a natural release. This means that you do not touch the steam valve. Instead leave it and watch the countdown on the front screen, at minute 20 it should be completely done.

Shred meat in pot using forks, or remove and slice on cutting board. Put back into pot with sauce so it can be really soaked up. We usually serve on top of Instant Pot rice or along side air fryer mixed vegetables for a meal.

How do you know when shredded beef is done?

I like to cook it to the point where 2 forks do the job really. If it isn’t to that point I put the lid back on and give it a bit more time in my Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot. Just put two dinner forks with their backs facing each other. Pull the forks in opposite directions breaking up the meat into shards as you pull. Throw away any bones or gristle you encounter as you’re breaking the meat apart.

How do you shred meat in a KitchenAid mixer?

I cannot say I have ever done this. For me it is way too much work to get that machine out (and clean it afterwards). Forks do the job just as well but you can use specialty pulling forks or pull out your mixer. In a few minutes (after removing the bones and fat you don’t want) it can pull it apart nicely.

It’s very similar to when you’re making boiled shredded chicken and want to shred a ton too. Just remove the bones and discard. Throw it right in using a paddle attachment and let it roar. Make sure you place a tea towel over the top as small pieces can go every which way which is a bit messy.

Want to make Crockpot bbq beef too? We have directions for that! The biggest difference of course is the amount of cook time necessary to get it to fork tender but totally hands off once prepped in the morning.

How do you freeze shredded beef?

First off I will say we have never had enough left to freeze it, we just put the little amount into the fridge for the next day. The best way to freeze beef is in quart sized freezer bags. Just lay them flat like bricks on top of one another if you have more than one. To reheat empty contents into a pan on low/medium heat.

Other easy pressure cooker recipes you’ll love

If you’d rather make an easy Instant Pot shredded pork recipe this is amazing. As well as 4 other Instant Pot tacos and Instant Pot beef and noodles

• This Instant Pot beef tips recipe rocks
• Instant Pot shredded chicken is a good one too