Instant Pot Shredded Beef

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Instant Pot Shredded Beef swiftly cooks to perfection, delivering tender and juicy meat that easily falls apart. Utilize this delectable beef in a variety of dishes, including burrito bowls, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and more!

Mexican Shredded Beef

Let’s see a show of hands for instant pot lovers! Anyone? 😀

I’ve gotta say, I was pretty scared to try this appliance in the beginning, even after seeing all the recipe development using this kitchen appliance. My boys bought me one for Christmas several years ago, and it took me exactly eight months to start REALLY using it.

Confession – I didn’t really have a choice but to try it while enduring a major kitchen remodel back in 2018. It was either eat cereal and toast every meal, go out, or use my instant pot. And if you know my hubs and me, you’ll know that eating out during the week really isn’t our style.

Now? I use my Instant Pot several times a week. But instead of making entire meals in it, I’m using it for all of my “this is better in the instant pot” foods. Apple Steel Cut Oats, quinoa for Mexican Quinoa Salad (and others), any kind of rice, hard-boiled eggs, beef roast, and pork shoulder. So far, so good.

Why This Recipe Works:

TENDER, FALL-APART MEAT – This beef is unbelievably tender. You won’t even believe it – trust me!
FULL OF FLAVOR – The chipotle peppers and seasonings add a Tex-Mex flair to this easy recipe.
QUICK – This beef recipe cooks in a fraction of the time as it would in a slow cooker or in the oven. Pressure cooking saves time and the flavor is still right on the money.
VERSATILE – The best part is that you can use instant pot shredded beef in a variety of recipes. We love using it for meal prep for burrito bowls, beef tacos, beef sandwiches, and beef enchiladas (to name a few).

Two bowls of shredded beef chipotle bowls.

Ingredients needed for Easy Instant Pot Shredded Beef:

You’ll need minimal ingredients to make this easy shredded beef.

Boneless Chuck Roast – Purchase a 2.5-pound cut of beef that has plenty of fat marbling throughout. Avoid a tough cut of meat or one that doesn’t have enough fat.
Avocado Oil, S & P – You’ll need avocado oil, salt, and pepper for searing the meat.
Onion – You’ll want to chop one onion for this recipe.
Chipotle Peppers – Use as many chipotle peppers as you like in the marinade. It won’t be nearly as spicy as you think after cooking.
Citrus – Squeeze one orange and one lime into the marinade mixture.
AdditionalSpices – Onion powder, garlic powder, and ground cumin.
Beef Broth – Use enough to cover the meat in the instant pot.

The ingredients for the shredded beef marinade.

How to make Instant Pot Shredded Beef:

These simple steps will allow you to turn a beef chuck roast into delicious, tender meat that you can use for easy meals throughout the week.

Step 1
Cube the beef roast. Cut the roast into 2-3 inch cubes. Smaller chunks will allow for more browning – which is the best way to add flavor to beef. Remove some of the visible fat on the edges of the chunks.

Step 2
Season the beef. Sprinkle beef with the seasonings – onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, kosher salt, and black pepper over the roast chunks.

A bowl of the chunks of beef with seasonings.

Step 3
Sauté beef. Plug in the instant pot, and turn the sauté function on. Drizzle some avocado oil in the pot, and sear the seasoned beef, turning it on all sides until well browned. You will need to do this in two batches. (I use tongs to turn the meat.)

Step 4
Add everything to the instant pot. Add all the beef to the instant pot. Then add the remaining ingredients – chopped onions, chipotle peppers, the juice from one orange and one lime, and beef broth.

A bowl of an instant pot with the browned beef plus additions.

Step 5
Pressure Cook. Place the lid on the instant pot, and close the vent. Change setting to pressure cook and set the time to 55 minutes. Let the instant pot heat up and cook on high pressure.

Step 6
Natural Release. Let the pressure cook do a natural release for 10 – 15 minutes. Then do a pressure release before opening the lid.

Overhead view of the just cooked shredded beef in an instant pot.

Step 7
Shred beef. Remove the beef to a large bowl and use a slotted spoon to remove some of the onions. After about 10 – 15 minutes, shred with two forks. Drizzle some of the liquid (from the instant pot) over the beef.

Step 8
Serve. Use this beef in a variety of dishes to make your favorite Mexican meal.

Storing and Freezing:

Store leftover shredded beef in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freeze shredded beef in a freezer bag for up to three months.

The shredded beef after removing from the instant pot.

How to make this in a Crock Pot:

There are different ways to make shredded beef but using an electric pressure cooker is my personal favorite. You can make it in a slow cooker, a Dutch Oven (in the oven), or on the stove top.

Cube the beef roast. Cut the roast into 2-3 inch cubes.
Season the beef. Sprinkle the onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper over the roast cubes.
Sauté beef. Drizzle some avocado in a sauté pan, and sear the seasoned beef, turning it on all sides until well browned. You will need to do this in two batches. Remove the beef and place in the crock pot.
Add everything to the crock pot. Pour the diced chipotle peppers over the beef, as well as the juice from one orange and one lime. Add the chopped onion and he beef broth. You should use enough beef broth to completely cover the beef.
Cook. Place the lid on the crock pot, and set to low. Let the beef cook all day long, or until it’s completely cooked and shreds easily.
Shred beef. Remove the beef to a large bowl and use a slotted spoon to remove some of the onions. After about 10 – 15 minutes, shred with two forks. Drizzle some of the liquid (from the crock pot) over the beef.
Serve. Use this beef in a variety of dishes to make your favorite Mexican meal.

A bowl of instant pot shredded beef with onions.

How to Make a Chipotle Bowl:

Folks, we have all the sides, toppings, and sauces to use with this tender meat. We enjoy using this delicious recipe to make Mexican food (Tex-Mex style).

Need a good marg to go with these bowls? How about my Classic Skinny Margaritas, Watermelon Margaritas, Pineapple Coconut Margaritas, or Apple Cider Margaritas.

Make this instant pot recipe next: Instant Pot Crispy Pork Carnitas

Recipe FAQs:

Do I need to brown the beef before pressure cooking?

Searing the beef will enhance the flavor, but it’s optional. You can also place it directly in the Instant Pot.

How much liquid should I add to the Instant Pot before cooking the beef?

I prefer to cover the meat with liquids, but you could add less and be ok too.

Should I do a natural release or quick release after cooking the beef?

I recommend doing a natural release for about 15 minutes after cooking the beef. This will allow the pot to cool down a little bit and will make less mess plus the beef will continue to cook.

Can I use the cooking liquid as a sauce for the beef?

Yes, I highly recommend adding some of the juice to the shredded beef. You could also save the liquid to use as broth for a beef soup.

A shredded beef chipotle bowl with beans and rice.

Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)

xoxo ~Sue