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This tender beef brisket made in Instant Pot is the easiest and the quickest way to cook it. Served with potatoes and Guinness gravy this hassle free meal will impress everyone!
Looking for a great companion to go with your beef brisket? Try these spiced Roasted Baby Potatoes and Winter Salad with Red Cabbage, Kale and Pomegranate.
We love a great big roast dinner on weekends. The taste of a juicy roast and potatoes drenched in flavourful gravy can rival the trendiest of dishes in my opinion.
I love it all but what is even more important is that a good dinner creates an occasion to gather around the table. Meals like that usually last much longer, which I enjoy so much!
However, roast dinners are quite time consuming and could be pricey. That is why we reserve them for days off and special occasions only. What would you say if I shared a recipe that is inexpensive and is done within an hour? It is also s a snap to prepare.
Braised Beef Brisket
The recipe idea I am sharing today is for braised beef brisket. It’s one of the cheaper cuts, which comes from the breast of a cow. It is also often overlooked because it’s quite tough and takes hours to be ready.
So why are we cooking it? Because it’s inexpensive compared to other large cuts and if prepared correctly will melt in your mouth!
(The beef brisket is you see in the picture below was rolled by a butcher for roasting to keep it juicier as it is usually done in the UK. When unrolled it looks quite flat and not too thick. I unrolled the brisket as I am demonstrating a different cooking method today.)
How long it takes to cook
It can take up to 5-6 hours of slow cooking at low temperature for the meat to come out tender since the brisket consists of quite a lot of connective tissue, which needs to break down in the cooking process.
However, it can be cooked within an hour if done in a pressure cooker, namely This is an affiliate link.Instant Pot. Traditionally beef brisket is cooked with some sort of alcohol (often red wine) and tomato sauce (usually ketchup!) but I wanted to change things up a bit without compromising on the quality.
I cooked the beef in a mixture of Guinness, This is an affiliate link.crushed tomatoes, brown sugar and garlic and a little bit of This is an affiliate link.Dijon mustard. All that acidity helps with breaking down of the connective tissue while infusing the meat with much flavour. It’s a win win situation.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Sear the beef before cooking it in Instant Pot for more flavour and better texture.
- Braise the brisket in a flavourful mixture of Guinness (or any other stout), crushed tomatoes, brown sugar and Dijon mustard flavoured with herbs like thyme and bay leaves.
- Once the brisket is done cooking in Instant Pot, do NOT manually release the pressure. Allow for a natural release.
- Remove the beef it to a separate platter, cover with foil to keep warm and allow to rest for 10 minutes while you are making the gravy.
How to Make Guinness Gravy
Another thing worth noting about beef brisket is that although tender it can be a little dry. And this is where our delicious gravy comes in.
- Saute onions until tender with a bit of garlic to prepare the base of the Guinness gravy before adding the beef to Instant Pot.
- Once the brisket is cooked and removed from Instant Pot, press the SAUTE button and allow the liquid to come to a boil, then thicken it with a mixture of melted butter and flour or a combination of cornstarch and water.
- Optional Step: For a silky smooth gravy, blend the onions in the cooking liquid in a blender before adding a thickener.
More favourite roast dinner recipes
- Rosemary and Thyme Roast Chicken and Potatoes
- Pork Roast with Warm Persimmon Sauce
- Cod Roasted in Mustard Sauce
Instant Pot Brisket with Guinness Gravy
Ingredients
- 1kg / 2.5lbs beef brisket
- salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 150ml / 2/3cup Guinness
- 80ml / 1/3cup This is an affiliate link.tomato passata/crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp This is an affiliate link.Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp dried thyme, or 2-3 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 This is an affiliate link.bay leaf
- 1 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tbsp flour
Instructions
- Remove fat from the beef if there is any. (Some briskets are very lean and others are very fatty) Salt and pepper the brisket, then press the SAUTE button on your Instant Pot and brown in 1 tbsp oil on all sides until golden. This will take between 5-7 minutes. Remove to a separate plate. Then add chopped onions and sauté for 5 minutes, add pressed garlic and sauté for half a minute longer. Press CANCEL to stop the cooking process.
- To the Instant Pot add Guinness, tomato passata or crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, thyme and bay leaf and mix to combine. Put the brisket in the liquid and spoon some liquid over it. Cover with a lid, turn the valve to sealing and cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. When done allow for a natural pressure release. Then remove to a platter to rest.
- Press the SAUTE button on Instant Pot and bring the cooking liquid to a boil, then stir in the mixture of melted butter and flour and let it simmer until thickened. It should take around 1 minute. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary.
- Slice the brisket against the grain and serve with Guinness gravy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Could I slow cook this recipe instead of using a pressure cooker? How long would it take and does the recipe alter?
Hi Jo, I haven’t personally tested this recipe in a slow cooker but you are willing to experiment, my guess would be to slow cook it on Low for 8-10 hours.
This recipe was so good!!! Do you think it would work for another cut of beef? My family wasn’t huge fans of brisket. Thanks!!
I believe I already answered your question below, Sarah. 🙂
Don’t mind me. Just having a major case of mom brain. Thank you!!
No problem, Sarah!
This was so delicious. I’m not a huge brisket fan, is there another cut of beef that I could try this with again in the future. Amazing!
So glad you loved it, Sarah. Yes, you can try other cuts like Chuck Steak, Skirt Steak, Silverside or Shin. They are all the cuts that work well in an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker.
The flavor in this is amazing! So rich and hearty.
This looks absolutely amazing. So juicy, and easy to make. I can’t wait to try it out!
This looks so delicious and making my mouth water! I can’t wait to give this a try! My family is going to love this recipe!
Hello, just found your site and have saved quite a few recipes to try!! I am new with my instapot (love it) and am not the best in the kitchen. I must omit the tomatoes, which add so much flavor…do you have an idea to take their place or just leave them out?
Your site it lovely 🙂
Hi Devonn, I am so glad you found my website. Yes, Instant Pot is my hero! I am afraid there is not a lot you can use instead of tomatoes but you can try pumpkin puree? Ketchup would be my first choice but I am guessing you can’t have that either. Enjoy!