Instant Pot Pot Roast

Name: Instant Pot Pot Roast
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 135 min
Ingredients: 4 to 5 pound beef roast; 2 teaspoons fine sea salt; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; cracked black pepper, (to taste); 2 tablespoons ghee, (avocado oil, or your favorite cooking fat); 1/2 cup water

This Instant Pot Pot Roast recipe walks you through the simple steps needed to make a tender, delicious, batch cook-friendly roast in just 2 hours.

An Instant Pot pot roast served alongside mashed potatoes and gravy.

This recipe is…
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Pot Roast Recipe Ingredients
Recipe Variations and Modifications
How to Make Pot Roast in an Instant Pot
Recipe Tip
How to Serve Instant Pot Pot Roast
How to Store and Reheat
Frequently Asked Questions
More of Our Best Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe
Recipe Contributors

GFGluten Free DFDairy Free PPaleo LCLow Carb

Taken by the idea of a magical multi-cooker that could save me time in the kitchen, I finally bought an Instant Pot. To be specific, this is the one I bought. It’s a 7-in-1 and holds 6 whole quarts. I love it now, but that wasn’t always the case.

I have successfully made some yummy red potatoes and this pot roast. I have unsuccessfully made green curry, the slow cooker barbacoa from my book, and a couple attempts at several kinds of soups. I have LEARNED that my less-than-successful recipes were due to a couple (sometimes creative) pesky user errors. Apparently it matters if the vent is open …it matters a lot.

Though I’ve never claimed to be a fast learner, I am a patient learner. I’m patient while I slowly figure all the what-not-to-do’s in an effort to create fail-proof Instant Pot-friendly recipes for you.

This Instant Pot roast was a major turning point for my sweet Instant Pot and myself. We’re starting to figure each other out! My Pot has learned that I like to make BIG batches of food, and I have learned that the Instant Pot manual should be read prior to using. Vents should be closed (and verified that they’re closed) and broccoli should not be cooked for longer than 10 minutes under pressure.

This Instant pot roast is exactly what I wanted from my Instant Pot: a decadent, delicious, batch-cooked tender beef roast that tastes as if I spent all day caring for it. Opposed to the 4 hours it would normally take me to whip this up (the old-fashioned way) I was able to get this roast on the table in exactly half the time. WIN!

Once you become an Instant Pot convert, there’s no going back. So try some more of our easy and delicious Instant Pot recipes, like our comforting Honey Mustard Chicken and Potatoes, tropical Instant Pot Island Chicken Bowls with Pineapple Salsa, and Instant Pot Barbacoa.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You won’t believe how simple this list of ingredients is! All you need is a beef roast and some pantry staples you’ve already got at home.
Just 15 minutes of prep
Makes a big batch of 10-12 servings

Pot Roast Recipe Ingredients

We kept the list simple for this classic pot roast recipe. You probably already have most of what you need in your pantry! Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and swaps) below.

All of the ingredients for Instant Pot pot roast on a brown tile surface.

Beef roast – one 4 to 5 pound beef roast is the star of this recipe
Salt – you’ll season it with 2 teaspoons fine sea salt, plus…
Garlic powder – 2 teaspoons garlic powder, plus…
Pepper – cracked black pepper (to taste)
Cooking oil – you’ll also need 2 tablespoons ghee, avocado oil, or your favorite cooking fat
Water – lastly, you’ll meed 1/2 cup water

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Recipe Variations and Modifications

Here’s how to make this recipe your own:

Choose your liquid – we call for plain ole’ water to keep the meat moist. But you could swap in beef broth, tomato juice, or wine if you’d prefer.
Add some herbs – if you have some fresh or dried herbs like sage, rosemary, or parsley hanging arounf at home, drop them into the Instant Pot with the water or other liquid.

How to Make Pot Roast in an Instant Pot

Here’s how this warming recipe comes together with just 15 minutes of prep!

A large, seasoned chuck roast on parchment paper alongside other ingredients needed for Instant Pot pot roast.

A large, seasoned chuck roast uncooked in an Instant Pot.

Step 1: Press the “saute” button on your Instant Pot. I like to give it about 2 minutes to heat up.

While the Instant Pot gets up to temperature, season one side of the pot roast liberally with half of the sea salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.

Step 2: Add your cooking fat to the pot and then (careful not to touch the side of the insert with your hands) place the seasoned side of the roast face-down in the bottom of the pot.

Depending on the size of your roast, you may have to press it down in some areas so that as much of the roast is touching the bottom as possible. Set a timer for 10 minutes and allow the roast to sear on one side.

A large seared chuck roast in an Instant Pot.

Someone pouring water over a large seared chuck roast in an Instant Pot.

Step 3: Season the upward facing side with the rest of the sea salt, garlic powder, and pepper. After 10 minutes, flip the roast over.

Step 4: Press the “keep warm/cancel” button, add 1/2 cup water to the pot, and secure the lid of the Instant Pot in place with the pressure release knob flipped to “sealing” (the one pointing away from the control panel).

Shredded Instant Pot pot roast on a platter.

Step 5: Press the “meat/stew” button and then press the “+” until the timer reads 85 minutes.

Make sure that your Instant Pot seals once it comes up to pressure (the small metal valve next to the pressure knob will pop up) and seals (there will be no steam coming out). Once it reaches pressure and seals, the timer will start a countdown. At this point, you’re off duty!

Step 6: Allow the Instant Pot to “naturally” release the steam (meaning, you do not manually move the pressure release knob). This should take approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour and the lid will automatically unlock once the pressure is released.

Your roast is done! Scoop it out of the pot, leaving its liquids behind, and transfer it to a serving pot of your choice. Enjoy!

Recipe Tip

Crockpot method – To make in a crockpot: follow the instructions but add an additional cup of water or beef broth. Cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.

How to Serve Instant Pot Pot Roast

Once the roast is out of the Instant Pot, let it sit for about 15 minutes to let the juices redistribute. Then slice and serve!

How to Store and Reheat

Refrigerate the roast for up to 5 days. To reheat, microwave or reheat in the oven, adding a little extra water or broth if necessary to keep the meat moist.

A large off white platter of shredded pot roast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cut of beef do you use for pot roast?

There are several options for what cut of beef you can use to cook up a tender pot roast, including chuck, rump, top round, brisket, and bottom round.

Why is my pot roast dry?

We love this pot roast recipe because it cooks up tender and juicy, with only 15 minutes of hands-on time. If you’ve had dry pot roast results in the past, there were two likely culprits: either overcooking, and/or no braising liquid.

As long as you still to the cooking time here and include a braising liquid like water, beef broth, or tomato juice to create moist heat while cooking the meat, you should have tender and juicy results!

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