Instant Pot Italian Beef

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Instant Pot Italian Beef is the perfect weeknight meal. It’s quick-cooking, tender, and soooo tasty! Serve this delicious shredded beef as is, or pile it onto sandwich rolls for a classic hot and spicy sandwich.

Suitable for Paleo, Keto, Low Carb, Gluten Free diets when served without the buns. Post includes Weight Watchers points. 

instant pot italian beef sandwich served on a cutting board

This Instant Pot Italian Beef is so flavorful you’ll have a hard time believing it was cooked in under an hour. Thanks to the pressure cooker, you get that slow-cooked, beefy flavor of a roast that has simmered all day long in a fraction of the time.

This dish combines the convenience of the Instant Pot with the robust taste of Italian seasoning, creating a savory masterpiece that will simplify your dinner routine.

What makes Italian Beef Instant Pot a must-try is its versatility and the fact that it’s a lifesaver on hectic days. This classic Italian beef recipe can be served so many different ways. It’s delicious as a main course, but you can also turn it into tasty tacos, or pile it on as a hearty topping for loaded baked potatoes. 

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But my very favorite way to enjoy it is to make mouth-watering Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches. Serve it on a crusty roll with au jus or serve it open-faced with the extra sauce as a gravy.

an Italian beef sandwich being dipped into au jus sauce

This easy shredded beef makes amazing Italian subs. It’s right up there with my Instant Pot Meatballs and my Instant Pot Corned Beef which can also be transformed into robust and flavorful sandwiches.

Instant pot quick start guide image

Why Make This Recipe

  • Quick Cooking – This beef will be fork tender in just 30 minutes at high pressure.
  • Versatile – Eat it with a side dish or use this pressure cooker Italian beef in various other recipes.
  • Easy Pantry Meal – Aside from the chuck roast, you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry.
  • Feeds a crowd – This recipe yields quite a bit of meat, but you can double it to feed more people.

To help you make amazing dinners without stress, I created the Instant Pot Dump & Dash Recipe Book. It includes my best instant pot recipes, tips, a weekly planner, and grocery lists. Just download, print, and impress your family. 😉

one assembled italian beef sandwich on a white plate

Ingredient Notes

  • Olive Oil – Use any light, neutral-flavored oil.
  • Beef – Cut a chuck roast into large chunks.
  • Stock – Beef stock or beef broth adds the most flavor, but you can also use water.
  • Seasonings – Combine dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pepperoncini Peppers – You will add the pepperoncini juice to the instant pot and reserve the peppers as an optional topping. These are mildly hot peppers.
  • Sandwich Rolls – Optional for serving Instant Pot Italian beef sandwiches.

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Instant Pot Tools on Amazon.

How To Make Instant Pot Italian Beef

Want to simplify meal planning even more? Instantly download my Instant Pot Dump & Dash Recipe Book.

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Add olive oil to the bottom of the Instant Pot insert.
  2. Set to sauté mode, place the beef inside, and brown all sides.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients (except for the bread) and stir.
  4. Close the lid and valve and set to manual pressure/high pressure for 30 minutes.
  5. Once cook time is complete, perform a quick pressure release, then shred the beef using two forks.
  6. Serve the meat as is or pile beef onto sandwich rolls and serve.
image collage showing the steps for making instant pot italian beef

Expert Tips

  • Choose a flavorful cut of beef such as beef chuck roast, sirloin tips or beef stew meat.
  • Cut larger pieces of beef into chunks.
  • Use a paper towel to pat the beef dry before you sauté it. This will help create a deep delicious flavor.
  • Season generously.
  • Before pressure cooking, take a moment to sear the meat. This extra step locks in juices and adds a caramelized layer of flavor to the beef. Simply set your Instant Pot to sauté mode, add a bit of oil, and brown the meat on all sides.
  • Add sliced onions and peppers if you like.
  • Pepperoncini juice adds a bit of heat, so use less for a milder flavor.
  • If not using the pepperoncini juice be sure to add additional beef stock or even red wine to ensure the instant pot has enough liquid.
  • After cooking, let the beef rest for a few minutes before shredding. Use two forks to pull the meat apart effortlessly, taking advantage of its newfound tenderness.
  • The cooking time listed does not include time for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure or for the pressure to release.

Delicious Variations

  • Spice it up – The pepperoncini add a lovely spicy and tangy flavor that’s not overwhelming. If you like things really spicy, try adding more juice and several whole pepperoncini peppers. You could also add some red pepper flakes for even more heat.
  • Make it cheesy – Melted provolone cheese over the top of your sandwiches makes them creamy and delicious.
  • Add Giardiniera Mix – This classic mix of spicy Italian pickled vegetables is popular in Chicago. Use it as a condiment on top of your meat for Chicago style Italian Beef sandwiches
  • Use Pizza Sauce – Serve on rolls with marinara and mozzarella cheese or sliced provolone for a tasty twist. Add bell peppers and onions for even more flavor.
a completed italian beef sandwich served on a white plate

Prep and Storage

  • Prep Ahead – This Instant Pot Italian Beef recipe is so quick and easy to make, but you can easily make it and serve it for the next few days or pop it in the freezer for later.
  • Store – Place the meat into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days, reheating in the microwave. I recommend that you store the au jus separately, as the meat will reabsorb a lot of the juice while it sits in the fridge.
  • Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze these;
    • Place the shredded beef into freezer bags.
    • Label and date and lay flat to freeze.
    • Defrost the beef overnight in the fridge, reheating in the microwave.
cooked italian beef inside the instant pot

FAQs

What is Italian Beef?

Originating in Chicago in the 1930s, an Italian Beef Sandwich is made with thinly sliced or shredded seasoned beef piled onto a long Italian-style roll and served with au jus sauce.

What cut of beef should I use?

Chuck roast is my favorite cut of meat for this recipe, as it always yields a fork-tender finished product. However, you can substitute any beef roast. If your meat doesn’t fall apart, you can slice it into thin slices with a meat slicer or electric knife.

What type of bread should I use?

A hearty, crusty sandwich roll is perfect for these sandwiches. The Italian beef is also delicious piled atop slices of thick buttered toast or toasted garlic bread.

What should I do with the meat juices left in the Instant Pot?

The juices left behind after cooking are packed with flavor and what you’ll use to serve Italian Beef sandwiches au jus. Just ladle a bit of the juice into a small bowl to go alongside each of the beef sandwiches. Sooooo good!

one completed sandwich on a wooden serving board

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instant pot italian beef sandwich served on a cutting board
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5 from 4 votes

Instant Pot Italian Beef

Make classic Italian Beef in less than an hour in the Instant Pot. Perfect as is or make it into delicious Italian Beef Sandwiches.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time28 minutes
Total Time38 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Western
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 4
Calories: 451kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds (907g) beef chuck roast cut into chunks
  • ¼ cup beef stock
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ cup (59ml) pepperoncini juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 sandwich rolls (optional)
  • chopped pepperoncini peppers for topping sandwiches

Instructions

  • Set the Instant Pot to sauté and add olive oil to bottom of the Instant Pot insert.
  • Add the beef chuck roast and cook until just browned outside.
  • Next, add stock, oregano, garlic, onion, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and pepperoncini juice. Stir to combine.
  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot, turn the valve to the sealing position, and set to manual pressure / high pressure for 30 minutes.
  • When cook time is done, perform a quick pressure release. Open the lid and use two forks to roughly shred the beef.
  • Stuff the sandwich rolls with the beef and top with chopped peppers.
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Notes

  • Choose a flavorful cut of beef such as beef chuck roast, sirloin tips or beef stew meat.
  • Cut larger pieces of beef into chunks.
  • Use a paper towel to pat the beef dry before you sauté it. This will help create a deep delicious flavor.
  • Season generously.
  • Before pressure cooking, take a moment to sear the meat. This extra step locks in juices and adds a caramelized layer of flavor to the beef. Simply set your Instant Pot to sauté mode, add a bit of oil, and brown the meat on all sides.
  • Add sliced onions and peppers if you like.
  • Pepperoncini juice adds a bit of heat, so use less for a milder flavor.
  • If not using the pepperoncini juice be sure to add additional beef stock or even red wine to ensure the instant pot has enough liquid.
  • After cooking, let the beef rest for a few minutes before shredding. Use two forks to pull the meat apart effortlessly, taking advantage of its newfound tenderness.
  • The cooking time listed does not include time for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure or for the pressure to release.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 215mg | Potassium: 830mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 539IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 5mg

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Love – Love -Love this recipe! A DEF family favorite and so simple. I do feel to be super tender that the beef requires 20-minutes per pound and a slow release. Otherwise perfection! Thank you!

  2. This recipe is great. But I’m not having any luck with roast beef in the instant pot. I cut up the 2.17 roast into 8 chucks. Set for 30 minutes, high pressure. The meat was tough. So I added cut potatoes and cooked on high for 15 more minutes. Meat still wasn’t tender. Is it my beef?

  3. 5 stars
    What an easy to make and delicious sandwich this is. I just love instant pot recipes.