This Instant Pot Ropa Vieja recipe is a quick and easy version of the classic Cuban dish. Serve with rice and plantains for a flavorful and authentic Cuban meal the whole family will love!
Suitable for gluten-free, low carb, keto and Paleo diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Ropa Vieja is one of those dishes that is ideally suited for the Instant Pot. Made to stretch leftover meat, the traditional cooking method involves stewing beef for hours in tomatoes and broth until it is fork-tender.
But with the Instant Pot making this delicious meal is no longer an all-day affair. Yeap, pressure cooking gives you super tender and flavorful beef in just a fraction of the traditional recipe’s time.
And folks, not only will this Instant Pot recipe save time, but it also saves money. That’s because this version uses skirt steak rather than the traditional flank steak. And while the taste of both cuts is very similar, skirt steak usually costs less per pound. Talk about a #winwin! Just as easy as this Instant Pot Chicken Adobo and Hearty Instant Pot Beef Stew.
What is Ropa Vieja?
This Cuban-style shredded beef dish is made by cooking beef together with garlic, onions, peppers, tomato sauce, and adding in some spices and green olives.
The name ropa vieja translates to “old clothes” and was given to this dish due to the stringy appearance of the shredded beef. Thankfully, this dish is incredibly flavorful and tastes nothing like old clothes. 😉
Why You’ll ♡ This
- Time-saver – Get dinner on the table fast. This Instant Pot Ropa Vieja cooks much faster than our slow cooker version.
- Money-saver – Skirt steak is cheaper than the traditional flank steak, and you won’t even notice a difference.
- Flavorful and comforting – This meal is perfect for a night when you need a comforting meal that doesn’t take hours to make.
Tools Needed
- An awesome Instant Pot.
- The best Instant Pot accessories.
- A sharp knife.
- Cutting board.
- Handy measuring cups and spoons.
- A crockpot if you want to slow cook it.
- Best ever sea salt flakes.
- Meal prep containers for storing leftovers.
Ready to make this delectable Cuban Beef Stew? Gather up these ingredients and I will show you…
How To Make Instant Pot Cuban Ropa Vieja
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté and add the oil. Brown the meat on both sides, then set aside. Sauté the onion and peppers for about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, oregano, paprika, ground cumin, and bay leaf and switch off the heat.
- Deglaze the bottom of the Instant Pot insert with the white wine, then stir in tomato sauce and beef broth before returning the beef to the pot.
- Seal and cook at high pressure for 37 minutes. When done, allow for a natural pressure release.
- Remove the beef and shred with a fork before returning it to the Instant Pot and adding the olives and lime juice.
- Adjust seasonings as needed and serve.
Expert Tips
- Note that the cooking time listed does not include time for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure or for the pressure to release.
- Instead of white wine, you can use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice to deglaze the instant pot insert.
- My favorite way to serve this is with rice and fried plantains. Cabbage slaw, black beans, and sliced avocado are also great choices.
- Serve the leftovers on a roll for a delicious Cuban-style sandwich.
Delicious Variations
- Spice it up – Substitute some or all of the red bell pepper for your favorite spicy pepper.
- Brighten it up – Add a bit of fresh cilantro for a touch of color and a bright flavor.
- Brine it up – If you like the flavor of the olives, consider adding in some capers as well. It’s traditional and adds a pop of flavor.
- Smoke it up – For a hint of smoke, add a teaspoon of smoked paprika.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead – The flavors of Ropa Vieja instant pot intensify with time, so I prefer to make this recipe ahead of time and just reheat it when I am ready to serve it.
- Store – Store any leftovers in a tightly covered dish for up to 5 days.
- Freeze – This dish freezes reasonably well. Let it cool completely before transferring to a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop before eating.
FAQs
Flank steak and skirt steak are the most commonly used cuts of beef for this recipe. However, chuck roast is an affordable alternative.
The meat fibers on chuck steak are shorter, so you won’t get the same visual appearance as with skirt steak, but the taste will still be incredible.
Doing a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) can add time to a recipe, but we highly recommend it in this recipe. A natural pressure release will ensure that the texture of the meat isn’t compromised. It’s the star of this dish, so you want it to be the best it can be!
Serving Suggestions
More Instant Pot Recipes You May Like
- Instant Pot Chicken Adobo.
- Easy Instant Pot Chicken Curry.
- Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches.
- Instant Pot Beef Stew.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
Thank you for reading my Cuban-Style Ropa Vieja recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
Get The Pressure Cooker Ropa Vieja Recipe:
Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Instant Pot Ropa Vieja! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.
Instant Pot Ropa Vieja
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds (900g) skirt steak cut into 2 pieces
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 2 red bell peppers deseeded and thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 tablespoons white wine
- 14 ounces (400g) tomato sauce
- 1 ⅓ cups (320ml) beef broth
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ cup (90g) green olives cut in half
- Squeeze of fresh lime juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté and add the oil. Brown the meat on both sides, then set aside. Sauté the onion and peppers for about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, oregano, paprika, ground cumin, and bay leaf and switch off the heat.
- Deglaze the bottom of the Instant Pot insert with the white wine, then stir in tomato sauce and beef broth before returning the beef to the pot.
- Seal and cook at high pressure for 37 minutes. When done, allow for a natural pressure release.
- Remove the beef and shred with a fork before returning it to the Instant Pot and adding the olives and lime juice.
- Adjust seasonings as needed and serve.
Recommended Products
Notes
- Note that the cooking time listed does not include time for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure or for the pressure to release.
- Instead of white wine, you can use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice to deglaze the instant pot insert.
- My favorite way to serve this is with rice and fried plantains. Cabbage slaw, black beans, and sliced avocado are also great choices.
- Serve the leftovers on a roll for a delicious Cuban-style sandwich.
- There are 7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.
Perfect, the dish, the recipe… we all enjoyed it immensely!! Thanks very much!
I am allergic to nightshade plants. Do you have any suggestions for substitutions for the peppers and tomato sauce? I would normally just leave out these ingredients but the amount of tomato sauce is substantial.
This Recipe is Look So Fresh, Healthy and Delicious to Prepare. Thank You for Sharing this Recipes. So Yummy !!! I Love it. I’ll Definitely Try it. Thank You. Photos are Awesome !!!
Love that it’s WW friendly!!! I’m definitely adding this to my meal plan
My hubby is going to love this recipe! Can’t wait to give this a try!
I absolutely love my Instant Pot for meals like this. This beef was perfectly spiced with great flavour, and it was such a comforting meal on a cold night.
This Cuban dish has a rich and flavorful sauce. It’s truly got an authentic flavor. Even my kids enjoyed it!
This looks so satisfying and comforting!! It’s the perfect recipe to make all winter long!