For years, I’ve heard people talk about serving Corned Beef and Cabbage as a traditional meal for New Year’s Day and Saint Patrick’s Day. And I’ve always felt like I’ve been missing out on something really cool and wished I had planned better. I’m not of Irish descent, but something about this dish seems fanciful and festive and I do love new traditions. As we approach New Years Day or Saint Patrick’s Day lots of people are asking how to cook a corned beef in the Instant Pot – can it even be done? And the answer is a resounding yes! Just look at how this turned out:
Of course, I didn’t have any idea how to even cook a corned beef, so I found someone who has Irish roots and Instant Pot know-how — and asked her to re-create the recipe for me using her Instant Pot. The result is a scrumptious recipe for how to cook Corned Beef in the Instant Pot complete with cabbage and potatoes and carrots.
In researching I discovered that there is some controversy about the origins of the Corned Beef and Cabbage meal and not everyone serves it on both holidays. The best I can tell is what I found on Wikipedia, which is that Irish immigrants to the United States began substituting corned beef for back bacon when making a traditional Irish dish (bacon and cabbage), thereby creating corned beef and cabbage.
My thought on the whole thing — any excuse to get tasty, home-cooked holiday comfort food and make family traditions is a good reason. There is almost nothing I like more than some meat and tasty root vegetables cooked in a pot! If you are one of those people who agree with me – than we came up with this recipe for how to cook corned beef in the Instant Pot just for you.
You should know that you are going to need to brine the brisket at least overnight and up to one week. So don’t wait until the day of to buy your brisket. When you put everything into the Instant Pot, you only need to add one cup of the original brine. I recommend starting the liquid on sauté while you chop the vegetables so that your pot is already steaming when you seal it. This will bring it up to full pressure more quickly once you get everything in the pot and switch it to pressure cook. Doesn’t this look pretty in the pot?
The cabbage will turn white during the cooking process, which is why it is not pictured in any of the finished plated recipe pictures. It just wasn’t showing up well for the camera, but is quite tasty and adds important flavor to the dish. I love the flavor cabbage adds! If you decide to try our method for how to cook corned beef in the Instant Pot we would love it if you would comment below and let us know how much you love this recipe!
Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 Minutes
- Cook Time: 60 Minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 People 1x
Ingredients
Brine (if using a plain brisket)
- 3 Cups Water
- 1 Cup Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Whole Mustard Seeds
- 1 Tablespoon Whole Peppercorns
- 1 Teaspoon Whole Cloves
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1 Tablespoon Pimentos
- 1 Teaspoon garlic (Minced)
Main Dish
- 3 Pounds Beef Brisket (brined and trimmed)
- 3 Large Carrots (Chopped)
- 1/2 Head Green Cabbage (Chopped)
- 2 Cups Small Potatoes (Chopped)
Instructions
Brine
- Combine all brine ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Let cool completely before pouring over the brisket and refrigerating.
- Refrigerate for up to one week.
Cook
- Place brisket and one cup of the brine in the Instant Pot.
- Select the meat/stew setting for 40 minutes and natural release.
- When the timer goes off, chop the cabbage, potatoes and carrots into large rustic chunks.
- Add the vegetables to the Instant Pot and select meat/stew for 15 minutes.
- Natural release.
- Shred or slice the corned beef to serve.
Notes
Could you please change the font color in the recipe. It is so light in color that one can barely read it. If you can change the font perhaps make the background dark. Thanks!
Thanks for letting me know! I have no idea how that happened or how I fixed it, but it appears to be black font now.
I sure hope all my points counted..i posted daily..and gave a heads up that link was broke…gah…these are hard to win as it is.
your recipe sounds great..we love corn beef and will be making in soon..st pattys day.
thanks
Once a year I make Corned Beef. This year the Instant Pot – sure thing!
Thanks for this great St Pat’s Day recipe
Corned beef for St. Patrick’s Day – yum!
I know what you mean about cabbage being impossible to photograph but is still tasty!
I love corned beef. Thanks for this recipe!
Thanks for the recipe for the instant pot! I think I try the corned beef in it this year!
Oh, this sounds good. I thought about making our corned beef and cabbage in the Instant Pot last year but wasn’t sure how it would turn out. I like the idea of brining our own brisket and will plan ahead and give this a try this year.
Thus recipe sounds delicious. I cook corned beef about once a month. Next time I’m going to use your recipe.
I’ve been really craving beef brisket lately. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
YUM! Can’t wait to make this for St. Patrick’s Day! Thanks for sharing!
As Saint Patrick’s Day nears you can always find the corned beef cut in the stores. Then I can make this again!
I love to cook & just starting more with my insta pot. Had mostly ups using it but a few didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped. If I had tools, maybe I could try more recipies but right now cant afford it. My husbands going for his 3rd heart surgery in 6 months
Looks yummy!
Yummy! This recipe looks fabulous!
I hope I win…love corned beef..and make a few times a year..even though it takes a long time..its worth it.
this would help.
Your recipe was absolutely wonderful . I My husband couldn’t stop eating. What’s left will make good Reuben sandwich . It was a big hit at our house?
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you liked it 🙂