Instant Pot Korean Beef

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe delivers big flavor with very little effort.

Simple ingredients - Everything is easy to find at the grocery store, with no specialty prep required.

Easy to make - The Instant Pot does the hard work, giving you tender beef with minimal hands-on time.

Deeply flavored - The sauce is rich, savory, slightly sweet, and packed with garlic and ginger.

Make-ahead friendly - This dish freezes beautifully and reheats well for meal prep dinners.

Ingredients and Their Part in the Dish

It might look like a lot of ingredients but each ingredient complements the rest, working together to build the bold, layered flavor Korean beef is known for. Here's what you'll need to make it:

• Stew beef - Becomes tender and juicy under pressure.
• Olive oil - Helps brown the beef and adds richness.
• Soy sauce - Provides savory, umami depth.
• Brown sugar - Balances the saltiness with subtle sweetness.
• Sake - Adds complexity and helps tenderize the meat.
• Beef Broth - Gives a hearty beef base to aid cooking in the IP.
• Apple - Brings natural sweetness and helps soften the beef.
• Onion - Adds savory flavor and body to the sauce.
• Garlic - Gives the dish its bold, aromatic base.
• Ginger - Adds warmth and classic Korean flavor.
• Rice vinegar - Brightens and balances the sauce.
• Gochujang - Brings depth, mild heat, and signature Korean flavor.
• Black pepper - Adds subtle spice.
• Cornstarch - Lightly thickens the sauce.
• Toasted sesame oil - Adds nutty aroma & flavor at the end.
• Toasted sesame seeds - Provide texture and extra flavor.
• Green onions - Add freshness and color for finishing.

How to Make Korean Beef in an Instant Pot

This recipe comes together easily with just a few simple steps. Here's what to do:

1. Pour olive oil into instant pot and set to sauté setting. Add beef, about ⅓ at a time, so that it lays in single layer on bottom on IP. Brown for 5 minutes, turning halfway through. You want to give the meat room to sear and not steam.
2. Once all beef has been seared, return it all to the IP.
3. Add remaining ingredients except for cornstarch, toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, and green onion. Lock the lid, set to pressure cook, and cook for 30-35 minutes then release pressure manually.
4. Once pressure has released, remove cover and add cornstarch. Reset to sauté function and let simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Add toasted sesame oil, stir, and pour into serving bowl.

Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot over rice or with tortillas and your favorite taco fixings. Want to avoid extra carbs? Try this tender beef in lettuce wraps for a light lunch or dinner. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations to Make It Your Own

This recipe is easy to customize based on your tastes or what you have on hand.

• Use ground beef instead of stew beef for a quicker cook time.
• Swap the apple for pear, which is often used in Korean marinades.
• Make it spicier by adding extra gochujang or red pepper flakes.
• Add vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, or snap peas after pressure cooking and simmer briefly on sauté.
• Make it lower sugar by reducing the brown sugar slightly or using coconut sugar.

Ways to serve Korean beef

This beef is incredibly versatile and works in many different meals.

• Serve it in bowls with rice or quinoa, along with cucumber, carrots, and radish for a fresh crunch.
• Pile it over rice, such as short-grain sushi rice, long-grain white rice, jasmine, basmati, or brown rice.
• Use it as a filling for tacos or burritos for a fun fusion-style dinner.
• Wrap it in lettuce wraps for a low carb lunch or dinner.

How to store, freeze, and reheat leftovers

Store leftover Korean beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To freeze, let the beef cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave until heated through. Add a splash of water or broth if needed to loosen the sauce.

More Instant Pot and Korean recipes

If you love easy pressure cooker meals and bold flavors, try these next.

• Greek Beef Stew is hearty and comforting.
• Corned Beef made with beer is tender and packed with flavor.
• Honey Garlic Pork is sweet, savory, and perfect for weeknights.
• Korean BBQ Pork Kabobs are great for grilling season.
• Korean Tacos are fun, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing.

Find lots of easy Instant Pot recipes and Asian food recipes right here on 2CM!