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nstant Pot Brisket Texas Style on cutting board.

Brisket Instant Pot Recipe

Steven Pennington
The perfect technique to pressure cook tender Brisket
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Quick Release 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Instant Pot
Cuisine American, Texan / Southern
Servings 4 people
Calories 646 kcal

Suggested Equipment

Ingredients
  

The Brisket

  • 2 pound Brisket / Buy what looks good. If you end up with too much you can freeze the leftovers.
  • ¼ cup Peanut Oil (Searing The Brisket) / Canola & Vegetable oil is ok

Texas BBQ Dry Rub

  • 1 ½ Tablespoon Chihuahua, Mexico Smoked Salt (optional) Substitute: place kosher salt in large tin and smoke your own salt using an indirect fire, on low heat of 200-225 degrees for a few hours.
  • 1 Tablespoon Sea Salt If you do not have smoked salt, use a total of 2 ½ Tablespoons of sea salt. Or more if the brisket is very large.
  • 1 Tablespoon San Antonio Chili Powder Normal chili powder is OK
  • 1 Tablespoon New Mexico Chili Powder Normal chili powder is OK
  • 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
  • 2 teaspoon Cumin
  • 2 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 2 teaspoon Herbs de Provonce contains savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
  • 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flake
  • 2 Tablespoon Turbinado Sugar

Add To The Instant Pot

  • 6 cups Beef Stock Try our Clean Beef Stock Recipe
  • 2 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
  • 1 stick Butter Or use Lard, 4 ounces
  • 2 Tablespoon Black Pepper

Texas BBQ Sauce

  • Recipe In Note Section Below

Instructions
 

  • Cut the Brisket into manageable sizes that will fit into the Instant Pot if needed. Keep the pieces large if possible.
    Smaller pieces will cook quicker. That will require reducing the cooking time.
    How much time to reduce? 15 minutes. Cook for 1 hour.
  • Season the brisket with salt and the BBQ dry rub. Allow 10 minutes at room temperature to help the seasoning penetrate the meat.
    Overnight in the refrigerator would be best for the flavors to penetrate the brisket.

Instant Pot Settings

  • Remove the lid from the Instant Pot and set it to Saute.
  • Set the temperature to "MORE." This is the hottest temperature option.
    Tip: There are three Instant Pot temperature settings. "Less", "Normal" & "More".
    instant pot control interface
  • Next, sear the seasoned beef brisket in the Instant Pot. Sear on all sides, being sure to take your time searing the meat and sealing in the favor. Golden brown on all sides.
    Tip: Use peanut oil due to the high smoke point. Do not use olive oil as it will oxidize from the high temperature. Other options are canola oil and vegetable oil.
  • If you would like to add vegetables like onion, carrots, and celery. Remove the brisket and saute the vegetables now. Then replace the beef brisket back into the Instant Pot afterward. Make sure the brisket is closer to the bottom of the Instant Pot verse closer to the lid/top.
    Tip: At the very least, place some cut-up onions underneath the brisket to keep it away from the very bottom of the Instant Pot.
  • Next, add in the beef stock. Add enough to cover the brisket ⅔rds of the way up the sides. You might need more than 6 cups if using vegetables.
    Next, add the butter, the liquid smoke, and the extra black pepper.
    Secure the lid. Make sure the plastic circle ring in the lid is inserted.
    Set the Instant Pot on High Pressure
    Set the Instant Pot heat level to "Normal."
    Move the exhaust valve to "Sealing."
    Set the Instant Pot timer for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The IP will begin to pressurize at this point. You will see on the front panel the word "ON." Once the IP has pressurized, the timer will begin to countdown from 1 hour and 15 minutes.
    Smaller beef brisket, reduce cook time to 1 hour.
  • After the timer goes off.
    The Instant Pot has a new timer that will appear on the control screen and will begin counting up in minutes. This is your new timer for just how long the meat rests in the Instant Pot before opening.
    Options: Natural Release & Quick Release. Today we are using Quick Release.

Quick Release Method

  • Using a spoon or fork, move the lids exhaust valve to "Venting" after the timer goes off.
    Hot steam will be released from the valve for around 3 to 5 minutes. The Instant Pot is depressurizing.
    Wait a total of 15 minutes before opening the lid.

Instant Pot Safety - Opening The Lid

  • Not Safe To Open: Instant Pot pin is pressed outward and is not safe to open.
    Safe to Open: Once the pressure has been removed, you will see the pin on the lid fall back into the lid. This indicates that the pressure has been safely released, and you can open the lid.
    After 15 minutes, place the brisket on a cutting board, tented with aluminum foil, and allow another 5–10 minutes to pass. Resting the meat.
    Slice the brisket "against" the grain to ensure tenderness.
    If you slice "with" the grain, the meat will be tough to chew.
    instant pot safety gauge

Finishing - BBQ Sauce

  • Below within the NOTEs section is a great homemade BBQ sauce recipe to try.
    After the brisket comes out of the Instant Pot paint on BBQ sauce and roast in the oven for a few minutes.
    Something To Try: a splash of fresh lime juice, incredible.
    Garish with Cilantro.

Video

Notes

Tips To Extra Tenderness
  • Using a Fatty Cut of Brisket - Look for a brisket cut called the "the point".
  • Use enough liquid to pressurize braise the meat. ⅔ up the sides of the beef brisket.
  • Use quick release, plus 15  minutes in the Instant Pot with the lid ON.
  • Cooking with a tomato sauce in the IP  (The acid from the tomatoes helps tenderize the Brisket) is not Texas-style, but so very good.
  • Pairing the dish with a sauce never hurts
Special Texas BBQ Sauce with a KICK...
  • 1 cup Ketchup Hunts Brand – No High Fructose Corn Syrup - Helpful with controlling the sweet level yourself.
  • 2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
  • 2 teaspoon Honey Mustard - Use what you like
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Favorite hot sauce -  add all ingredients first, then taste, season and adjust before adding more hot sauceTOP Secret Ingredient:Wasabi Sauce – Wasabi is not HOT but is spicy with a floral and fragrant similar to horseradish. Making this a secret flavor weapon. The hot side of Wasabi is upfront, then quickly calms down. Not like spicy peppers that have capsaicin, which is an oil. Once the oil from a pepper touches your tongue that spiciness isn’t going away quickly as Wasabi does.
  • 1 Tablespoon Wasabi paste
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey
  • 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Salt & Cracked Black Pepper - to taste
  • Texas Style Ingredient: ½ teaspoon Liquid Smoke
Keyword Instant Pot Beef Brisket, Texas Style Instant Pot Beef Brisket