Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage

The real test of a family meal is when the table goes quiet except for the sounds of happy eating. This Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage consistently passes, with its familiar, comforting flavors that both kids and adults eagerly clean off their plates. I remember my grandmother’s version, a weekend-long project simmering on the stove, filling the house with the most incredible aroma for hours. It was a labor of love, but not exactly a Tuesday night kind of meal. That’s why I fell for this pressure cooker corned beef and cabbage recipe. It captures every bit of that cozy, nostalgic flavor in a fraction of the time, turning a classic feast into a totally achievable weeknight win. This method is a game-changer, delivering tender, fall-apart corned beef and perfectly cooked vegetables with minimal hands-on effort. It’s the kind of comfort food that feels like a warm hug, made easy for your regular kitchen and schedule. Let’s make a dinner that brings everyone to the table, without keeping you tied to it all day.

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Ingredients List for Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage

This Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage recipe is all about simple ingredients coming together to create something deeply satisfying. You’ll be amazed at how a few humble components transform into a complete, flavor-packed meal. Most of what you need is right in the corned beef brisket package, making prep a breeze.

• 1 (3 to 4 pound) corned beef brisket, with its included spice packet
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
• 1 large yellow onion, cut into large wedges
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 cups low-sodium beef broth (or water)
• 1 pound baby potatoes (Yukon Gold or red potatoes are perfect)
• 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch chunks
• 1 small head green cabbage, cut into 6-8 wedges (keep the core intact to hold the wedges together)
• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional but lovely)

Smart Swaps & Notes:

• No Baby Potatoes? Use 2-3 large Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 2-inch chunks.
• Broth Options: Chicken broth or even a dark beer (like a stout) works wonderfully in place of beef broth for a different flavor dimension. Check out our Beer Braised Corned Beef Cabbage for a deeper dive into that method.
• Vegetable Variations: Feel free to add parsnips or turnips along with the carrots for a heartier root vegetable mix.

Timing for Your Pressure Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

One of the biggest wins with this Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage is the time you save. What used to be an all-day affair is now a manageable project that fits into a busy evening.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 90 minutes (includes pressure building, cooking, and natural release)
• Total Time: About 1 hour 45 minutes

Compared to a traditional stovetop or slow cooker corned beef and cabbage recipe, this method is significantly faster, getting you to that tender, flavorful result in under two hours from start to finish.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage

Follow these simple steps for a foolproof, delicious result. The Instant Pot does the heavy lifting, you just provide the ingredients and a little patience.

1. Prep the Brisket: Remove the corned beef brisket from its packaging and rinse it well under cold water. Pat it dry with paper towels. This helps remove some of the excess surface salt. Discard any loose fat, but keep the spice packet.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: Set your Instant Pot to the Sauté function (Normal or Medium heat). Add the olive oil or butter. Once hot, add the onion wedges and cook for 3-4 minutes until they just begin to soften. Add the smashed garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Hit Cancel to turn off the sauté function.
3. Build the Pot: Place the rinsed corned beef brisket, fat-side up, on top of the onions and garlic. Sprinkle the entire spice packet from the brisket over the meat. Pour in the beef broth. The liquid should come about halfway up the sides of the brisket, not submerge it completely.
4. Pressure Cook the Beef: Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and select Manual/Pressure Cook on High Pressure. Set the timer for 90 minutes for a 3-4 pound brisket. The pot will take about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before the countdown begins.
5. Natural Release & Add Veggies: Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, carefully turn the valve to Venting to release any remaining pressure. Open the lid.
6. Cook the Vegetables: Add the baby potatoes and carrot chunks to the pot, nestling them into the liquid around the beef. Carefully place the cabbage wedges on top. Secure the lid again, set the valve to Sealing, and cook on High Pressure for just 4 minutes.
7. Quick Release & Serve: Once the 4-minute cycle is done, perform a quick pressure release by turning the valve to Venting. Open the lid carefully. The vegetables should be tender and the beef incredibly soft. Transfer the brisket to a cutting board and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing against the grain. Serve the sliced corned beef with the cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onions, ladling some of the delicious cooking broth over everything. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Nutritional Information for Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage

This information is per serving (assuming 6 servings from a 3.5 lb brisket) and is an estimate. Values can vary based on the specific cut of meat and ingredients used.

• Calories: ~520
• Protein: 38g
• Carbohydrates: 28g
• Fat: 28g
• Fiber: 6g
• Key Nutrients: This meal is an excellent source of protein from the beef and Vitamin C from the cabbage. The carrots provide beta-carotene (Vitamin A), and the potatoes offer potassium. Using a low-sodium broth helps manage the overall salt content inherent in corned beef.

Equipment Needed for This Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

You don’t need any fancy tools to make this cozy meal a success.

• A 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker (this is essential for the speed and tenderness)
• Cutting board and a sharp chef’s knife
• Measuring cups
• Tongs for handling the hot brisket and vegetables
• A large serving platter or individual plates

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can still achieve fantastic results with other methods. For a hands-off, all-day approach, try our Slow Cooker Corned Beef Cabbage. For a more traditional, oven-braised result with incredible caramelization, our Oven Braised Corned Beef Cabbage is a must-try.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage earns a permanent spot in your dinner rotation for so many reasons.

• Weeknight Feasible: It transforms a classic holiday or weekend dish into a realistic weeknight dinner. The active prep is minimal, and the Instant Pot handles the long, slow cooking in record time.
• One-Pot Wonder: Everything cooks in a single pot, meaning maximum flavor and minimum cleanup. The beef broth becomes a rich, seasoned cooking liquid that infuses the vegetables perfectly.
• Family-Friendly Comfort: The flavors are familiar, hearty, and universally appealing. It’s a complete, balanced meal of protein and vegetables that satisfies both kids and adults.
• Meal Prep & Leftover Hero: This dish reheats beautifully and the leftovers are arguably even better the next day. The flavors continue to meld and develop in the fridge.
• Consistently Perfect Results: The pressure cooker environment guarantees incredibly tender, fall-apart corned beef every single time, eliminating the guesswork of traditional methods.

Healthier Alternatives for the Recipe

You can easily tweak this pressure cooker corned beef and cabbage to fit different dietary needs without sacrificing the soul-warming comfort.

• Lower Sodium: Rinse the brisket thoroughly before cooking. Use a no-salt-added or homemade beef broth. You can also omit the spice packet and use your own blend of peppercorns, mustard seeds, and bay leaf to control salt.
• More Vegetables: Increase the cabbage, carrots, or add other sturdy veggies like parsnips or celery root. You can even add a bag of baby spinach at the very end after cooking, letting it wilt in the residual heat.
• Potato Swap: For a lower-carb option, you can replace the potatoes with chunks of daikon radish or turnips, which hold up well to pressure cooking and absorb the savory flavors beautifully.
• Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally both dairy-free and gluten-free. Just be sure to check the ingredients on your corned beef brisket spice packet if you have celiac disease, as some blends may contain wheat-based anti-caking agents.

Serving Suggestions

This Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage is a complete meal in a bowl, but a few simple additions can make it feel extra special.

• The Classic Plate: Serve a slice of the corned beef alongside a wedge of cabbage, a heap of potatoes and carrots, and a generous ladle of the cooking broth. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt and fresh parsley brightens it all up.
• With Condiments: Offer whole-grain mustard or a creamy horseradish sauce on the side for dipping. A pat of butter melting over the hot cabbage and potatoes is never a bad idea.
• For Leftover Magic: The next day, chop up the leftover corned beef and pan-fry it with diced potatoes and onions for an incredible Cheesy Corned Beef Hash. Or, shred the meat and add it to a pot with the leftover broth and vegetables for a quick and comforting Corned Beef Cabbage Soup.
• Bread on the Side: A slice of hearty rye bread or a warm, crusty dinner roll is perfect for sopping up the delicious juices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few simple tips will ensure your corned beef and cabbage turns out perfectly tender and flavorful every time.

• Skipping the Rinse: Corned beef is cured in a salty brine. Always give it a good rinse under cold water before cooking to wash away excess surface salt, which can make the final dish overly salty.
• Overfilling the Pot: When adding the vegetables in the second cook, don’t overpack the Instant Pot. The cabbage wedges can be stacked, but ensure the lid can still seal properly. It’s okay if the veggies are not fully submerged.
• Cutting the Cabbage Too Small: Cut the cabbage into large wedges and keep the core intact. This prevents it from disintegrating into mush during the short pressure cook. You want tender-crisp wedges, not cabbage soup.
• Not Letting the Beef Rest: After pressure cooking, the beef is incredibly tender and full of hot juices. Let it rest on a cutting board for 5-10 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring moist, flavorful slices instead of a dry, crumbly mess.
• Slicing With the Grain: Always look for the direction of the muscle fibers (the grain) on your brisket and slice against it. This cuts through the fibers, making each bite much more tender and easier to chew.

Storing Tips for the Recipe

This Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage makes fantastic leftovers that taste even better the next day.

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I like to keep the beef, vegetables, and broth together so the flavors continue to mingle.
• Freezing: You can freeze sliced corned beef and the cooking broth separately for up to 3 months. The vegetables (especially cabbage and potatoes) can become mushy when frozen and thawed, so they are best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated. Thaw frozen beef and broth overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheating: The best way to reheat is gently on the stovetop. Place the desired amount of beef, veggies, and broth in a saucepan over medium-low heat until warmed through. You can also reheat single portions in the microwave, covered, in 60-second intervals.

Conclusion

This Instant Pot Corned Beef Cabbage is the ultimate proof that deep, comforting flavors don’t require a whole day in the kitchen. It’s a celebration of simple ingredients coming together under pressure to create a meal that feels both special and completely doable on a regular weeknight. The tender beef, the sweet carrots, the buttery potatoes, and the savory-sweet cabbage all soaked in that rich, spiced broth—it’s a bowl of pure comfort that brings everyone to the table.

I hope this recipe becomes a new favorite in your home, a reliable way to create warm memories around the dinner table without the stress. Give it a try this week and let me know how it turned out for you in the comments below. And if you’re looking for more ways to enjoy these cozy flavors, don’t forget to check out our recipes for a classic Slow Cooker Corned Beef Cabbage or a rich, brothy Corned Beef Cabbage Soup for the leftovers. Happy cooking.

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