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    Home > Recipes > Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Korean Beef and Brown Rice

    Published: Jan 23, 2019 · Modified: Nov 3, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 11 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    3.4K shares
    Instant Pot Korean Beef and Brown Rice
    korean beef

    beef and brown rice in a white bowl

    This tender beef is served in a rich Korean-inspired sweet and savory sauce. Cook brown rice at the same time - all in the pressure cooker / Instant Pot!

    If you ask my husband about our current use of our Instant Pot, the first thing he would tell you about is this recipe. We’ve been keeping beef stew meat in the freezer just so that we always have an excuse to make it. Beef stew meat can take a long time to turn tender simmering on the stove, but the Instant Pot does it in about the amount of time it takes to give the kids a bath and set the table. As for me, the discovery that you can cook brown rice in a bowl on a rack above the beef at exactly the same time is just another bit of Instant Pot magic.

    cooking rice in the instant pot

    Korean Beef and Brown Rice Ingredients

    • Beef - For this recipe you need beef that is cut into approximately 2-inch cubes (no need to be super precise). Cubed beef labeled as beef stew meat works great for this and is usually super affordable. Any other cut of beef will work, just slice it into cubes. If using beef from the freezer, defrost it in the fridge about 24 hours ahead of time.
    • Soy sauce - Standard run-of-the-mill soy sauce or Tamari (for a gluten-free version). I tested this recipe using the Trader Joe’s brand of low-sodium soy sauce.
    • Gochujang - This Korean chili sauce is moderately spicy, but is also smoky and a little bit sweet. It has a lot of flavor and is available in most grocery stores in the Asian / international section. This recipe uses a small amount, but add more if you like spice or you can omit it if you don’t want any spice at all. If you really like this flavor, try Gochujang Chicken Rice Bowls.
    • Brown rice - You have to use brown rice in this recipe. The recommended cook time insures that the beef will be tender, but will be too long for white rice.

    beef and rice in a white bowl

    How to Make Korean Beef and Brown Rice

    1. Make the sauce - Stir together the sauce ingredients. You can make the sauce up to 3 days ahead of time and store it in the fridge. The amount of gochujang (Korean chili sauce) listed will result in a dish with a mild level of spice. If you like spice, you can double it. Either way, serve some extra at the table and add more as you like.
    2. Fill Instant Pot - Combine sauce and beef in the base of the Instant Pot. Place a metal rack on top of the beef. Add a bowl that is approved for use under pressure. Fill it with rice and water.
    3. Pressure cook - Put the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to cook at high pressure for 22 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then manually release.
    4. Thicken sauce - Carefully remove rice and set it aside. Put the Instant Pot on the simmer setting. Whisk together cornstarch and water. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the Instant Pot, while stirring, until the sauce thickens slightly, ~2 minutes.
    5. Serve the beef and sauce over rice!

    cooking beef and rice in the instant pot

    More Instant Pot Favorites

    • Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken
    • Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup
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    • Instant Pot General Tso's Chicken
    • Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
    • Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
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    • Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli
    • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

    Favorite Tools

    • 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo
    • Instant Pot Rack
    • Anchor 3-Piece Set of Glass Mixing Bowls

    instant pot to make Instant Pot Korean Beef

    Eating Instant Pot Korean Beef with chopsticks

    Instant Pot Korean Beef and Brown Rice in a white bowl
    Print Recipe
    4.67 from 15 votes

    Instant Pot Korean Beef and Brown Rice

    This tender beef is served in a rich Korean-inspired sweet and savory sauce. This makes a lot of sauce for soaking up with rice! Cook brown rice at the same time - all in the pressure cooker / Instant Pot!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time22 mins
    Total Time32 mins
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Asian
    Keyword: beef recipe, easy dinner, instant pot, pot-in-pot
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 594kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $8.00

    Equipment

    • 6-quart Instant Pot / pressure cooker
    • Mixing Bowl
    • Instant Pot Rack

    Ingredients

    • 4 cloves Garlic, chopped
    • ½ cup Beef Stock (substitute any type of stock or water)
    • ½ cup Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
    • 3 ½ tablespoon Light Brown Sugar
    • 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Gochujang, plus more for serving (see note)
    • 1 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil
    • 1 lb Beef Stew Meat (or use any cut of beef, cut into cubes)
    • 2 cups Long Grain Brown Rice
    • 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
    • 2 teaspoon White Sesame Seeds
    • Chopped Green Onions, for serving

    Instructions

    • To make sauce, stir together garlic, stock, soy sauce, light brown sugar, rice vinegar, Gochujang, and toasted sesame oil.
    • Combine sauce and beef in the base of the Instant Pot / pressure cooker.
    • Place a metal rack on top of the beef.
    • Combine rice and 2 ½ cups water in a bowl that is approved for use in the Instant Pot / pressure cooker. (Make sure that all grains of rice are submerged in water.) Place the bowl on top of the rack.
    • Close and lock the lid.
    • Set the pressure cook / manual setting on high for 22 minutes.
    • Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then manually release.
    • Carefully (it’s hot!) remove the rack and bowl of rice and set them aside.
    • Put the Instant Pot on the simmer setting.
    • Whisk together cornstarch and 2 tablespoon of water. Slowly pour cornstarch / water mixture over beef. Simmer, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens slightly, ~2 minutes.
    • Serve the beef and sauce over rice with sesame seeds and green onions on top. Serve extra gochujang on the side

    Notes

    This Korean chili sauce is moderately spicy, but is also smoky and a little bit sweet. 1 tablespoon will make the final dish slightly spicy, so add more if you’d like more spice. If you prefer, you can leave it out of the dish initially and serve it on the side for everyone to add as much as they’d like.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1196mg | Potassium: 747mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 5mg

    June is a rolling / drooling almost 6-month-old! Can't eat Korean Beef yet, but we started giving her vegetable purees - hooray for the fun of solid foods!

    June 6 Months

    *This post contains affiliate links*

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. B hubbell

      January 27, 2019 at 7:23 pm

      This was so good. I am new to instapot and over all my years of cooking never used a pressure cooker but I really like it. And LOVED this recipe.

      Reply
      • Jess

        January 29, 2019 at 9:31 am

        So glad you liked it!!!!

        Reply
    2. mian saleem

      December 17, 2019 at 3:29 am

      nice work , i love it

      Reply
    3. valencia

      January 19, 2020 at 1:15 am

      5 stars
      very very amazing recipe of korean beef with brown rice. i like brown rice and the beef to added to it. it will be more tasty for me. thanks for sharing this amazing one recipe.
      You can check the latest best instant pot for the kitchen. Which may help you in your best recipes. Having superb quality. Check it’s reviews. https://instapotbuy.com

      Reply
    4. Daisy

      May 28, 2020 at 10:43 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is a true game changer! It comes out perfect every time and we love it! Thank you for blessing our family with this meal!

      Reply
    5. Joann

      January 07, 2021 at 1:56 pm

      Hi - can I double the recipe and just do the rice separately? thanks.

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        January 07, 2021 at 1:58 pm

        Absolutely - cook time for the beef should be the same even if doubled.

        Reply
    6. Logan

      February 21, 2021 at 9:57 am

      If I want to cook the rice separately, do I need to adjust the cook time for the beef?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        February 21, 2021 at 11:34 am

        No need to adjust the cook time for the beef. It will cook as written without the rice.

        Reply
    7. Andy

      December 30, 2021 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      This one goes through my instant pot at least every two weeks. Wife, 14yo, 12yo, 8yo all clear plates aevery time. Jus made it again with 12 learning it.

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        January 03, 2022 at 10:15 am

        I LOVE to hear this!

        Reply

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