Tender, flavorful, melt in your Mouth Instant Pot brisket in less than half the time using your Instant Pot! Crispy BBQ bits and all.
This Instant Pot Brisket is perfect for a special family dinner or a tailgate party. Your family and friends will flip over this tasty dish. Try serving with Creamed Corn Casserole and Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes for meal perfection.
Delicious Brisket in the Instant Pot!
I love me some BBQ and brisket is definitely at the top of the list. But a good, tender, melt in your mouth brisket takes hours! Wrong!!
You can get that same tender brisket in less than half the time by using your handy dandy Instant Pot. Full of flavor and oh so much easier. You can even decide to make it halfway through the day and come out with a scrumptious piece of meat.
Plus, broiling the meat after smothering it in BBQ sauce you can achieve those crispy bits that just take this Instant Pot Brisket dish over the top. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
INSTANT POT BRISKET Tips
What meat is brisket? It is a cut from the breast or lower chest of beef or veal. It is typically very moist and tender.
How to season / marinade
- Overnight? When using a liquid or a dry rub marinating it overnight is much more effective. Especially when using a dry rub letting it sit overnight allows the salt to penetrate the meat.
- Dry rub? Use chili powder, onion and garlic powder, cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
- Sauce? Use BBQ sauce, you can make your own or use a store bought one
- Liquid smoke? 3-5 drops for 2 pounds of brisket
How long to cook vs how many pounds of brisket?
- 2-3 pounds= high for 55-60 minutes
- 4-5 pounds= high for 90 minutes
- 6-7pounds= high for 105-110 minutes
Cutting it? Don’t remove all the fat because it does give some of the important flavor! You can cut the brisket into smaller pieces if need be to fit it in the instant pot. Definitely slice against the grain to get the best flavor, and it will also help with chewing.
How to Make Instant Pot Brisket
Combine the ingredients for the rub in a small mixing bowl
Rub the mixture on the brisket
Marinate for at least 2 hours, up to 18 hours
In the bottom of the Instant Pot, add the onion, garlic, and chicken broth
Whisk to combine
Add the marinated brisket
Close lid and make sure the valve is in the sealing position
Select MANUAL mode (high pressure) for 75 minutes, then once cooked, allow the pressure to release naturally (this will take 15-20 minutes)
Remove the lid, then transfer the brisket to a foil-lined baking sheet
BBQ SAUCE
To make the BBQ sauce, select SAUTE mode
Add the ketchup, honey, apple cider, Dijon, and brown sugar
Let the BBQ sauce simmer until it thickens, about 10-12 minutes
Turn the oven on to broil
Brush the BBQ sauce over the brisket
Place in the oven and broil until the sauce begins to caramelize
Transfer to a cutting board and slice the brisket against the grain
Serve immediately
Slow cooker directions
Sear the brisket in a pan before putting it in the crock-pot. Cook it on low for 6-8 hours and then let it sit on warm for 20 minutes.(3.5 pounds of brisket and 2-4 cups of liquid (broth or water))
Recipe FAQ + Tips
Storing / freezing / reheating? This Instant Pot Brisket should be stored in the fridge. If you store it with gravy it will keep for two days in the fridge. If you store it without gravy it will last for up to 4 days. When freezing the brisket you can store it without gravy for 2 months and with gravy for 3 months.
What to serve with it? You should try it with coleslaw, our best buttermilk cornbread, some mashed potatoes, or our heavenly dinner rolls
What can you use this meat for? Other recipes? You can incorporate it into tacos or burritos as a delicious substitution. Make yummy brisket pizza, use it as a topping on baked potatoes, or use it in a quesadilla for some protein.
Tips:
- Let the brisket sit before cutting it so that the meat sucks back up some of those yummy juices.
- Place the brisket fat side up in the pot
For more meat recipes, check out:
- Instant Pot Short Ribs
- Perfect Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
- Instant Pot Pork Gyros
- Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Instant Pot Brisket Recipe
Recommended Products
Ingredients
For the Rub
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp course salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
- 2 lb beef brisket - at least 2 inches thick
Sauce
- 1/2 onion - sliced
- 4 cloves garlic - minced
- 1/4 c low sodium chicken broth
- 1 c ketchup
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl combine the ingredients for the rub. Rub the mixture on the brisket, then let it marinate for at least 2 hours, up to 18 hours.
- In the bottom of the Instant Pot, add the onion, garlic, and chicken broth, whisk to combine.
- Add the marinated brisket. Close lid and make sure the valve is in the sealing position. Select MANUAL mode (high pressure) for 75 minutes, then once cooked, allow the pressure to release naturally (this will take 15-20 minutes).
- Remove the lid, then transfer the brisket to a foil-lined baking sheet.
- To make the BBQ sauce, select SAUTE mode. Add the ketchup, honey, apple cider,Dijon, and brown sugar. Let the BBQ sauce simmer until it thickens, about 10-12 minutes.
- Turn the oven on to broil.
- Brush the BBQ sauce over the brisket and place in the oven and broil until the sauce begins to caramelize.
- Transfer to a cutting board and slice the brisket against the grain and serve immediately.
Recipe Source: Inspired by Amy + Jacky
Nutrition
I love all Instant Pot Recipes! The brisket was so tender and juicy! The flavor was to die for too! I will be adding this into my favorite Instant Pot Recipe Book!
I use this recipe all the time! We love using brisket in many different meals. The instant pot is the way to go. So much quicker & so tender & juicy!
Love this beef brisket recipe! So easy and delicious! Thank you so much for sharing! will do it again!
You’re welcome! So glad to hear you enjoyed the brisket!
We had just picked up our grass fed beef from the butcher – and there was a brisket amongst the cuts. I can tell you this was the BEST brisket I’ve ever had. Not only does the grass fed beef taste AWESOME… but the instant pot kept the meat moist, tender and perfectly cooked. The rub seasoning had terrific flavor and I bet it would taste so good on other cuts of meat. I’ll use up some of the leftover. Thanks for this yummy brisket recipe that was absolutely divine!
Ooh the grass-fed beef sounds amazing too! So glad to hear you enjoyed the brisket recipe. Instant pot for the win on this one. 😉
The best brisket recipe I’ve ever made, including the slow cooker and oven made. The BBQ sauce was amazing. Natalie’s recipes are very flavorful. I found her recipes through Fitbit, which highlighted her Sheet Pan Fajitas.
That’s so nice of you to say! Thank you so much!