Brisket in the Instant Pot

Instant Pot brisket on a tray with red onions and corn on the cob.

This Instant Pot brisket is beef coated in a kitchen-made spice rub, then pressure cooked with BBQ sauce until perfectly tender. A hearty and tasty dinner option that’s packed with flavor and is super straightforward to make.

I love to use my Instant Pot for dishes that normally have a long cooking time such as beef stew and chili. This Instant Pot brisket cooks in just a fraction of the time as an oven baked or smoked brisket, but still produces great results.

This Instant Pot brisket is beef coated in a homemade spice rub, then pressure cooked with BBQ sauce until perfectly tender.

Instant Pot brisket on a tray with red onions and corn on the cob.

I love to make brisket; it’s a less expensive cut of meat, serves a crowd, and is always a big hit. Instant Pot brisket cooks quickly, yet retains all the flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture that goes along with well prepared brisket.

WHAT CUT IS BRISKET?

Beef brisket comes from the lower part of the chest of a cow. It is a tougher cut of meat because it contains a lot of muscle and connective tissues. Cooking this cut of meat in the Instant Pot allows it to tenderize in an efficient manner.

Raw brisket with bowls of beef broth, sauce and seasoning.

How to choose a brisket

You may see a couple of different brisket options available at your grocery store. There are two cuts of brisket, which are the point and the flat. The point is a rounder piece of meat that has a fat cap and is often more tender. The flat is a leaner cut that is more of a rectangle in shape. Often times in restaurants when you see those nice even slices of brisket, that is the flat cut. Either cut will work just fine for this recipe, it’s just a matter of preference whether you want leaner meat, or meat with a little more fat in it.

A brisket coated in BBQ spice rub.

How do you make Instant Pot Brisket?

Start by coating your brisket in spice rub. I highly recommend making my BBQ rub, as it’s the reliable blend of smoky and savory flavors. Pour beef broth into the Instant Pot, then place the brisket in the pot. Pour BBQ sauce over the meat, then seal the pot. Cook for 75 minutes, then let the pressure release for another 15 minutes. From there, you can slice the meat and serve, or you can brush a little more sauce over the top and place it in the broiler to get a caramelized outer layer.

Brisket in a pressure cooker covered in sauce.

Tips for the reliable Instant Pot brisket

Be sure to choose a piece of meat that will fit in your pressure cooker. I typically use an 8 quart cooker, which comfortably fits a 4 pound brisket. If you have a smaller Instant Pot, you can either use a smaller piece of meat, or cut your meat into two pieces to make it fit.
This dish can be prepared up to one day before you plan to serve it. Store the whole, cooked brisket in a shallow pan covered with foil in the refrigerator. Reheat the brisket in a covered pan until warmed through, then slice and serve.
You can choose your go-to brand of store bought BBQ sauce, or try making my kitchen-made BBQ sauce.
Store any leftover brisket in the fridge for up to 3 days; you can also freeze the cooked meat for 2 months.

Sliced Instant Pot brisket on a plate garnished with parsley.

This recipe is the absolute finest way to get succulent brisket without spending the whole day in the kitchen!

More Instant Pot recipes to try

Instant Pot Brisket Video

Add as Google preferred source Authorthe Makdob kitchen Instant Pot brisket on a tray with red onions and corn on the cob.

This beef brisket is coated in a kitchen-made spice rub and barbecue sauce, then slow cooked until tender. An straightforward dinner option that requires minimal prep work and is great for feeding a crowd. Time Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes

Course Main
Cuisine American
Serves 8

Ingredients

4 pounds beef brisket
1/3 cup BBQ rubkitchen-made or store bought
3/4 cup beef broth
1 cup barbecue sauce kitchen-made or store bought, plus more for serving

Instructions

Coat the brisket all over with the BBQ rub.
Pour the beef broth into the bottom of an Instant Pot, then set the brisket in the pot, fat side up.
Spread the BBQ sauce over the brisket.
Seal the pot. Set it for high manual pressure for 75 minutes.
After the time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then manually release the pressure.
Optional step: Preheat the oven broiler. Brush an additional thin layer of BBQ sauce over the meat.
Broil for 2-3 minutes or until caramelized. Watch carefully to make sure it does not burn.
Let the meat rest for 10 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain, then serve with additional sauce as desired.