How to cook meat in the Instant Pot. Since the day I brought the Instant Pot in my house it became my favorite kitchen tool. Not only is it fast, it infuses flavor into everything it cooks! My favorite thing to cook in my Instant Pot is meat; I’ve never been disappointed with my meats being pressured cooked. I’ve included a printable cheat sheet so you when you need to cook meat in the Instant Pot it can be right on your fridge for reference (see link at the bottom of this post).
If you don’t have an Instant Pot yet, I highly recommend one. But you should be able to use these cooking meat tips with most electric pressure cookers. I cook so much more than meat in mine and I’ll be sure to write up more references in the near future. I make the best cooked carrots, mashed potatoes and beans of all sorts in my Instant Pot. I’ve yet to be disappointed with anything, well except the first time I made rice in it; but that rice failure was more of user error than anything.
Right now, we are in the middle of another hot summer in Phoenix. I love that I can make a great pressure cooked dinner without heating the house up too.
Be sure to check out the recipes I’ve included under each meat section.
How to Cook Meat in the Instant Pot
The cook times listed here are based on fresh, not frozen, meats. I have listed frozen times where applicable. Remember, when considering cook times, you need to add time for the Instant Pot to get pressurized and when done cooking some will need a slow release (versus opening the valve) which will also add time.
Beef
I recommend when cooking beef that you allow for a natural, slow, release of pressure. I find that when you open the valve for a quick release the meat tends to be tougher.
- Pot Roasts – 30 – 40 minutes
(that will cook it but I do add more time to my roast for that falling apart goodness) - Stew Meat – 15 – 20 minutes
- Ribs – 25 – 30 minutes
- Ground Beef, frozen – 25 minutes
(see tips here)
Check out Instant Pot Beef Stew and Instant Pot Roast Beef
Chicken 
- Whole – 6 minutes per pound
- Boneless – 8 minutes
- Boneless, frozen – 12 minutes
- Bone-In – 10 – 15 minutes
Check out Instant Pot Orange Chicken and Salsa Chicken Tacos
Turkey
- Boneless Breast – 15 – 20 minutes
- Bone-In Breast – 25 – 30 minutes
- Legs – 15 – 20 minutes
Check out Turkey Breast in Gravy and State Fair Turkey Drumsticks
Pork
- Ham, re-heat boneless fully cooked – 6 – 7 minutes
- Ham, shoulder – 25 minutes
- Roast, butt – 45 – 50 minutes
- Roast, loin – 55 – 60 minutes
- Ribs – 20 – 25 minutes
- Chops – 5 – 6 minutes
Check out Honey Glazed Ham and Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Rabbit
- Whole 25 – 30 minutes
(will fall off the bone)
Check out Instant Pot Rabbit Soup
Fish
- Whole – 5 – 6 minutes
- Whole, frozen – 7 – 10 minutes
- Fillets – 2 – 3 minutes
- Fillet, frozen – 3 – 4 minutes
Check out 10 Minute Salmon and Instant Pot Fish Chowder
Duck
- Whole – 25- 30 minutes
- Cuts, bone in – 12 – 15 minutes
Check out Braised Duck with Potato and Duck Confit
On what setting?
What setting am I using? Poultry button for poultry? Pressure Cooking? I just got this machine and am confused on what settings I should be using. Love the chart, I’ll be referencing this often. Thank you and Merry Christmas
It depends on the meat itself.
What is the difference between using the meat/ stew setting and the
Pressure cook setting?
When do you use either one?
The meat / stew is just a pre-setting but I find I’m using the manual more often.
Are the shorter times per pound? Like boneless chicken? You listed whole chicken per pound above it but want to make sure that’s a per pound time. Thank you
Boneless chicken generally takes less time than bone-in. But I don’t adjust much for weight.
I have some thin cut pork boneless chops that I’ve marinaded. Do I just sit them in the bottom of the inner pot? Forgive me- this is my first time to use it. also- can I use my leftover marinade liquid as the liquid in the pot or does it need to be the half cup of water?
You can or you can put them on the trivet. I always use 1 cup of liquid and the leftover marinade should be fine because you’re cooking it.
Sausages? Like… Polska Kielbasa, Brats ?
Both!
I can’t depend on these cook times because, for instance, you state that pork loin roast should be cooked for 55-60 minutes. For WHAT weight? 1 lb? 2 lb? 3 lb? The cooking time for a pork loin roast on the Instant Pot website states 20 min. per pound. Are you saying I should cook a 1 lb pork loin roast for 60 minutes, 3 times the amount of time that the Instant Pot website states?
I keep lookingfor the answer too. One site says ” Depending on the size of the pork, we used about 2 pounds, the pork cooked in about 30 minutes. For us that timing always resulted in a delicious and juicy pork roast. ” Does that mean 15 minutes per pound?
What about boneless pork ribs? How long do you cook that in the instant pot?
45 minutes on manual, high pressure. Do a natural release of the pressure (not quick), which will take about 15 minutes.
DO you cook with the floater on the sealing or venting selection?
Sealed and it is best to let it naturally release.
Would a 1 lb frozen beef roast take the same time as listed or less?
I would cook it the same about of time and make sure you do a natural release (NOT QUICK) for a tender roast.
I just got my first instant pot…gift for xmas.
I have no idea what, how, when…
Try doing the water test and then some “boiled” eggs. You’re going to love it!
Your post is such a time saver. Thank you.
Any recommendation on cooking a whole game hen (or two)? Thanks.
I am so glad. I would think you could use the guides for whole chicken for the game hen, as long as it fits in the pot.
Does it matter the number of pounds on the pork or beef roasts for the cook time?
Not unless it is very small. If it fits in the IP you’re using, it is pretty standard in my experience.
Can I use brandy when cooking meat in my instantpot?
I honestly don’t know. I have never tried that myself.
If you cut the recipe in half do you also cut cooking time in half?
No, maybe just a few minutes.