Instant Pot Barbecue Beef makes tender shredded barbecue beef with almost no work! This easy dinner recipe is made with just 4 simple ingredients.

Instant Pot barbecue beef sandwich on a white plate.

Instant Pot barbecue beef recipe makes a tasty dinner with almost no prep. This tasty bbq beef takes just 4 ingredients to make.

It makes an easy lunch or dinner and can be served in a number of ways. The beef also reheats well and can be frozen for prep ahead meals.

What you’ll need to make Instant Pot barbecue beef

It takes just 4 simple ingredients to make this meal. You’ll need

  • Chuck roast: Chuck roasts work well for this type of cooking because they have enough fat to keep the meat from drying out as it cooks.
  • Barbecue seasoning: Use your favorite barbecue seasoning blend.
  • Beef broth: I like to use reduced sodium broth to control the salt level.
  • Barbecue sauce: Choose any type of tomato-based barbecue sauce you like.

How to make Instant Pot bbq beef

Step 1: Add the beef to the Instant Pot inner pot.

Tip >> For faster cooking, cut the roast into 5-6 pieces. This should cut the cooking time down to 60 minutes. For even faster cooking, cut the roast into 1 inch pieces. This will reduce the cooking time to 45 minutes.

Step 2: Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the top.

A chuck roast topped with barbecue seasoning in an Instant Pot inner pot.

Step 3: Pour the beef broth around the beef.

Step 4: Close and lock the lid. Be sure that the pressure release valve is set to sealing. Press manual high pressure and adjust the cooking time to 90 minutes.

Step 5: When the cooking time has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 25 minutes. Release any remaining pressure by opening the pressure release valve.

Step 6: Open the lid and remove the roast.

Step 7: Discard all but 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Two forks shredding barbecue beef in an Instant Pot.

Step 8: Return the roast to the inner pot and shred, discarding any large pieces of fat.

Shredded barbecue beef in an instant pot inner pot.

Step 9: Add the barbecue sauce, and stir to coat the beef in the sauce. Serve immediately.

Recipe FAQs

Can I freeze barbecue beef?

You can! Just cook the beef as-directed and let it cool to room temperature. Put the beef in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Can I use a different cut of beef?

Chuck roast works well in this recipe because the fat in the recipe helps to keep it tender while it cooks. You can use a leaner cut of beef, like an arm roast, but you may need to add 1/2 cup or so of additional broth.

Barbecue beef sandwich topped with coleslaw next to potato chips.

Serving suggestions

The barbecue beef makes great sandwiches! Top it with a bit of coleslaw for a real treat.

The beef can also be served alongside sides like potato salad, baked beans, or mashed potatoes. Or serve the beef over baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes.

Storage

Store any leftover beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The beef will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored.

More Instant Pot beef recipes!

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Instant Pot barbecue beef sandwich on a white plate.
5 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Barbecue Beef

Servings: 10 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pressure Release: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Instant Pot Barbecue Beef makes tender shredded barbecue beef with almost no work! This easy dinner recipe is made with just 4 simple ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast
  • 2 tablespoons barbecue seasoning
  • 1 ½ cups reduced-sodium beef broth
  • 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce

Instructions
 

  • Add the beef to the Instant Pot inner pot.
  • Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the top.
  • Pour the beef broth around the beef.
  • Close and lock the lid. Be sure that the pressure release valve is set to sealing.
  • Press manual high pressure and adjust the cooking time to 90 minutes.
  • When the cooking time has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 25 minutes.
  • Release any remaining pressure by opening the pressure release valve.
  • Open the lid and remove the roast.
  • Discard all but 1 cup of the cooking liquid, leaving the cup of liquid in inner pot.
  • Return the roast to the inner pot and shred, discarding any large pieces of fat.
  • Add the barbecue sauce, and stir to coat the beef in the sauce.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use any type of barbecue seasoning and barbecue sauce you’d like. 
  • If you’d like to speed up the cooking time, cut the roast into pieces before cooking. 
  • Nutrition values are estimates. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 619mg | Potassium: 644mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 192IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 4mg

Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Instant Pot barbecue beef, Instant Pot barbecue beef recipe, Instant Pot bbq beef

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Instant Pot barbecue beef sandwich on a white plate.

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5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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6 Comments

  1. Shawna Prather says:

    5 stars
    I have made this recipe before and it was delicious. If I want to double it, how long should I set the cook time?

    1. Thank you! For larger pieces of meat (or larger amounts of meat), I’ve found that cutting the meat into large chunks helps it to cook through more evenly. If you cut it into large chunks, you shouldn’t need to change the cooking time.

  2. First time making this and it’s great! However I was confused because it does not say what to do with the liquid reserved after cooking. I’m assuming it’s for dipping your sandwich in or putting on the bread, but it would be nice if it was specified somewhere for people like me who can’t tell what something is for when it doesn’t say.

    1. Hi! Thanks for that feedback! I added a note about leaving the reserved liquid in the inner pot to clarify.

  3. 5 stars
    I have tried many Barbeque recipes and this is, by far, the very best. DELICIOUS‼️
    Thank you for sharing.

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