Instant Pot Beef Broccoli Recipe

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Tender sliced beef in a savory rich sauce. This easy Instant Pot Beef Broccoli recipe beats Chinese takeout any day of the week.

In my experience, making dinner in the Instant Pot allows the flavors to mingle while being pressure cooked! Today’s dinner is a copycat takeout of one of my family’s favorite meals.

A spoonful of Instant Pot beef broccoli in savory sauce, topped with sesame seeds, held over a metal pot.A spoonful of Instant Pot beef broccoli in savory sauce, topped with sesame seeds, held over a metal pot.

This pressure cooker dinner recipe was originally published in January 2020. I updated the recipe notes and images and republished in October 2025.

Aimee’s Recipe Notes

Taste & Texture: Tender beef with fresh broccoli in a homemade stir-fry sauce.

Ease: Start to finish you’ll have this dinner on the table in 30 minutes. So much faster than driving to a Chinese restaurant.

Tools: This recipe was tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot.

Avoid the Burn: Adding the broth while the pot is still on “saute” helps release the cooked meat from the bottom of the pot. This will prevent the “burn” notice from appearing.

Beef Broccoli Ingredients

Ingredients for instant pot beef broccoli stir-fry, each labeled: beef, broccoli, sauces, oil, brown sugar, garlic, and cornstarch.Ingredients for instant pot beef broccoli stir-fry, each labeled: beef, broccoli, sauces, oil, brown sugar, garlic, and cornstarch.

Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients with measurements.

Beef.  A walk through the grocery store and you’ll notice there are many different cuts of beef. Here are my favorites:

  • Chuck Roast – you can have the butcher cut this into thin strips for you, or do it yourself.
  • Flank Steak – thin and easy to slice.
  • Stir Fry Beef– already sliced and packaged.

When slicing the beef, whether you are using the chuck roast or a flank steak, slice against the grain of the meat.

If you’re having difficulty, freeze the beef for about 20 minutes, this will help stabilize the meat while you slice.

Broccoli. Fresh OR frozen broccoli will work in this recipe. 

  • Frozen broccoli. Make sure to choose “florets” otherwise you’ll find they load the bags with the stems!
  • Fresh broccoli. So you don’t wind up with soggy broccoli, I suggest steaming fresh broccoli for a few minutes in the microwave or on the stovetop. Putting it in with the beef will overcook it.

Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil. Both ingredients infuse so much flavor into this dish. However, I would choose a low sodium soy sauce if possible.

I know the recipe only calls for less than 2 Tablespoons of sesame oil, but trust me when I say it’s important! 

How to Make Broccoli Beef in the Instant Pot

Two Instant Pots: one with tender instant pot beef in savory sauce, the other with beef and broccoli being mixed gently with a wooden spoon.Two Instant Pots: one with tender instant pot beef in savory sauce, the other with beef and broccoli being mixed gently with a wooden spoon.

You’ll use several functions on your pressure cooker to make today’s dinner.

  • Saute- this feature allows you to cook and brown the beef before making the sauce. You’ll use this again to thicken the sauce at the end of cooking.
  • Sealing- this valve on top gets set to sealing after locking the lid in place.
  • High Pressure- or manual pressure. This cooks the beef broccoli for a set time, you’ll adjust up/down.
  • Venting- after a ten minute “natural release”, which means after the cook time do nothing, you’ll turn the valve on top to venting. This releases the remaining pressure inside.
Instant Pot beef broccoli served over rice in a white bowl, with savory soy sauce and the Instant Pot in the background.Instant Pot beef broccoli served over rice in a white bowl, with savory soy sauce and the Instant Pot in the background.

Broccoli Beef on the Stove Top

In a large skillet (or stir fry pan), heat olive oil and garlic together over medium high heat. Add sliced beef and cook for several minutes until browned on both sides. Remove beef to a plate.

Remove beef and add broth, brown sugar, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Simmer for about 10 minutes. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with cold water. Add to sauce and increase heat to medium. Whisk until sauce is thickened. Add in frozen broccoli and beef.

Cook for several minutes until broccoli is heated through. Garnish with sesame seeds.

What to Serve with Beef Broccoli

You can serve this with a side of rice, or cauliflower rice.

Or, create a Chinese Takeout meal!

A fork picking up instant pot beef broccoli stir-fry served over white rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds.A fork picking up instant pot beef broccoli stir-fry served over white rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

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Easy Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Beef Broccoli is better than takeout and is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe! You’ll love the tender beef with tangy sauce.