Pressure Cooker Beef and Noodles: Easy Recipe and Cook Times
For pressure cooker beef and noodles, brown 2 to 2½ lb of beef chuck cubes, add broth and onion, and cook at high pressure for 25 minutes (Instant Pot’s time for beef stew meat), with a natural release.
Then stir in egg noodles and simmer on Sauté, lid off, until tender, usually the time on the noodle package. Thicken with a little cornstarch and finish with butter or sour cream.
- Chuck roast cut into 1½-inch cubes turns tender in about 25 minutes at pressure.
- Cook the noodles after the beef, so they do not turn mushy.
- Let the pressure release naturally for more tender beef.
- Use enough liquid: the noodles absorb a lot of it.
- Ground beef works too, for a quicker version.
Pressure cooker beef and noodles recipe
Ingredients
- 2 to 2½ lb beef chuck roast, cut into 1½-inch cubes
- 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 onion, chopped, and 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth (plus 1 cup more for the noodles)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce and 1 tsp dried thyme
- 12 oz wide egg noodles
- 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp cold water
- 2 tbsp butter or ½ cup sour cream, and chopped parsley
Steps
- Brown the beef. Season the cubes. Heat oil on Sauté (or medium-high on the stove) and brown the beef in batches. Remove it.
- Soften the onion. Cook the onion for 3 minutes, add the garlic for 30 seconds, then pour in a splash of broth and scrape up the browned bits.
- Pressure cook. Return the beef with 4 cups broth, Worcestershire and thyme. Close the lid and cook at high pressure for 25 minutes. For larger chunks, Instant Pot lists 25 to 30 minutes.
- Release. Let the pressure drop naturally for 10 to 15 minutes, then release the rest.
- Cook the noodles. Add 1 cup more broth and bring to a boil on Sauté. Stir in the noodles and simmer, lid off, stirring often, until tender.
- Thicken and finish. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook 1 to 2 minutes until glossy. Turn off the heat, stir in butter or sour cream and top with parsley.
Egg noodles cook in minutes. Under pressure, with the beef’s long cook time, they would turn to mush and can stick to the bottom, which may trigger a burn warning on electric cookers.
Cook times for beef in a pressure cooker
| Beef | Time at high pressure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Beef stew meat | 25 minutes | Instant Pot |
| Beef, large chunks | 25 to 30 minutes | Instant Pot |
| Beef chuck roast, 3 lb whole | 45 to 50 minutes | Presto |
| Ground beef | Brown on Sauté; no long cook needed | — |
Ground beef and noodles in a pressure cooker
For a quick weeknight version, brown 1½ lb ground beef with the onion on Sauté and drain the fat. USDA FSIS says ground beef is safe at 160°F.
Add 4 cups broth and bring to a boil, stir in the noodles, and simmer, lid off, until tender. Thicken and finish as above. This version needs no pressure cooking at all.
Variations
- Beef tips and noodles: use sirloin tips and cut the pressure time to about 15 minutes for a firmer bite.
- Mushroom beef and noodles: add 8 oz sliced mushrooms with the onion.
- Beef stroganoff style: stir in 1 cup sour cream and a spoon of Dijon mustard at the end, off the heat.
- Serve over mashed potatoes: a classic Midwest way to eat beef and noodles.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and eat within 3 to 4 days. The noodles absorb sauce as they sit, so add a splash of broth when reheating to 165°F.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you pressure cook beef for beef and noodles?
About 25 minutes at high pressure for 1½-inch chuck cubes, with a natural release. Instant Pot lists 25 minutes for stew beef and 25 to 30 minutes for large chunks.
Can you cook egg noodles in a pressure cooker?
Yes, but cook them after the beef, on Sauté with the lid off, so they do not overcook. Stir often so they do not stick.
What cut of beef is best for beef and noodles?
Chuck roast. It has enough fat and connective tissue to turn tender and juicy under pressure.
Can I use an electric pressure cooker?
Yes. Use Sauté to brown the beef and cook the noodles, and Pressure Cook (High) for the beef.
The bottom line
Brown the beef, pressure cook it for about 25 minutes with broth, release naturally, then simmer egg noodles in the gravy until tender. It is comfort food in under an hour.
- Instant Pot, Cooking Time Tables.
- National Presto Industries, Pressure Cooker Instructions and Recipes (meat timetable).
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart.
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