Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos
Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos are a simple and tasty dinner option that will please even the pickiest of eaters. Make these family favorites for an easy dinner any night of the week!
Our Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos only take a few minutes to brown the beef then simply dump in the remaining ingredients and done. You’ll have tender, flavorful beef tacos with all your favorite toppings without having to babysit a pan on the stove top.
Who doesn’t love a good beef taco? I’ve met a few people throughout my life that don’t, but honestly, most people go crazy for these things. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of different taco varieties.
Growing up, we used ground beef every time we had tacos for dinner. Crunchy taco shells were also a favorite. Now that I have my own family, we change things up a bit.
A few weeks ago, we made Instant Pot chicken tacos, and they were a huge hit with our friends and family.
Luckily, I’d already started thinking about making this Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos recipe. Before sharing it, I wanted to try it a few times to make sure it was exactly as I’d imagined.
The meat had to be perfectly tender and juicy, because nobody likes dry, bland taco meat. Not to mention, it had to be super easy to shred.
The taco meat needed to appear as though it had slow cooked all day even though it was pressure cooked. Lucky for me, these Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos have turned out perfectly every single time. Here’s how I make them!
How to Make Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos:
These shredded beef tacos are a cinch to prepare. The only downside is the cook time. It’s a bit on the longer side, so it’s a good idea to start this dish well before everyone gets hungry. Trust me, it’s worth the wait!
- Start by cutting the beef into chunks about 1-2 inches in size. Trim any large pieces of fat off the meat. Any fat running through the meat is fine. It will impart flavor and dissolve as the beef cooks.
- After the meat is cut, place the pieces into a large bowl and mix with the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Toss it to coat, and set aside.
- Next, set the Instant Pot on “Saute”. Let it get hot, then add the vegetable oil. Canola or avocado oil will also work, but we prefer vegetable or canola for this recipe.
- After the vegetable oil is hot, add the onions. Give them a good stir for a minute or two, just long enough for them to soften. Then, add the beef and garlic.
- Stir the beef mixture until all sides of the meat have browned, then turn off the Instant Pot. Add the taco seasoning, beef broth, and tomatoes and green chiles.
- Close the lid and and set to sealing. Cook the beef for 40 using the Meat/Stew setting.
- If your pressure cooker doesn’t have that setting, use manual pressure on high for the same amount of time.
- After the beef cooks for 40 minutes, allow the pressure cooker to complete a full natural release before removing the lid.
- Once the natural release is complete, open the lid and use two forks to shred the beef. Don’t be alarmed at the amount of liquid in the Instant Pot. It’s supposed to be there.
- Instant Pot shredded beef tacos are meant to mimic tacos you’d purchase from a street vendor. Those beef tacos are typically held in their juices until they’re served.
- Serve the shredded beef in tortillas, taco shells, on chips, or alongside your favorite toppings!
Tips for the Perfect Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos:
- The best cut of meat that I’ve found for these Instant Pot shredded beef tacos is a chuck pot roast. A chuck pot roast has just enough marbling which softens the meat as it cooks. The beef will be juicy, tender, and pull apart with ease. I’ve also used a beef tender roast, and it worked well.
- Don’t skip the step about seasoning the meat. Salt helps break down the fibers in the meat making it easier to chew. Not to mention, the extra seasoning gives the meat a boost of flavor!
- Our recipe uses one package of taco seasoning. However, if you prefer a more robust flavor, use an additional package of seasoning. Just a word of caution, adding additional seasoning packets will add more sodium.
Other Taco Recipes to Try:
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 pounds chuck roast, cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil, canola, vegetable, etc.
- ½ cup white onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ounce taco seasoning
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 10 ounces diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
- Garnishes, tomatoes, sour cream, avocadoes, cheese, onions, etc.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine beef pieces, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Set aside. (See recipe notes.)2 to 3 pounds chuck roast1 tablespoon garlic powder1 tablespoon onion powder1 teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Set the Instant Pot to “Saute,” and allow to get hot. Add the oil. Then add the onions and stir for 1-2 minutes until soft.1 tablespoon cooking oil½ cup white onion
- Add the beef and garlic. Continue to stir until all sides of the beef are browned.2 garlic cloves
- Add the taco seasoning, beef broth, and tomatoes and green chiles (undrained). Close the lid and set to “Sealing.” Choose the “Meat/Stew” option and set for 40 minutes. If your pressure cooker doesn’t have a meat/stew button, choose manual/pressure cook on high for 40 minutes.1 ounce taco seasoning1 cup low-sodium beef broth10 ounces diced tomatoes and green chiles
- After the meat cooks for 40 minutes, allow the pressure cooker to complete a full pressure release. Next, remove the lid and use two forks to shred the beef.
- Serve the beef on tortillas, shells, or chips. Top with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, sour cream, or your other favorites.
- Reserve the juice from the Instant Pot for any leftover beef. Place remaining beef in juice and transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days.
This was DELICIOUS! I used a 3.6# roast and followed the instructions as written. It was perfect! We made street tacos with the meat… I had chopped yellow and red onion, cilantro, lime, slaw, quest fresco, and spicy salsa for toppings… my husband scarfed down six within minutes. This is definitely a recipe to keep!
Thank you!
Thank you for commenting and rating the recipe Julie! We appreciate you sharing your experience. Also, we’re thrilled your husband and you enjoyed the taco beef. Have a lovely day 🙂
Directions say to add salt and pepper. How much pepper should I add?
Hi Paula!
Thanks so much for asking. I see that the pepper isn’t listed in the ingredients list, so I’ll add it. 🙂 We usually go for a 1/4 of a teaspoon, or to your tastes. Thanks again. We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hi,
I’m super excited to try this recipe but I have a 4.2# boneless chuck roast. What do you suggest to increase/modify the cooking time and ingredients? I’m trying to make tomorrow if possible. Thanks in advance.
Good Morning Donna, that’s a good question. I spoke with Kim and she suggested adjusting the cooking time to 80 minutes with an additional 10 minute natural release. In regards to the seasonings, since you have about twice as much beef, I would suggest doubling the seasoning amounts. However, I tend to enjoy spicier flavors. If you don’t or if you have sodium restrictions, then I would only increase the seasonings by half (ex. 1.5 tablespoons of garlic powder instead of 1 tablespoon). Kim also stated you shouldn’t need to increase the liquid amounts. Hopefully, we were able to answer your question. Kim and I wish you a lovely day 🙂
This is the perfect shredded beef recipe! We made nachos with it, but it would be delicious in tacos, burritos or even enchiladas! So tasty and tender and juicy!
Thank you, Sarah! Kim and I are glad you enjoyed the shredded beef. We appreciate you coming back comment and rating the recipe. Have a lovely weekend 🙂